Radius Arm Bushings

[doitnowkid]

Hi everybody!

I got lo's of good advice from roadkill, JSM84 and bad ass bronco. I went and bought the comealong and the new bushings. I removed the holding bolt on the radius arm. But, when I tried to find a hole to hook into on the radius arm, there was only an oval, rather large hole at the front of the arm. Also, no matter how hoard I try I can't seem to find a way to hook up to the frame, there is always something in the way. I tried to push the front tires with my foot, it moves the radius arm to the front about 2 inches, but then the front, 4 wheel, driveshaft extends to the maximum and I can't push any more. I only need about 2.5 inches to get the darn thing out. Another thing, when I move the radius arm, the whole front end moves with it. The same on the other side.

I thought about removing the plate, but it has only one bolt and the other three are rivets. It's very hard to get to and I am afraid to damage the break and fuel lines in the frame cavity. Interestingly on the other side the plate is held by bolts only. So worst come to worst I can always do that side by removing the plate. One thing, I didn't jack up the fron end. Was I supposed to do that? It seems like the radius arm moves more freely when the truck is on the ground.

Does anyone have any ideas, I would appreciate any suggestions. :-&

Doitnowkid

 

[Justshootme84]

IF you're skinning the cat by pulling the whole axle assembly forward in an attempt to clear the rear bracket, jack the wheels off the ground and put some jackstands under the frame. That will take all the weight of the body and engine off of the frontend. You also will need to disconnect the front driveshaft at the axle. Tie one end of the come-along to the axle beam, and the other to a good, solid anchor in front of the truck. As I've said, I don't really like this method compared to removing the bolts/rivets from the rear brackets and changing the bushings. To remove the 3 rivets on the bracket, you'll prolly have to let the suspension droop and let the radius arm hang down some from the frame to get a grinder or cutting wheel onthose bottom two rivets. They're right above the arm and somewhat hard to reach. I use a 4-1/2" hand-held grinder to remove the heads of the rivets, then punch them out. JSM84

 

[doitnowkid]

IF you're skinning the cat by pulling the whole axle assembly forward in an attempt to clear the rear bracket, jack the wheels off the ground and put some jackstands under the frame. That will take all the weight of the body and engine off of the frontend. You also will need to disconnect the front driveshaft at the axle. Tie one end of the come-along to the axle beam, and the other to a good, solid anchor in front of the truck. As I've said, I don't really like this method compared to removing the bolts/rivets from the rear brackets and changing the bushings. To remove the 3 rivets on the bracket, you'll prolly have to let the suspension droop and let the radius arm hang down some from the frame to get a grinder or cutting wheel onthose bottom two rivets. They're right above the arm and somewhat hard to reach. I use a 4-1/2" hand-held grinder to remove the heads of the rivets, then punch them out. JSM84

Thanks JSM84,

Guess I came to the same conclusion. I am not going to disconnect the front driveshaft. I will get an angle grinder and try it by removing the 3 rivets on the left side. Interestigly, there is one bolt on the left side and 3 rivets. As I said the passenger side has all bolts, I should be able to remove them without any trouble. I will keep you up on the progress. The bushings, that were on the radius arm, were put on there by a Ford dealer. They were rubber and the rubber just melted to a goo. They did it just a year and half ago. I am learning as I go along, thanks to you and the members on this forum. I really appreciate your time and all the help you have given me. Once I finish this I will tackle the fuel pump issue. First I check and change the relay then the fuel filter, if it doesn't work I do the pump job.

Thanks!

Doitnowkid

 

[Justshootme84]

I remembered someone saying that they didn't have a grinder or air chisel to remove the rivets. They drove to a local muffler/ fab shop, and had them torch off the rivets with an oxy-acetylene rig, then replace them with bolts. That's an option, and I think the P.O. of my 84 Bronco did that. (Used his own torch to cut the rivets out). It left the holes a bit sloppy from the torch, so I drilled them out to 1/2" with new Grade 8 bolts and nuts. You can find the Grade 8 bolts at any TSC Hardware, or most local auto parts stores. BE sure to use Loctite on the bolts, torque them to specs and re-check them after driving a few days. Good Luck, JSM84

 

[doitnowkid]

I remembered someone saying that they didn't have a grinder or air chisel to remove the rivets. They drove to a local muffler/ fab shop, and had them torch off the rivets with an oxy-acetylene rig, then replace them with bolts. That's an option, and I think the P.O. of my 84 Bronco did that. (Used his own torch to cut the rivets out). It left the holes a bit sloppy from the torch, so I drilled them out to 1/2" with new Grade 8 bolts and nuts. You can find the Grade 8 bolts at any TSC Hardware, or most local auto parts stores. BE sure to use Loctite on the bolts, torque them to specs and re-check them after driving a few days. Good Luck, JSM84

Hi,

You won't believe this but I did it. I finally installed the Radius Arm bushings. I will try to take some pictures later and post it here. Thanks for all your help JSM84, without you and some of the other guys I couldn't have done it. This is a great place and I am glad I joined this forum.

Next week I will tackle the fuel pump. The Bronco still drives, but I carry my rubber hammer with me. Just in case.

Have a great Memorial Day everyone!

Doitnowkid

 

[Justbust1n]

Hi,
You won't believe this but I did it. I finally installed the Radius Arm bushings. I will try to take some pictures later and post it here. Thanks for all your help JSM84, without you and some of the other guys I couldn't have done it. This is a great place and I am glad I joined this forum.

Next week I will tackle the fuel pump. The Bronco still drives, but I carry my rubber hammer with me. Just in case.

Have a great Memorial Day everyone!

Doitnowkid

yeah i would definatly check the holes that the revits where taken out of because i air cheseld mine and it made the hole oval or egg shaped , so i installed it not worrying about it , drove it for about 2 days like that and the front end felt a little goosie i took the braket back off and even though i basically impacted the bolts on it still had play and room to move around and that just made the holes worse so i had to drill them out and put bigger bolts on... just a precaution, hope it works out ..