hey all, so i started on my RA bushing install today, had a hell of a time removing the arm from the bracket. i ended up using a ratcheting strap to pull it out, but now it wont go back in.
i removed the lower shock bolt, removed the upper spring bracket, compressed the spring, and it still wont go in.
to add insult to injury, on the way out of the bracket the threads of the stud on the bracket got mangled.
what am i doing wrong? i'd like to finish this this weekend if at all possible.
thanks!

 

Would have saved a bit of a head ache just removing the bracket, And now the arm wont go back into the bracket? You must have torqued it back pretty far to get it out and hope nothing got damaged in the process. Which part of did you ratchet on to pull out?

 

i attached the strap to the axle and the front of the frame. my bracket is riveted on, and removing it is still an option, albeit one i'd rather not do.

 

How does the lip look on the bracket? Its supposed to be about 1/4" that the bushing seats to. If that lip is gone or worn a new bushing is just going to get ruined again in no time. I also needed to use a ratchet cable to get it back in to get the alignment back but not to torque it forward. Look around that nothing is out of place. I just ratcheted it from the front axle to the back and pulled it into place.

 

the lip is a little mangled, i'm going to pick a new bracket up tomorrow or tuesday. so i've ground off the heads of the rivets and how am trying to punch them out. just a hammer and a punch, right, unless i have an air hammer (which i don't).

 

i need to replace my passenger side bushing and looking at how hard this can be i am having a shop do it for 150 parts included. got to remember to get them to check the bracket

 

I just did mine yesterday... Took 3 hours removed the brackets and bolted back on... Quick n simple

 

I replaced mine a couple of years ago. My truck's brackets had bolts, so I guess someone had already removed them before me. Lucky me, I guess.

 

lucky you. mine are getting bolts and nuts too, cause i have to replace the brackets (that lip sylvan mentioned was indeed a bit banged up, so out it goes). i'm picking up the new bracket from ford today, $33.
going to my local hardware store for a half inch drill bit and new nuts and bolts. La Tortuga will be on the road again real soon.

 

i do have an air hammer, as well as a cobalt drill bit. are there any drawbacks to using the air hammer to pound the rivet stubs out vs. drilling them out?