replace leaf spring bushes

Coupe66 · Post by **Coupe66** » Wed Sep 23, 15 1:24 pm

Hi All,

I need help to replace the rear leaf spring bushes (front and the rear shackles) on my 68 charger. Can anybody give me step by step instructions on how to do this.

Cheers - Mike

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Mon Nov 23, 15 7:49 pm

Im sure Blue can help with this as he is a pro at this stuff but I had read that you can heat them up to get them out and use all thread with big washers and nuts on to press the new ones in. Think I read it in an old Mopar Muscle mag somewhere.....somebody who has done it will be along soon to help

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Mon Nov 23, 15 7:57 pm

Yes, it is either a press (2 minute job) or a long coach bolt and spacers and tubes to permit the old bush to be dragged out and the new one inserted as you wind the nuts together.

latil · Post by **latil** » Mon Nov 23, 15 8:04 pm

Press or home made puller. I always try and open the spring eye a little with a thin wedge or chisel to just take the pressure off the bush if I'm using a puller.

Bought a 20 ton press recently,makes life easy.

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Mon Nov 23, 15 8:20 pm

Think we all know a friendly local back street engineering place (mine is a cracking guy called Bryn who is into old bikes). He presses bits and pieces together for me for a packet of digestives and a jar of coffee

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Mon Nov 23, 15 8:27 pm

Steve wrote: ....He presses bits and pieces together for me for a packet of digestives and a jar of coffee

Is that a euphemism for something???

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Mon Nov 23, 15 8:57 pm

I keep dropping the tea spoon but he doesn't take the hint Pete

terryr · Post by **terryr** » Mon Nov 23, 15 9:26 pm

or use poly bushes and just take out the old rubber and put the bush in the original outer sleeve

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Mon Nov 23, 15 9:38 pm

terryr wrote:or use poly bushes and just take out the old rubber and put the bush in the original outer sleeve

Good call, Terry!

Super Sloth · Post by **Super Sloth** » Mon Nov 23, 15 9:47 pm

Hi Mike,

I've never done this job on a Charger, however I completed a full suspension rebuild on our LR Discovery 1 this summer.

I purchased one of these 12 ton presses especially for the job. Although it's a little crude it is particularly effective and I don't think it's possible to have too many tools!
It came from Belgium and arrived pretty rapidly.
So long as you set the work up nice and square and leave a large enough gap for the bush to pass through it works quite smoothly. Although, the first time something lets go it might surprise you a bit - they tend to release with a bang!
Good value @ £75 IMHO. It’s no pro tool, but good value for what it is.

eBay item number 261816174354

http://tinyurl.com/pxmp7td

In addition to the above, I also purchased a cheap aluminium bearing driver kit for something like £12 and used the kit as sacrificial press tools.

All the best,

Jon.

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Mon Nov 23, 15 9:50 pm

Good idea Jon....£20 each between four mates into cars and its a no brainer!

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Mon Nov 23, 15 9:57 pm

Roydon and I have got one of those and despite the low price it is very effective.

Super Sloth · Post by **Super Sloth** » Mon Nov 23, 15 10:39 pm

I wish my car mates lived closer so I could do things like that, Steve!

The only two tiny criticisms I've got (and for the money it really is tiny) is that there's nowhere obvious to put the jack handle when not in use and I did have to pinch the end of the handle a bit in a vice as it wasn’t sufficiently tight enough to release the valve with the jack under tension.
To solve the handle storage issue I put a cable tie through the hole in the frame third up from the floor. The handle now sits happily enough inside the U section of the frame when not in use. The cable tie stops it falling sideways and hitting the floor.

GJUK · Post by **GJUK** » Mon Nov 23, 15 11:09 pm

Big vice and spare large sockets/small sockets to push them out, same with lube to push them in.
Never needed a ~12 tonne press myself

GJUK · Post by **GJUK** » Mon Nov 23, 15 11:12 pm

1:30 on here for example.