@Dino soar answer the phone. He did his I believe using a torch, sawzall, BFH and a socket. I had a Shop do them on mine with the tool. Took 3 hrs labor total. One spring,(right rear) was a bit out of round on one spot. It usually is the first to go. That bushing started going bad again prematurely. Hard to say for sure. It’s been about 7 yrs. Time to do them again. I may buy one new spring, maybe 2. They’re not that expensive. The U bolts aren’t cheap. The torques around 550-600 lbs, if I remember correctly. A lot of work without proper tools. I’ve often wondered if a big ball joint remover/installer tool would work. Looks like a C clamp. Hit it with an air gun. If taking U bolts off, might want to replace the thin wear plate between the spring and block. They’ll definitely be rusty, and much flimsier than original.
Rear spring eye bushings with special tool?
Discussion in 'Freightliner Forum' started by Kruse Family Farms, Mar 28, 2023.
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ducnut, God prefers Diesels and Kruse Family Farms Thank this.
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Rideandrepair and ducnut Thank this.
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Info on the tool. I’ll buy one
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Rideandrepair Thanks this. -
Kruse Family Farms Thanks this.
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Whoa boys. This project really spiralled out of control. That bigger ball joint press didn't work for me. It maybe would on another truck. I don't think my spring eyes had ever been changed so it was a BEAR of a project. I had to use a porta power just to get bolts out of the suspension. Speaking of which you could PULL the bushings in with a porta power and a home built tool. You do need a cylinder that will pull, not push. I saw a video of it being done, I can send the link if anyone cares. All that being said I ended up spending like $1,300 on the special press tool from OTC. It worked amazing and I plan on just selling it now that I am done at maybe a small loss. I didn't figure out the porta power trick until the tool was on my door step. All in all even if I kept the tool it would be cheaper than what the shop quoted me and probably still faster even though I had to wait on parts and tools. Sorry for the long long post. I would not really recommend this job at home unless you are really comfortable with things going wrong and struggling a lot. It can be done with home built tools though if you have a welder and some patience. I wish anyone who has to do this job the best of luck. Some of the bolts holding the bushings to the truck were next to impossible to get out except for using heat and a porta power. Oh also if anyone wants a freightliner OTC bushing press send me a message and we can work out some pricing. I will sell it to you cheaper than anywhere else online. It will arrive like new with all the packaging. I am going to return the cheap Amazon air pedal though cause I couldn't get it to stop leaking oil. So you would have to source your own pedal. Thanks for reading guys. Good luck if you do this job.
Gotstuckwithatruck Thanks this. -
Could have picked up a 25 or 30 ton shop press for little more than half that price.
Kruse Family Farms Thanks this. -
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