Some of the rubber bushings under the front of my truck have started crack, tear and deteriorate. Has anyone bought and installed one of the bushing replacement kits? How hard is it to do and does the FE need to be realigned afterward?

 

Haven't done it yet, but will be real soon. If you do it before me, let me know how it went.

That's all that's left of old parts under my 98. While I was out in no-computer land, I had a terrrrrrible case of DW. Was pulling a 24 foot gn with about 18K on it. I hit a pothole in a slight left turn. I got REAL lucky. Both batteries broke out of the boxes due to the shaking.

I'm still a little bit gunshy even after changing all the bits and parts myself.

Ed

 

I'll bet that was a little scary!

I'll probably start with the sway bar bushing kit from Auto Zone. Then, I'll have to figure out what's next.

 

Scary ain't the word. I like to have needed new pants.

I would think that if you do not loosen any of the tie rod or drag link adjustments, it would remain pretty close. That's my thinking anyway.

Ed

 

I don't think I'll be loosening any steering stuff this go-round.

Thanks,

 

The bushings are concentric - it's the other stuff that requires alignment\adjustment.

Change the bushings, put each link back where you got 'em from, set the eccentrics to the same notch, and you're good to go - if the axle was in alignment B4 you started.

 

Thanks, that pretty much answers my questions.

I had the FE aligined last week after I had new tires put on. Looking at the dirt pattern on the tread, I need to take it back. The left front tire is touching on the outside,but not the inside.