Bushings in aluminum spring hangers

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by bigguns, Sep 30, 2014.

  1. bigguns

    bigguns Road Train Member

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    I am replacing the pins and bushings in the front springs on my truck. I am looking for ways to get a Horton roller bushing in an aluminum bracket. I did it years ago by heating the hanger to 375 degrees in ma's oven. Then I drove the new bushing in using the driver for it. This time it went in much harder than I remember. I am wondering what options I might have for the other side. Thanks
     
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  3. wedge542

    wedge542 Light Load Member

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    put the bushing in the freezer overnight, are these pins the type with threads on the inside by chance or are they real smooth on the inside? smooth types harder to get in if hanger still on truck and most time now just replace hanger.
     
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  4. bigguns

    bigguns Road Train Member

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    The originals had threaded pins. They were worn badly but evidently didn't show it because an alignment shop did an alignment and said nothing about the pins. I had a steer tire with one rib with one dip in it. I was told it was caused by a loose suspension component. I said no way because I had never seen this type of wear before. My tire guy was right. The bushings in the frame hanger are smooth and have needle rollers in them.
     
  5. JohnP3

    JohnP3 Road Train Member

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    Unless you are a pebal hauler the Horton roller pin set up does not work you do not have enough movement to keep the pins from burnelling. The screw in pins are a better choise. We use to install the bushings in the springs and hanger, we used the shop press to intall them in the hanger and a pusher set up for the springs, tack them in the spring. Then you want to buy the shims, and with the hangers off the frame shim the hangers as tight as you can with a "C" clamp, then mount on the frame. That keeps the dirt out, you also want to grease the front end every week at least.
    Just a thought!
     
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  6. mtoo

    mtoo Road Train Member

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    I love those horton roller bushings
     
  7. bigguns

    bigguns Road Train Member

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    I have not had a problem with them in the past. I have 2 dumps and a walking floor. Not sure what that makes me.
     
  8. bowtieboy77

    bowtieboy77 Light Load Member

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    First thought I have is how we did cat dozer track pins years ago. Put bushing in dry ice for a few hours and heat hanger (oven would be best we used torch on tracks)
     
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  9. bigguns

    bigguns Road Train Member

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    I got it done! I was impatient with the first hanger. The second one I put in the toaster oven. I used my infrared thermometer and heated it to 400 degrees. I then drove out the old bushing. I put the hanger back in the oven and reheated it. I drove in the new roller bushing using the install tool. It went in fairly easily. I greased it repeatedly at 10-15 minute intervals to try to keep the seals cool until everything got cooled down to 225 degrees.
     
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