Spring Bushings Moving

[GregL]

When I bought my truck a couple years ago the front spring bushings looked a little beat up/worn so I replaced them. They were a tight fit as expected. A couple of weeks later I noticed both front bushing have walked out to the left. I pounded them back in, couple weeks later same thing. Rear bushings have not moved. Truck is straight, no hits, no heavy off-roading. Drives straight down the highway, no tire wear or pull/drift.
Your thoughts?
Greg

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[Honky Kong jr]

When I bought my truck a couple years ago the front spring bushings looked a little beat up/worn so I replaced them. They were a tight fit as expected. A couple of weeks later I noticed both front bushing have walked out to the left. I pounded them back in, couple weeks later same thing. Rear bushings have not moved. Truck is straight, no hits, no heavy off-roading. Drives straight down the highway, no tire wear or pull/drift.
Your thoughts?
Greg

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Are the springs OEM? Where did the bushings come from? How did you get the old ones out?

 

[GregL]

It has newer aftermarket springs. The orig. owner replaced them not long before I bought the truck. Pressed out the old bushings, pressed in the new ones. They were tight.

 

[Honky Kong jr]

It has newer aftermarket springs. The orig. owner replaced them not long before I bought the truck. Pressed out the old bushings, pressed in the new ones. They were tight.

Almost seams like the spring eye has opened as if the heat treating process was substandard.

 

[GregL]

I just don't know HK, bushings seem to be a pretty tight fit. Both sides on the front are doing the same thing but the rear bushings on the front springs are staying in place.

 

[Honky Kong jr]

I just don't know HK, bushings seem to be a pretty tight fit. Both sides on the front are doing the same thing but the rear bushings on the front springs are staying in place.

The front eyes don't have the movement the rears eyes do and don't take as much force. If the front eyes weren't tempered properly they will be the first to open up because they take more of a pounding. I'm not a metallurgist and I don't play one on tv but the eyes would of had to open up if that bushing is sliding out.

 

[74 Shortbed]

WOW, I've never seen that before...

 

[theblindchicken]

The only way I see that the bushing could move out on its own is if there is now less friction between the bushing and spring than when it was originally installed. Perhaps the bushings you replaced were a touch undersized (talking mere thousandths) or like others have said, the spring eye has opened up enough to allow the movement as well.

 

[yevgenievich]

My stock bushing on a stock spring walked similar. Aftermarket poly bushings should have a shoulder on both sides. I had to pull spring back to install with a new set.
Edit: yours is a bit different, it moved on a metal sleeve part instead of rubber. The aftermarket springs are probably a bit off and might work with a poly bishings that have a shoulder

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[GregL]

Yev, that's exactly what I'm talking about. Same issue. Did you switch up to the poly bushings and did it solve the problem? If the poly bushings have a shoulder does that mean they have no steel sleeve?
Greg

 

[Craig 85]

I had Tuff Country springs in my '79. I switched to ORD bushings as they were greaseable. They have the metal sleeve. I don't recall if the orginal Tuff Country's did, but I believe most poly bushings do.

http://offroaddesign.com/catalog/hdshackles.htm

 

[yevgenievich]

I am using greasable offroad design poly bushings. There is a metal sleeve inside.

Yev, that's exactly what I'm talking about. Same issue. Did you switch up to the poly bushings and did it solve the problem? If the poly bushings have a shoulder does that mean they have no steel sleeve?
Greg

 

[Honky Kong jr]

My Energy Suspension ones have a sleeve too and I don't think there is room for any slide out movement.

 

[highdesertrange]

aftermarket springs have poly bushings with shoulders and a steel inner sleeve no outer sleeve. it appears you have installed factory bushings on aftermarket springs, not correct. highdesertranger

 

[GregL]

HDR, this is the same style bushing that was in the spring when I got the truck. I suppose they could have been tbe wrong bushings as well.
I will try to locate the shouldered poly bushings.
Thanks