anyone ever change the axle pivot bearings?

[eddie bauer]

I have a 91 Bronco and I was repacking the front wheel bearings and doing a brake job, and noticed that my axle pivot bushings were shot. I was curious if anyone has ever replaced these and how big of a pain they are to change. I've done radius arm bushings before and figured on replacing these as well. I was going to get polyeurathane bushings but I've heard good and bad. Will they negativley effect my ride or noise level? This rig is my highway cruiser and I drive alot so comfort is definetly a factor but handling performance is also. thanx

 

[Broncobill78]

I have a 91 Bronco and I was repacking the front wheel bearings and doing a brake job, and noticed that my axle pivot bushings were shot. I was curious if anyone has ever replaced these and how big of a pain they are to change. I've done radius arm bushings before and figured on replacing these as well. I was going to get polyeurathane bushings but I've heard good and bad. Will they negativley effect my ride or noise level? This rig is my highway cruiser and I drive alot so comfort is definetly a factor but handling performance is also. thanx

I haven't had to do pivots in quite a few years but I don't remember them as being insanely difficult or anything like that. Somewhat of a pain in the ass sure, but it's a pretty straightforward job. I *would* go with poly bushings. They ARE stiffer than the stock rubber bushings but it's not going to make the ride noticably harsher and if nothing else it's worth doing because the poly bushings will last several times longer than rubber ones will. Noise *can* be a problem but if you lubricate them generously it won't be an issue, this is also an advantage the poly bushing have because the grease (white lithium is my personal prefrence) won't break down the material like it does with the stockers. Generally speaking the guys who complain about noise & harshness are usually the ones who've gone & replaced *everything* in the front end with stiff poly (poly bushings are frequently available in different "hardnesses", the "duro" is the number that tells you just how stiff/hard the material is) and thay haven't lubricated it. Well ****'d bushings with a reasonable duro don't make any noise & last a *whole* lot longer than stock material bushings. It's a sensible upgrage and one that you should at least consider if you're planning to keep the truck for any length of time. Even if you *don't* keep the truck I'd keep the reciepts and be prepared to explain it to any prospective buyers, just so that they understand what they have in the truck and why you chose to do it (it's *always* good to be able to explain to a potential buyer what you did and why and it's even better if the explanation makes sense and you can get them to understand it)

 

[Justshootme84]

I have a write-up on replacing the axle pivot bushings in the Bronco frontend, should be a link in the Tech Articels forum. These are a PITA to change, since they are pressed into the axle beams and requirea tool similar to a balljoint press to both remove and install. I replaced all of the body and suspension bushings on the 84 Bronco with poly's from Daystar, which I bought from Rocky Mountain Suspension. I highly recommend them for all your poly bushing needs, and the Daystar brand has good products. Have had them on the Bronco for about five years with no wear or noise problems, and the improvement in the ride ocer the stock rubber bushings is well worth the samll added cost. I'll see if I can find the link to the article, and the special tool I made for the apb's, JSM84

Here you go:

http://broncozone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=9963

 

[eddie bauer]

Cool thanx for the info. I figured they were gonna pop out of there hard. lol. But I'll get em out. I ordered red Poly bushings made by energy suspension from Summit racing. I got the axel pivot bushings and the radius arm bushings for about $55 shipped to the door, not a bad price. I plan on tackling this next week since im stuck here in virginia till monday. But I'll let you know how bad or good of an experience it was thanx again.

 

[Justshootme84]

Hope you got the bushings with the metal sleeve on the outside. The ones i got from RMS only had the poly bushing, and I had to re-use the original metal sleeve from the old rubber ones. if you need to do this, takes more care to not butcher the old ones when taking them out. Some folks use an air chisel to drive them out, but that will destroy the sleeve. It can also damage the hole in the axle beam, making the new one fit too loose or off-center. If you need any advice when installing them, just post up and I'll try to help. It can take a good 30 minutes to an hour to get the old ones out. If you pry lip inward on the old bushings, it makes them easier to press out. They only go in one way - same as the old ones. So remember how you take them out, or which side of the beam they come out. I found using two jacks useful to help align the bolt hole for the bushing and bracket after you install the bushings. Use on jack to support the beam and the other under the hub for leverage. You still may need to use a long punch to line up the bolt hole on the frame bracket and axle beam hole, JSM84

 

[bidibronco]

Where are you at in virginia?

 

[eddie bauer]

I haven't seen the bushings yet but the pic showed a brass looking sleeve around the outside of the poly. They are made by energy suspension their stuff is usually pretty good. I have alift and everything at home, a good ball joint press and good air hammer so I think I can get them out. But I will take extra care not to damage the axel beam or the sleeve if I have to reuse it. I am in Norfolk Va right now for work, till sunday night then I'm headed back home. It's about 600 miles from home. I put some serious miles on the old girl, lol. But with the price of brand new trucks I can fix her and buy lots of gas, lol. Again thanx for the info.

 

[Justshootme84]

Yeah, the outer sleeve on the ES poly's is a gold color, just be sure the ones you get have the metal on the outside once you receive them.

 

[eddie bauer]

Well I got them changed. They fought hard the whole way. The radius arms bushings were the worst. I've never had that hard of a time changing them. But they're all changed and ready to go. I had to have an alignment done immediatly afterwords the toe in/out was so bad you could see it with the ***** eye. I drove it 10 miles to the alignment shop and it started chopping the front tires. But anyways the old girl is ready and it's never driven better. The steering response is good no noises or un wanted lane changes like before. So all in all it was worth all the frustration. I reccomed to anyone who is going to do this to bring your full 4 letter word book b'c ur gonna need it.