Friday, May 10, 2013

Replace Leaf Spring Bushings

Driving is dangerous if all the parts are not correctly calibrated.


To replace leaf spring bushings, it is important to know if the vehicle has had modifications. Because a leaf spring bushing is a rubber substance that helps lessen the amount of vibration between the axle and the chassis, the original compound was set up for the original parts. Leaf spring bushings will break down and crack if they are loosened by movements not originally calculated by new parts. Replacement is essential to proper steering and wheel hob.


Instructions


1. Remove the leaf spring bolt with a wrench. The size of the wrench will depend on the vehicle.


2. Raise the vehicle using the jack and iron on the appropriate position according to the vehicle maintenance manual. If the manual is not available, find the solid bar on the underside of the vehicle and use that to jack the vehicle up.


3. Release the spring leaf from its position. Sometimes the spring leaf will come out of place on its own; if this does not happen, tapping the spring leaf with a hammer will help.


4. Use the hammer and a punch to release the bushing from the spring leaf. This may take some work because the bushing has most likely original to the vehicle. If the bushing is hard to remove, heat it up. The heat will expand it and allow it to pop off. This is a last resort method because it is never safe to have fire under a vehicle.


5. Replace the old bushings with new spring leaf bushings by pressing them into the eyelets with the hammer and punch. They should go in very easily, but greasing them works well.







Tags: spring leaf, hammer punch, leaf spring, spring bushings, with hammer