Leaf spring removal?

[RichardT]

how hard is it to remove the front leaf spring? anyone out there done this before? i need to change my bushing and found out its not to easy to do it on the truck. I was told the best way was to remove the leaf spring & press it in.

[dereku]

taking the leaf spring out it very easy it just depends on the amount of rust. I would just let everything soak in Pb blaster for an hour or so. But all you really have to do is support the frame rail with a big jack stand and then support the axle with a jackstand and a floorjack. You will need to move the axle up and down to help remove some tension from some of the bolts in the spring. And then these bushings pop right out with a press.

Also do you already have new bushings? I have a few extra sets of polyurethane bushing kits for front ends laying around. All brand new. PM if you are interested on pricings.

[RichardT]

Well, i have a 5.5 fab- tech lift and Fab-tech uses there own bushing. or so i was told. got the last 2 bushing in the states. Because of Fab-tech's Lets say re-structuring. i got the old one out with help but could not even get the other at all, but i had it on the truck. Than i was told I need to remove the whole thing and press it in. Not much rust on it but i will spray it all down especially the u-bolts. My main concern installation. removal i can do that's easy. But nothing ever goes back the way it suppose to. Right now the bushing or in the freezer. driving around real cautiously with just a bolt in the bracket until this weekend. He told me if i get the springs out he could press them in. But i'll try first
Thanks

[dereku]

Yeh I just installed some in my and it took about 20min to press them out and pound them in I just used a rubber mallet and a little grease

[RichardT]

OH REALLY, after you had them off of the truck? i used a fire wrench to get mind out, But like i said it every thing was still on the truck. I was also told a ball joint press would work too

[dereku]

Yeh I torched my 96 out and I learned to try it the easy way

[RichardT]

HA HA THAT WAS THE EASY WAY OUT. LIVE & LEARN . SCREW IT i'm pulling the spring.
ever try sticking bushing like that in the freezer for a few days? it works had to change a few bushing on other things before and i couldn't get them in till a buddy of mine told me to try that, the next day i popped them right in with barely a tap still in there too

[dereku]

wow thats a good idea wonder if poly bushings will shrink too

[RichardT]

WHEN ALL else FAILS, and if you have the time. donno bout polybushing though