by Thanks, Buddy,,,,,,you sure are right about those spring and shock bolts,and even King Pins,,,,some are REALLY in there and are rusted in,,,,in that case, my solution is the Ball Joint installer clamp,,,,,NOTHING can stop it from pushing
+7
thatcherworks
panelmanrd
Big W
m1dadio
Twinpilot001
Space Truckin
donivan65
11 posters
65 sportvan spring bushings
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12220
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
panelmanrd- Number of posts : 801
Location : kcmo
Age : 63
Registration date : 2009-10-04
I did a set of these bushings on a dodge van,
had to use a sazall to cut the bolt between the
spring and the hanger bracket on both sides then
used a 1/4 inch drill to drill out the rubber then
cut out the outer sleeve with an air chisel, then
used the c clamp tool to install the new one, was
not that bad.
had to use a sazall to cut the bolt between the
spring and the hanger bracket on both sides then
used a 1/4 inch drill to drill out the rubber then
cut out the outer sleeve with an air chisel, then
used the c clamp tool to install the new one, was
not that bad.
panelmanrd- Number of posts : 801
Location : kcmo
Age : 63
Registration date : 2009-10-04
hey donivan what energy suspension bushing kit
did you say fit the 2nd gens perfect? I need to get
some for my 68 energy suspension also makes neopremes
for the shackles, order them for the 55 chevys.
did you say fit the 2nd gens perfect? I need to get
some for my 68 energy suspension also makes neopremes
for the shackles, order them for the 55 chevys.
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12220
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
Rakehell in North Carolina told me his 69 has 1.125 metal cartridges in the front and 1.500 ones in the rear, so I went down to National Spring and put together a kit for him,,,,,the sleeves are 3" long but you need 3 3/8",,, I added the extra sleeve to cut up to make up the differences,,,So if thats what you need, you can call up Ben at National Spring at 619 258-2724 and ask him to sell you one of Don's North Carolina Bushing Kits,,,,it will be $55 plus about $10 shipping,,,,He might have to order some of those pieces,,,,and the shackle bushings you get from sdtrucksprings.com,,,,like $6 for a bag of 4,,,,,
thatcherworks- Number of posts : 102
Location : south lake tahoe
Registration date : 2012-07-14
will this work for my 67? i need bushings bad! also need new bolts and shackles as well.
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12220
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
I think it will,,,,,see if you got 3" springs and 1 1/8" bushings in front,,, 1 1/2" in the rear,,,,,,you need 4 of those HB930 bushings for each shackle,,,,they don't make the rear metal cartridge bushings so you need the poly urethane ones and a metal sleeve to fit over the bolt,,,,,they do make the metal ones for the fronts or use the same set up as the rear,,,,( rears use a bigger bushing,,,,,I could cruise by the spring shop in my travels and take them a shackle and those special bolts and see what they have,,,,,maybe even a sleeve that fits bushings so you could use normal bolts,,,,and you could just make shackles out of flat steel stock,,,,,,RakeHell says he ordered the North Carolina special and it fit his van OK,,,,,
thatcherworks- Number of posts : 102
Location : south lake tahoe
Registration date : 2012-07-14
will measure them tomorrow. i definatly need this part of the van fixed. sounds extra rattly down there and it freaks me out. thanks!
thatcherworks- Number of posts : 102
Location : south lake tahoe
Registration date : 2012-07-14
well the front springs are around 3 maybe a hair narrower and the rears are about 3 1/8. i havent removed them to see what the bushing size is. the rear looks fatter than the front so i think thats it. i have a little lathe so hopefully if something doesnt fit i could do some modifications.
thatcherworks- Number of posts : 102
Location : south lake tahoe
Registration date : 2012-07-14
allright so i ordered the kit from national spring but when i search for the bushings on sd trucksprings nothing comes up.
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12220
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
I just came from National Spring,,,,,they say the shackles and bolts are no longer available, just cut some steel stock and drill two 9/16" holes in them and use the HB 930 stock bushings with normal 9/16" bolts,,,,but you need to be careful that you don'r squash the bushings,,,,and I don't trust that the nuts will not work loose if you do it this way,,,maybe loktite them,,,,,if you put a sleeve on the bolts, you will need a bigger type of bushing, like those poly urethane ones to do the shackle ends,,,,and here is the HB 930 link,,,search BUSHINGS/HARRIS/ find HB 930 ,,,,,,,,(Nation Spring has the HB 930 for $3.50 each right now)
http://www.sdtrucksprings.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=8959
http://www.sdtrucksprings.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=8959
thatcherworks- Number of posts : 102
Location : south lake tahoe
Registration date : 2012-07-14
ok cool. i really appreciate the help a lot don!. I think i am finally able to figure out what im looking at with this stuff. so if i have the right sleeve that should prevent any squashing. ill use locktite and a nylock nut for these things i guess.
