Radius arm bushing replacement

[SoCal]

I dont have a manual yet for this truck but want to know how involved it is replacing the radius arm bushings (at frame mount). I also need new kingpins and it seems these problems are tied together?

[basketcase0302]

SoCal,

Easiest way is to drop the whole assembly, (beams, springs and radius arms).
Even easier to swap in discs while you're doing it. That way you've had time to rebuild the disc assembly if needed while you're still driving.
Here's the disc swap tutorial that also shows how to drop the assembly:
http://www.fordification.com/discbrakes01.htm

Basketcase

[fordman]

well if just doing the arm bushings by them selves. you can unbolt the rear nut and key. take a bottle jack and put it against the i beam and soem other support and jack the arm out of the mounting bracket. swap the bushings and put it all back together. do this one side at a time. it doesn't take any time to do. the king pins are a sligthly different deal you have to take the spindle off the beams to get the king pin out.

[Nausea]

yeah if you do it in place with the spring still attached, these are the steps I used. Jack her up and rest frame on axle pivot flanges. Remove radius arm castle nut then attach a come-along or good adjusting tie down strap to arm and to something solid up front (I used a hole in the frame). Be forwarned that when it pops out, its gonna flop downwards with some force so keep some timbers under it and your body parts away It will go back together easier tho - just can be hard to get it out.
Honestly, its just safer and easier to go ahead and pull the I beam loose 1st - can change the axle pivot bushings at the same time. I beams need to be off anyway for kingpin work as they get pressed in/out. I sure somebody here has tried to do it on the truck but not sure of the results. Try a search for older posts on kingpin.

[cdeal28078]

When I did mine I un-hooked the spring and shock. Seems like it allowed a lot more movement as I didn't have to use a jack or tuggit to pull the radius arm out of the socket.
clint

[fordman]

yea that closer to what the book says to do. the book says to remove the king bolt and the whole radius arm to put the bushings on.

[Joshpow]

That sounds right to me. Another approach I have seen is drilling the rivets out of the radius arm mount that goes on the frame. Take the nut off the radius arm. Replace the bushings and nut. Bolt the mount back to the frame with grade 8 bolts. Not my favorite approach, but that is what an alignment shop did to my 67. It works, but I dislike all the extra bolts that could give trouble later.

[fordman]

i have heard of doing that. but like you i dont like the bolt idea myself either.