How hard are the leaf bushings to replace?

98 kw w900 n14

Plain and simple, how difficult is it?
Mine are screw in pins, so I figured that wouldn't be that bad to beat out with a little heat.

Any tips or tricks?
Thanks

 

Don’t heat the ends of the leaf spring unless your very comfortable with what your doing…springs are made from steel that is heat treated to get the right properties. Depending on how hot you heat it and how fast it cools you could be in big doodo.
The bushings in the hanger and spring eyes with the threads press out…we use a track pin press intended for heavy equipment track pins it works great otherwise you might need to remove the spring and hanger and take to a press.

 

So if im unable to get my hands on one of those lol could I possibly make one? Is beating them out a challenge?

 

We would drive them out with a sledge while still in the truck. Takes 2 people and one of them better be skilled with swinging a 20lb sledge.

 

This contraption fits a 30 ton porta power and has been used for spring bushings removal.
It wouldn’t be to hard to make

 

I pressed them out with a bottle Jack on an old press stand, had plenty of WD-40. Was a walk in the park back in the day, but when your tweaking, everything is doable in the middle of the night.

 

I’ve pressed them out while on the truck like w923, 1/2” all thread, some pipe for spacing and a socket, it can be done!

 

I have one of these.
I have done probably over 100 pin and bushing and bar pin bushing jobs front and rear with it. Not something a one truck guy would need. I know @OLDSKOOLERnWV built his own tool to do his.

 

lol, you remember that my friend…

Yes I built a tool when I replaced the passenger side leaf spring on my 95 W900L….. I’ll have to see if I can remember where I put it in my shop….