Front Radius Arm Bushings

[BrianT]

I have just replaced the front radius arm/axle rubber bushings on my '97 D1 with red poly bushings. However, I am having trouble lining up/centering the axle bracket bolt holes with the new bushings. In other words, I cannot get the new bolts back through the holes for reassembly. I have jockeyed the axle and radius arms with my jack every way I can.

Any suggestions?

 

[marc olivares]

have you disconneted your sway bar?
that usually helps free them up.
start by putting the rear bolt in first, then use a pry bar to lever the front bolt in.

 

[Eric N.]

You could also try removing the axle end of the panhard rod too..

 

[AlanB]

Its good to have an extra set of hands and pry bars, you'll get it in. Took a friend and myself a little while but with some strategic placement of prybars to get the holes lined up we got the bolts through.

 

[Sergei]

I lifted truck by frame, put it on stands, then used crowbar to get it in place.. Had to play with leveling - i.e raised one side higher than another to get them in easier. Then swapped it

 

[ptschram]

LOL-Loosen the frame mounts as well, wrap a ratchet strap from the axle housing to the frame. Between everything being loose, the ratchet strap to move the axle back and forth and a jack to lift, it'll go much more easily. I wouldn't bother to disconnect the panhard rod, nor the sway bars.

You got the hard part done-putting the bushings in (and of course, getting the old ones out.

Peace,
PT

 

[BrianT]

For those that are interested, here is how I did it. If this appears to be labor intensive, I will explain later. To start, the problem with the front radius arm poly bushings is that they are "fat". In other words, by design, they tend to stick out from the radius arm about 1/8" on both sides because of their flanged design. This makes for having to "squeeze" the radius arm with new poly bushings back into the axle bracket for reassembly.

First, disconnect the following at the axle:
1) Sway Bar
2) Panhard Rod
3) Drive Shaft/U-Joint
4) Radius Arm(s), of course

By disconnecting the above parts, I turned several hours of cursing and grunting into about 5 minutes of lining up the holes. The reason for this is the axle is now only suspended by the springs and shocks (watch your brake lines). The axle will now swing very freely front-to-back using very little effort. Combined with the up-down flexibility utilizing the jack, it is now MUCH easier to line up the axle bracket bolt holes on your new bushings.

Again, this might sound labor intensive, but in exchange for turning a few nuts and bolts you have saved yourself what could possibly be several unpleasant hours, if you are able to do it at all. For me, it was a trade-off that was well worth it.

Others might say differently, but I know what made things immeasurably easier for me. Trust me when I say this.