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12220
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
Thats the story of our life here,,,,make stuff work since they don't make that stuff any more,,,,,the stock bolts have that built in sleeve that bottoms out the 2 shackles and lets you tighten the hell out of the bolts so they don't squash the rubber bushings like we do with cork valve cover gaskets,,,,,you could add some kind of sleeve over smaller bolts to do the same thing,,,,the sleeves need to be 3 5/8" to allow those bushings to breathe,,,, and I am talking the 2nds gens 1967-70, here,,,,they have 3" wide springs,,,,,the 1964-66, 1st Gens only have 2" wide springs, so the bushings, bolt lengths and sizes are different, but the systems are the same.....
thatcherworks- Number of posts : 102
Location : south lake tahoe
Registration date : 2012-07-14
im sure as soon as they are in my hands i can figure something out. thanks!
thatcherworks- Number of posts : 102
Location : south lake tahoe
Registration date : 2012-07-14
Don could i ask for a favor?so i ordered the bushings but ben hasent been able to fill my order yet and wanted to get a hold of you to clarify some things. i answered all the questions i could but if you could talk to ben and answer some stuff i would really appreciate it.
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12220
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
Send me a PM and tell me the whole story,,,,,
mbasaraba- Number of posts : 823
Location : North Central Alabama
Registration date : 2009-01-08
Wow super confused after reading all of this. So many different part numbers going off at different times.
Need to order from 2 different places or did you say calling about "Don's Special Kit" has everything I will need?
I have to replace my King Pins and since I have it all apart I want to replace the spring bushing and tie rod ends.
Need to order from 2 different places or did you say calling about "Don's Special Kit" has everything I will need?
I have to replace my King Pins and since I have it all apart I want to replace the spring bushing and tie rod ends.
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12220
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
IF you have the stock springs, both the 1st and 2nd Gens use the same HB 930 bushings in their shackles,,,,and since the bushings are REALLY for the wider 3" springs on the 2nd Gens, you need to trim them down to fit the 2" wide 1st Gen springs,,,,one site has them and they are cheaper,,,,the other, a Spring Shop, sometimes have them and cost more,,,,now the front metal cartridges are a WHOLE DIFFERENT story,,,,and since they don't make the special 3" springs on a 2nd Gen, people use the 2 1/2" aftermarket ones if they need springs,,,,,and this means all kinds of different size bushings are needed,,,,,My North Carolina kit is set up for the 2nd Gens ONLY, to make it easy to get all those bushings and sleeves needed to replace the metal cartridges in the forward ends of the springs,,,the 1st Gens use those other bushings and sleeves,,,,,it's just the part numbers from the Spring Shop,,,,
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12220
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
mbasaraba- Number of posts : 823
Location : North Central Alabama
Registration date : 2009-01-08
Don,
Thank you so much for a great straight forward response! So I need 4 sets of what is listed here or this is just for the front? Which would be double everything shown above for just the front.
Thank you so much for a great straight forward response! So I need 4 sets of what is listed here or this is just for the front? Which would be double everything shown above for just the front.
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12220
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
What you see above is for a 1st Gen, 1964-66,,,,and you would need 4 black bushings for the shackle and 2 red with a sleeve for the front end of a spring to replace that original metal cartridge. that covers 1 spring,,,,,you need to be sure they sell you the correct sleeves,,,,,2nd Gens are different,,,,you need at least a 3" x 9/16" bolt hole sleeve,,,,and then cut it down to fit the perch which is about 2 5/8" wide,,,,,,you would have to get those from Ben at National Spring,,,,,he might also have the HB 930's but I think he charges $14 for a bag of 4 bushings,,,,,,,thats why I mention the $5.95 a bag of 4 bushings at the other bushing site,,,,,and you need 4 bags, (16 bushings) to cover all 4 shackles on your springs,,,,,
mbasaraba- Number of posts : 823
Location : North Central Alabama
Registration date : 2009-01-08
I got those book marked. What about the set M1D posted? I can call Ben I guess, just hate giving my CC number over the phone after that Applebee's waitress bought a $1200 laptop with my debit card info last month. Has made me real nervous about not using PayPal.
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12220
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
You would have to ask M1d if they fit correctly,,,,I know the ones that I use do,,,,,,National Spring seems like a safe place to buy,,,,,people here use them,,,,,
m1dadio- Chevy Guru
- Number of posts : 1778
Location : north saanich
Registration date : 2008-10-06
What Don Said!
I only did the front eyes of the rear springs on a 65.
What I used fit perfectly, I think one rubber had to be shaved 1/8". I used Dons information to find bushings where I live. It so happens that what I needed can be had in kit form. If I remember I think its a ford F100 or bronko from the 70s and is the same thing Don shows in individual pieces. If you want to research the parts go to the Energy suspension web site and catalog.
M1D
I only did the front eyes of the rear springs on a 65.
What I used fit perfectly, I think one rubber had to be shaved 1/8". I used Dons information to find bushings where I live. It so happens that what I needed can be had in kit form. If I remember I think its a ford F100 or bronko from the 70s and is the same thing Don shows in individual pieces. If you want to research the parts go to the Energy suspension web site and catalog.
M1D
mbasaraba- Number of posts : 823
Location : North Central Alabama
Registration date : 2009-01-08
Thanks guys! I appreciate both your help with it. I followed the link you had M1D. Was just curious how they had worked.
I ordered the bushing listed from Don and will call Ben about the others later today!
Really want to get my van back together and on the road. Now to locate tie rod ends and the pivot on the steering arm.
I ordered the bushing listed from Don and will call Ben about the others later today!
Really want to get my van back together and on the road. Now to locate tie rod ends and the pivot on the steering arm.
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12220
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
The tie rods are easy to find,,,there is a left and a right,,,,,HOWEVER,,,,,the ball joints on the pitman arm and steering knuckle are part of the Drag Link,,,,,now that,,,,,is a problem,,,,,
