I just removed my shot oem front leaf springs, on my 93 W250. I am replacing them with the 2 1/2" Skyjackers. I noticed that the upper shackle bushings, located on the frame, for the rear leaf eyes are shot. Anyone know how to removed these? Ball joint press, propane torch...? I tried a cold chisel on the inside of the bushing, but no dice Also, anyone happen to have a Moog part #, or Energy Suspension part #, for these rear shackle frame bushings? TIA!

 

Try the ball joint press first, if that doesn't work you may have to burn the rubber out and use a air chisel to get the rest of the bushing out.

Can't help with the part numbers, sorry.

 

You don't remove the bushings, you replace the whole shackle. Dodge has them for $17 I think. You will need to know if they are 1" or 1.25" diameters.

Then I found some Energy Suspension bushings for the leafs P/N 5.2102 from 4wheelparts.com

 

Or save $34 and just burn/press the stock bushings out, but yes I'd advise replacing them with Poly bushings.

 

Becasue of a lack of tools I ended up using a short 15/16 drill in my cordless and drilling them out, once they get so thin they usually break and then you can knock them out. I tried several threaded rods and presses with no luck.

 

Thanks all for the input! I will try the ball joint press first. Also, on the shackles - I took my sledge hammer and knocked out the worn out 1/2" shackle bolts. I went to ACE and bought some 1/2" grade 8 bolts. Does it matter if the 1/2" shackle bolts are allowed to rotate? The originals that I knocked out are pressed on, to prevent rotation. The new grade 8 bolts rotate on the shackle. I don't think it will matter? If I had a mig welder, I would tack the new bolts to the outer shackle bracket.

 

Also, does anyone know the part # for the front 5/8" leaf spring bushings? Either an Energy Suspension, or OEM part #? I searched on the web, and seem to only be able to find the 1/2" bushings

 

Then I found some Energy Suspension bushings for the leafs P/N 5.2102 from 4wheelparts.com

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I still need to replace my front shackle bushings, so I would be interested in finding out what procedure you end up using to remove the old bushings from the frame. Also, are you going to replace the nuts on the shackles and if so are going to you nyloc or steel locking nuts?

Thanks,
Chris

 

Chris,
I am going to be using a Harbor Freight ball joint press, and see if that will push out the frame mounted shackle bushings. If that won't work, I will probably torch them out with propane. I am replacing the factory shackle bolts with gr8 bolts, and will be using a gr8 nut with lock washers. I will also be using gr8 washers. I really don't care for nyloc nuts, as the nylon seems to wear. HTH!

 

broncobilly - I hear you on the nylocs. I bought new shackles from the dealer, but they did not come with nuts. Let me know if the ball joint press or the propane torch ends up being the tool of choice for removing the shackle bushings from the from.

Thanks,
Chris

 

Chris,
I will get back to you. I probably won't get to work on the 93 until Wen

 

Thanks broncobillly.

 

Chris,
I got the driver/passenger side leaf spring shackle frame bushings out today Forget trying to press them out with a ball joint press. I used a propane torch and burned them out. It worked pretty good. It might take a while, but just keep the torch on the bushings, and eventually the rubber with crumble/burn. Watch out on the drivers side, as you have an electrical wire loom over the frame bushing. HTH!

 

broncobilly - Thanks for the update. Once you burned out the rubber in the bushings how did you remove the outer metal shell from the frame?

Thanks again,
Chris