leaf spring bushings, how to replace?

[POSXJGuy]

hi folks, i think i will replace the bushings in the back ofm y xj soon. can someone tell me why poly is the way to go or why oem is better? i spend morea lot more time on road than offroad. what do you like?

i was gonna order a set of energy suspension ones , 2 pc bushings. to do front and rear of the leaf springs.

also, has anyone removed the oem ones before? what all do i need to do to get this done? any special way to get em out?

thanks guys!

you guys are super duper!

[streetpirate]

First of all, please refrain from using the term "super duper" unless it is in refrence to Richard Simmons.

second, get the polys form energy suspension.

heat up the metal sleeve in the old bushings with a torch,
when they get good and hot they start melting the rubber around them and it bubbles. then point it at somebody you dont like and smack the metal sleeve out with a hammer. if it doesnt come out easy its not hot enough, i had some shoot 15 feet when i did mine.
get the rubber out one way or another. ive had to do anything from prying them out with a big screwdriver, to breaking them up into small bits with a big screwdriver.
there will also be a thin metal sleeve between the spring eye and where the rubber used to be, cut this out with a sawzall. one big hammer and a little assembly prelube should be all you need to put the new ones in.

[Bouncy]

And for the funny one of the day...Do NOT try using a press on a shackle.

Rubber has a lot of room to build up energy. And a shackle to the face isn't very fun...cough cough...

Use the torch..Works much better than using a press

[POSXJGuy]

yeah! thanks guys forthe info! there goes my press idea i had:confused1:confused1

i'll stop using the richard simmons words!

thnaks!

john

[POSXJGuy]

well, i got to replacing them bushings in my POS xj and found that by hammering a large craftsman screwdrived into the opening of the spring eye where the spring wraps to meet itself i was able to tap out the old bushings relatively easy. i mean, tap in screwdriver and tap the bushing out of that same side since its more open. it'll come out. use some pb blaster to loosen em up a bit.

for the shackle end, i removed the sleeve, cut out the rubber and sawzalled the outer sleeve and folded it, then tapped it out. in all it took about 2 hours for both sides.

my rear end clunks are gone and now i feel the road more. its a bit bumpier out back but i'll just lower the psi of my tires by a few lbs.: O )

[gjxj]

And for the funny one of the day...Do NOT try using a press on a shackle.


You can use a press but you need to press on the outer metal sleeve. I've down that installing new press-in bushings. Pressing old ones out would be more difficult since your tool needs to be exacty the right size to hit the edge and fit through the spring.