Spring bushing replacement

[nctom]

I'm planning to replace the spring eye bushings soon. I bought a set from Rancho Rancho RS972 - Rancho Leaf Spring Bushings - Overview - SummitRacing.com
These don't have the metal sleeves like the factory type. Did I buy the wrong thing or do these work as a replacement?

Also, any pro tips on getting the old bushing out? Better to drop the whole spring and go at it on the bench? I'd like to avoid burning it out with a torch, but if that's the best way...

I started the job today and it was really strange how the spring acted. I had a high lift jack on the back bumper and a jack stand under the chassis in front of the spring mount. I removed the wheel and put a jack under the axle and added a little pressure. When I took out the spring eye bolt, I lowered the jack and expected the spring to lower with the jack, but no. I had to pry it out of the mount and hold it out with a block of wood.

Am I doing something wrong in the process? Thanks!

 

[Purple77CJ7]

Sounds like springs are dry and stuck in the hangers. I had to use a sawzall to get the old bushings out of the hangers. If your bolts fit the bushings then you may not need inserts. If the bolts are to small for the bushing then you'll have to get some new ones. Maybe at your local auto parts.

 

[CJ jammin]

I bought a U-joint and bushing tool from Harbor Freight when I was building my XJ. It's a big c-clamp with a tube instead of a foot. You'll need to supplement the attachments with sockets or pieces of pipe. But it works pretty slick.

 

[Purple77CJ7]

If you don't have a tool like cjjammin, suggested, you may have to take the springs out so you can beat or press out the old bushings.

 

[Oskar]

I used to burn the bushings out on the bench, then cut the sleeve with a sawzall and cave it in on itself with a flat punch and a hammer.

Then I bought a 14 ton press from my local Harbor Freight.

 

[Purple77CJ7]

I used to burn the bushings out on the bench, then cut the sleeve with a sawzall and cave it in on itself with a flat punch and a hammer.

Then I bought a 14 ton press from my local Harbor Freight.

More tools,
that's the way to do it!

 

[CJ jammin]

14 ton press! :drool: now I have tool envy.

 

[Oskar]

14 ton press! :drool: now I have tool envy.

oops, 12 ton press*

it was fairly affordable as well. Maybe one day I'll replace the cylinder with an air-over unit, but other than that I have no complaints.

12 Ton Shop Press