Changing Shackels and Bushings

Don't want to seem stupid but I am going to change the shackels and bushings on the 5 this weekend and wanted to know some tips or tricks as I have never changed them before. Any help on the best way to do it would be appreciated.

 

Should be pretty simple to do. Or at least I have never had a problem with it. Just unbolt and swap parts. Don't know any of too many tricks to doing it but some others on here may know of some.

 

I thought it should be easy just figured I would ask before starting. The bolts have been in there so long I will probably have to cut or torch them off.

 

Oh boy, are you in for a treat! Make sure you've got torches to burn the old bushing rubber out. Then use the air chisle to get the steel outer part of the old bushing out. Trust me...If you don't have an air chisle, go get one. Otherwise, you need to take a hacksaw blade and split the steel and use a hand chisle and hammer to do it. Very time consuming AMHIK!!!

 

X2. Btdt

 

To give a bit more detail, the outer part of the old bushing will be rusted into place. This is where the problem is. Once you bend a little "corner" up, hit it with PB Blaster and go to town with the air chisle. It will save you HOURS of work.

The first bushing took me an hour and a half by hand. I went to TSC and bought a cheap air chisle. The next one took me 10 minutes

 

I agree with this. Most of the ones that I have done were on old Jeeps that I got where the old bushings were pretty much gone and once you the the bolts out, everything else isn't much trouble. Some though, I have had to use the torch on. The torch is my best friend on just about any project though.

 

Should I go with rubber or poly bushings?

 

Probably a personal choice really. I went Poly because they seem to stand up better under wear and tear, and are resistant to oil/gas, etc. You might pay more now, but you won't have to replace as often, depending on what you do with the Jeep.

 

I braced a box end wrench against the frame, then used an air ratchet to pop the old bolts right out.

The REAL booger was putting the new springs on and then trying to bolt up the new bolts... the bolts were tapered... wider at the base than at the end.

 

I'd go with poly and greasable shackle bolts.