Tech Question - Removing Bushings in Leaf Spring Eyes

Mike,

I am working on a 1933 Dodge.

I cannot press out the spring eye bushings with a 10 ton press.

1.) Is it ok to heat up the eye and insert and try pressing out the bushing again or is heating a spring eye the wrong thing to do.

2.) When spring eyes are reversed is heat used during that process?

-KC

KC,

I am not sure which bushing you are trying to remove, so let's talk about them all.

Both the front and rear eye of the front and rear spring uses the same bushings. In one end bushing is a steel encased rubber bushing. There is a steel inner sleeve, then rubber, then a steel outer shell. This outer shell is only about 1/16" thick.

The best way to remove these bushings is to use a torch and set the rubber on fire. Let it burn one to two minutes then hit the eye so the rubber and the inner sleeve falls out.

Then use a punch and a hammer and catch the end of the outer sleeve and curl it over. Once enough of the sleeve has been bent over the sleeve can be driven out.

The other bushing is the sleeve that screws onto the shackle. One side is right handed thread and the other is left handed. Or I should say, should be right and left handed.

There is no other bushing in the rear eye.

Do not use any more heat than what burning the bushing produces.

The reverse eyes are formed as part of the production process. Yes heat is used but the spring then under goes heat treating. This is not something that one can do at home.

Let me know if you need any more help.

-Mike