What is the best way of replacing the rear bushings?

 

when I did mine I had to push on the front axle with my foot to allow room to slide on the new bushing. Just be safe.

 

It moves that much to where you can take the old ones off and put new ones on? How hard is it to get back on? Can the bracket be taken off at all?

 

Mine did. you may need a buddy to help you. The radius arm brackets are usually riveted on. I didnt have to remove mine on the 3 or 4 i`ve done.

 

10-4 I will try that then. Thanks

 

When I replaced my radius arm bushings, I used a come along. I jacked up the truck (jack-stands under the frame). Jacked up the wheel and removed the tire. Then I removed the lower shock bolt, and lowered the jack all the way. Then I removed the retaining clip that holds the top of the coil spring. And the coil spring comes down (still attached at the bottom).


I removed the nuts holding the rear of the radius arms on. I attached a come-along to the front I-beam/axle and to my lawn tractor. I pulled the slack out and pulled the radius arm forward enough to get the bushings off.


Once I had the new bushing installed,
I attached the come-along between the front I-beam/axle and the rear axle. Then I used the come-along to pull the radius arm back into position so that the other bushing could be installed.

Then you can put everything back as it was. Good luck, I found it was not as difficult as I had imagined it to be. Let us know how it turned out. And post some pictures.

 

I drilled out the bracket rivets, put on the forward bushing, reinstalled brackets with grade 8 bolts, then rear bushing, nut. Come-along works too.

 

I used a carbide burr on a die grinder to remove the rivet heads then reattached the radius arm brackets with grade 8 hardware and a dab of loctite when done also.

 

Did all years have the brackets riveted on? My 1977 is bolted. I know the 78/79s were riveted but I'm not quite as familiar with the 77s even though that is what I have. lol.
I'm just wondering if someone has been in there already or if the 77 is bolted from the factory.
I just finished up changing the radius arm bushings at the other end, the C-bushings. Thats not the most fun I've ever had. haha. I installed 7* C-bushings from Bronco Graveyard.

 

My 78' had one or two rivets and the rest bolts from the factory.

 

i just did this on mine back in march/april.
i replaced all the bushings on the front end, the shocks and the coil springs with buckets. at the same time i coated most everything with chassis saver.
i jacked up the front. put it on jack stands and when it was time to remove the radius arms i was able to simply roll the front axle.
it was very easy.


i have a 78 f150 4x4 and the radius arm brackets were bolted on. at the time i also had a 77 f150 4x4 and they were riveted on. i actually had to swap one from the parts truck as one on my truck was bent.

 

Grubbworm, did you do both at the same time or do you do one side at a time? Thank everyone else for their ideas as well.

 

on my 79 i unbolted the bracket after undoing the big nut

 

I basically did both sides at the same time. I did loosen everything up at the same time and then installed the bushings one at a time. Then tightened everything up at the same time.