radius arm bushings

[Faltura]

Looking at the new poly bushings that I got for the radius arms on my 69 F-250, I noticed that they will not go on the radius arms (appears the center hole in the bushing is too small) Are they supposed to be hammered on? The bushings look to hard to give much. Is this normal?

[Banjo]

have you tried some type of thin lubricant on the inside of the bushing to see if you can work them on? I can't comment on poly, I used stock rubber type, but I had no real problem. My memory might be fading, I might have lubed with Dawn dishwashing detergent now that I think of it.

[Alvin in AZ]

Don't know what brand you've got but my Energy-Suspension brand
came with silly-cone;) grease and was instructed to use it liberally! :)

I also have a power steering gear upper seal problem... ;)
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/radiusarm.jpg
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/radiusarm1.jpg
4wd bushings are different than my 2wd.

Alvin in AZ

[Faltura]

Mine are hard plastic from Napa. Somehow I don't see how that hard plastic will work. Has anyone else used these types? I think oil dripped down on the old rubber ones and helped do them in. I thought the poly would be better against that but if they are too small or don't fit tight I can't see how they will work.

[Alvin in AZ]

Post some pictures or do some research to find out if they are the right ones?

Yeah, the Poly is "like hard plastic" but you could see from the pictures they bulge
out and look like the rubber ones. They are under more pressure tho and so are
stiffer acting. I replaced the I-beam bushings and rear spring bushings on my
pickup at the same time and it firmed up the handling. According to other
sources I've read, the ones to get are the black ones with graphite in them and
not go with the pretty colors because they can squeak to beat hell. BTDT on the
rear suspension on a VW swing-axle once. Red was the only choice at the time.

I'm not usually into this sort of add-ons but these seem to be worth it. :)
Are yours black? If not, I suggest you return them.

I nearly tore the driver's side radius arm bracket off the frame (big hole in the
road in Mexico:) and so replaced the rivets with flywheel bolts and lug nuts...
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/radiusarm.jpg
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/radiusarm1.jpg
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/radiusarm2.jpg

I plan to do the other side the same way, just to make the old clunker easier to
work on. :) YMMV on that, but the passenger side was a pain to replace compared
to the driver's side! ...7/16-20 thread with a 3/4" hex head and -no- washers.

BTW, it's a Ford I-beam it may not handle that good but it is tough! If it'd been a
Chevy with it's flimsy car-like suspension, I would have been stuck there as it was
I drove the sucker home! :) Bought a I-beam from the wrecking yard and replaced
it and set the toe in. :) Later got the frame straightened and moved that bracket
forward ~1/4".

Alvin in AZ

[Faltura]

These are a dull red. Did you have a time getting them over the threaded shaft on the radius arm? The hole in the bushing looks way too small.

[Alvin in AZ]

Did you have a time getting them over the threaded shaft on the radius arm?
The hole in the bushing looks way too small.

Can't remember, so don't think so. :/
...from here something don't sound right.
Take those back and start over? ;)

Alvin in AZ

[Rusty67]

Did you have a time getting them over the threaded shaft on the radius arm?
The hole in the bushing looks way too small.

Can't remember, so don't think so. :/
...from here something don't sound right.
Take those back and start over? ;)

Alvin in AZ

I agree. In my experience with poly bushings the only wierd thing that I have had to deal with is that you some times have to remove the rubber bushing from the shell it is in and replace that with poly but it always goes in nice and easy. If you can't get them to fit nicely when greased up with some white grease then I'd say you have the wrong bushings.

[ezernut9mm]

i just did this swap on my 66. the poly bushings slid right over the threaded end, but took some lube and elbow grease to get them all the way seated.

[thebannister8]

Post some pictures or do some research to find out if they are the right ones?

Yeah, the Poly is "like hard plastic" but you could see from the pictures they bulge
out and look like the rubber ones. They are under more pressure tho and so are
stiffer acting. I replaced the I-beam bushings and rear spring bushings on my
pickup at the same time and it firmed up the handling. According to other
sources I've read, the ones to get are the black ones with graphite in them and
not go with the pretty colors because they can squeak to beat hell. BTDT on the
rear suspension on a VW swing-axle once. Red was the only choice at the time.

I'm not usually into this sort of add-ons but these seem to be worth it.
Are yours black? If not, I suggest you return them.

I nearly tore the driver's side radius arm bracket off the frame (big hole in the
road in Mexico:) and so replaced the rivets with flywheel bolts and lug nuts...
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/radiusarm.jpg
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/radiusarm1.jpg
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/radiusarm2.jpg

I plan to do the other side the same way, just to make the old clunker easier to
work on. YMMV on that, but the passenger side was a pain to replace compared
to the driver's side! ...7/16-20 thread with a 3/4" hex head and -no- washers.

BTW, it's a Ford I-beam it may not handle that good but it is tough! If it'd been a
Chevy with it's flimsy car-like suspension, I would have been stuck there as it was
I drove the sucker home! Bought a I-beam from the wrecking yard and replaced
it and set the toe in. Later got the frame straightened and moved that bracket
forward ~1/4".

Alvin in AZ

i wondered if these are pics of the new bushings.....these look great to me...i got replacement ones at autozone that seem small and loose....i want black good ones....any tips on who carries the best ones....thanks

[Alvin in AZ]

http://www.energysuspension.com/pages/comquest.html

Red ones are cute and all ;) but the black ones have the graphite in them.

Read too many places, back in the old days of newsgroups (before website
forums), where the red ones were squeaking so bad on air cooled VW rear
swing arms that they removed them and rubber ones were put back in. So
no messing with "pretty;)" red ones on my pickup. ;) YMMV

The silicone grease that comes with them now(?) has gone a long way to
fixing that problem, I guess, and then like they say there, they've been
improving the formulation of the polyurethane itself, too? {shrug}

These ain't new and check out how perfect they look with a couple years
of having power steering oil being on them too... :)
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/radiusarm.jpg
And those are under more "pressure" than stock too because the cupped
washer and rear flat washer are both thicker than stock and the cupped
washer is a more restrictive shape. I picked those up off the ground at
the old Kennecott smelter yard, the soil around there was full of stuff like
that. :)

Alvin in AZ

[thebannister8]

i got mine at kragen today...good rubber kind ( and black )....i have one side in so far....fit perfect....the install isn't the whole big thing i thought it would be...kinda cool...leaves more time to stand in front of the house air cond...99.1 in my garage today

[Texas69]

I had bought some poly ones at advanced auto parts and they didnt fit either. Took them back and had them looked up, they were the wrong ones. I went to autozone and got the black rubber ones that fit fine.