Maverick and Comet Forum Archives - Maverick/Comet Technical www.fordmaverick.com

#1 Maxx Levell Leaf Spring Bushings...?  
I'm in the process of removing the leaf spring bushings on the 71 and have a question...are the bushings surrounded by a steel sleve? Almost like a bearing race around the rubber? I'm just wondering before I destroy this piece getting them out lol...Cal-Trac aluminum bushings are going back in.

Thanks for any help...
Message created at 09/05/10 07:50 PM
#2 Fro Re:Leaf Spring Bushings...?  
yes they are in a steel sleeve, they can be a bear to get out.
Message created at 09/05/10 08:16 PM
#3 Maxx Levell Re:Leaf Spring Bushings...?  
Yeah...i pulled the steel bushing out of the center with a tool I made...thinking that it may give it a little wiggle room and come out easier...but no such luck. I'm going to try again in the morning, but may just have to burn em out.

Thanks for the help though...and if you have any ideas...I'm open to suggestions lol...
Message created at 09/05/10 09:04 PM
#4 jmgford Re:Leaf Spring Bushings...?  
Originally posted by Maxx Levell
Yeah...i pulled the steel bushing out of the center with a tool I made...thinking that it may give it a little wiggle room and come out easier...but no such luck. I'm going to try again in the morning, but may just have to burn em out.

Thanks for the help though...and if you have any ideas...I'm open to suggestions lol...


I burned one set out. Boy, what a mess!

When I put the most recent set of Cal-Tracs on, I used an old bearing race under the spring eye, and beat the bushing out using a hammer and large socket. Once you get the sleeve to move a little, it will come out with a little flogging.
Message created at 09/05/10 10:19 PM
#5 Maxx Levell Re:Leaf Spring Bushings...?  
Worth a try...lol. I'll give it a shot in the morning...

Thanks for the suggestions guys...
Message created at 09/05/10 10:45 PM
#6 Grabber5.0 Re:Leaf Spring Bushings...?  
I never tried... I just replaced the whole springs. :D Good luck Tom. :)
Message created at 09/05/10 11:07 PM
#7 Fro Re:Leaf Spring Bushings...?  
The last pair I did I think I got lucky I managed to make a small wedge that I drove into the small gap where the eyelet meets the spring and was then able to drive them out.
Message created at 09/05/10 11:46 PM
#8 Maxx Levell Re:Leaf Spring Bushings...?  
Well...the bushings are all out, and the Cal-Trac aluminum ones are in. That's not something I'd want to do very many times lol... Things are starting to come together SLOWLY...wound up going with the bigger hammer theory :evil: (actually, there was a little more to it than that...but hey, they're done) :thumbsup:
Message created at 09/06/10 09:27 PM
#9 asellers Re:Leaf Spring Bushings...?  
I was lucky enough to have a friend with a press. Although they were new springs we pressed out the rubber bushing and installed the aluminum ones in about 20 minutes.
Message created at 09/08/10 08:42 AM
#10 Maxx Levell Re:Leaf Spring Bushings...?  
Honestly, after finding what worked with the first one, the second one went pretty smoothly. It was just those first few attempts on the first one that were frustrating lol. And for whatever reason...I didn't remove the springs from the car...I just dropped the front of them. Still not sure what I was thinking there :slap: It had already been a long day is about the best I can come up with :thumbsup: But hey, they're in now, and moving along to different stuff lol...now fabricating a bracket for my morse cable (throttle) to attach to the firewall similar to the factory setup.

fun, fun, fun :p
Message created at 09/08/10 09:29 AM