Rear leaf spring bushing issue

[RVA CJ]

So I'm swapping out leaf spring bushings and ran into a snag. The front bushing for my leaf spring doesn't fit. 4wd assures me it's the right bushing with sleeve. But the damn thing is too big. I had a hell of a time getting out the old corroded bushing. Now as you can see in the pic, there is a metal sleeve inside the curved over leaf spring end. Is that supposed to be there? Because if it's supposed to come out my new bushing will fit. Help?

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[RVA CJ]

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[hdgapeach]

Ran into the same issue with my brother's CJ7 . And yep, once we got that sleeve out, the new poly bushings went in with no problem.

Now getting the sleeve out turned into the biggest pain in the rump of the whole job.

 

[RVA CJ]

Ran into the same issue with my brother's CJ7 . And yep, once we got that sleeve out, the new poly bushings went in with no problem.

Now getting the sleeve out turned into the biggest pain in the rump of the whole job.

How did you get it out?


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[RVA CJ]

It appears to be welded in or at least pressed in.


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[Hitman1881]

Yes it needs to come out. The first time I changed them I used a sawzall with a metal blade and made a couple cuts length wise then pried it out. Worked pretty slick. Just don't cut to deep. Second time I used an air hammer with a three fingered chisel typ bit. It worked really slick. Just got it started and it cut right through it and popped right out.

 

[PaRenegade]

Before you go taking that sleeve out, check the diameter of the bushing. They make a 1" that fits Jeeps and a 1 1/4" that fits wranglers. It's been awhile since I removed my factory bushings to replace them with new poly's but I'm almost positive I didn't have to remove any sleeve other than the one inside the rubber bushing. That just doesn't seem right, the sleeve is there for a reason.

 

[RVA CJ]

Got it and that really sucks. I cut one out with the sawzall, very careful like. A lot of friggin work! Thanks fellow Jeepers, y'all are the best!


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[RVA CJ]

Before you go taking that sleeve out, check the diameter of the bushing. They make a 1" that fits Jeeps and a 1 1/4" that fits wranglers. It's been awhile since I removed my factory bushings to replace them with new poly's but I'm almost positive I didn't have to remove any sleeve other than the one inside the rubber bushing. That just doesn't seem right, the sleeve is there for a reason.

That was my initial impression to, but after scouring the site, I found many threads supporting the need to remove it. Apparently the outer sleeve was apart of the original bushing set up. I have the appropriate bushings for stock leafs. Once I removed the outer sleeve the poly's slid in and fit like a glove. I hope this was coherent, I'm about 7 brews deep.


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[PaRenegade]

It could be that I sanded down the o.d. to get them to fit, then greased them well and inserted them via a C clamp, cause I just don't recall removing the sleeve. But then this was the early 90's and heck I have trouble remembering what I had for supper yesterday!

 

[Hedgehog]

Can you weld? Do you know a welder? The last time I remover that bushing I found a nut that just fit in the sleeve. Left it a little short and tack welded the nut to the inside the sleeve. Don't worry to much about welding the spring to the sleeve. the sleeve will weld easily, the spring will take a lot more heat. Then screwed in a long bolt. At first I thought I'd use an over sized socket and pull it like a puller. Then I got lazy and simply drove it (them) out with a hammer. Thi is the method I will always use now.

 

[hdgapeach]

It could be that I sanded down the o.d. to get them to fit, then greased them well and inserted them via a C clamp, cause I just don't recall removing the sleeve. But then this was the early 90's and heck I have trouble remembering what I had for supper yesterday!

It could be that the sleeve came out when the bushing was removed. Sometimes they would do that, especially if corrosion had not set in yet. Bet that would be more than rare today!

 

[mstar]

There are probably a dozen ways to approach this job.I have done it the hard way and the easy way.If you have a acetelyne welder I just put some heat on the inner bushing and it will slide out of the rubber part like butter.Easy. Then remove rubber piece.Now where down to the remaining steel sleeve.While I have the torch out I just cut thru the sleeve a couple times and pull out with a pair of needle nose pliers. Clean up the spring eye or hanger as the case may be with a scotch brite or something like it,lubricate and install new bushing,poly or original style.As was noted by another poster was to use a air chisel with a "panel cutter" and zip that bushing right out of there.As hedgehog said on installing new steel bushing use some all thread and nut and washers to draw it in.I would recommend anti-sieze lube for that operation. mike