Leaf Spring Bushings

[bm52]

Ordered a set of Polygraphite Leaf Spring Bushings from PST today, they are the only bushings they offer for a '69 4x4. I was kinda dissappointed with the phone rep, he couldn't provide real answers to any of my questions (Does the rear leaf spring bushing kit contain 6 sets of bushings, 3 for each side? - response: Well it says it's a kit so it must have 6 in it )

He also couldn't answer my question about the outer shells, so I thought I would ask it here: Do I need to re-use my old ones, do the new ones come with outer shells, or do the PST polygraphite bushings not need outer shells?

[FORDification]

They don't need shells. See the photos of the removal of my bushings on THIS PAGE, and then the installation of the exact same PST bushings on THIS PAGE .

I don't believe 4x4s ever came with the Flexomatic rear shackle setup, so your truck should need 6 per side...2 for the front spring eye, and 4 for the rear shackle (2 top, 2 bottom).

[bm52]

Thanks Keith for the info, I had read through your project pages and thought that maybe they didn't need the outer shells, but I wasn't sure. Mine does not have the Flexomatic rear shackle, so 6 per side is correct.

I wish they offered some of the front bushings for my truck, I will have to replace all of them. Are there any other suppliers that offer polygraphite bushings for our trucks?

[FORDification]

I don't have any experience with 4x4s, so I'm just guessing here, but I'm thinking there shouldn't be a difference in the diameter of the spring eyes/shackles for the front springs vs. the rear springs. If this IS the case, then you could just order another set of rear bushings for the front. However, you should definitely measure them first, just to make sure. And hopefully someone with more experience in this area can chime in too.

['75-4x4guy]

Try these guys : http://www.energysuspension.com/
I bought a kit and did the bushings on my '75 F100 4x4 .
Your 1969 should be very similar ie; track bar radius arms and the "c" bushings .
If you are going to keep the truck at the STOCK height then you could use part # 4.7104.
That number should have everything you need and belive me it makes a noticeable difference in the way the truck handles .

[hardtailjohn]

Bm52,
Let me know what you find out about the front bushings as well... I'm in the same boat with a '70 4x4. I'm not really wanting to hear the squeak that the red bushings have, and thought the ones that Keith was pointing out would be great... but if I gotta, then I gotta.
John H.

[bm52]

Thanks for the link to Energy Suspension. It looks like their polyurethane front end bushing kit, part #4.7104 will fit 4x4 trucks from 66-79 year models. So does this mean the 4x4 suspension on 66-79 year model trucks is the same?

PST has a polygraphite kit for 4x4's from 72-75, one for 76-77, and one for 78-82. They don't have any 4x4 kits for any trucks earlier than '72. But I wonder if the '72 model kit would work for a '69?

I guess this is part of the fun of fixing up one of these trucks, trying to figure out what will work and what won't?

['75-4x4guy]

I bet that the '72 set will work on your '69
if you could post some pictures of the front end of your truck I could compare them to my front end (1975) and that may narrow your search down a little

[bm52]

OK, I'll take some pics tomorrow after work and post 'em. Thanks for the help!

[bm52]

Here are some pics of the front suspension of our truck. Does this look like the '75 set-up (minus the rust)?

['75-4x4guy]

IT looks like the exact same thing on my truck I dont know why they have different part numbers .
The energy suspension fits great and works better then the stock rubber .
If you choose to use the energy kit you wont be disapointed

[hardtailjohn]

BM52, Take that bent tie rod and cut it in half and throw it in the garbage, and make sure nobody ever tries to use it again!!! That's a wreck waiting to happen!!! ALL of your steering components need to be checked for straightness, and if they're bent, throw them away! The strength of them depends on a straight line action on them... just like a piece of straw... so when they get crooked, they fail. The only thing under there that should have a curve in it is the tracking rod, where it is curved to miss the front differential.
John H.

[bm52]

I was wondering if anyone would notice that, yea it's pretty messed up. A replacement center link and drag link just arrived at the house yesterday, so we can trash the bent ones. That's what happens when you pull a truck out of a ditch by wrapping a chain around the steering linkage.

[bm52]

Just an update, ordered a set of Energy Suspension polygraphite bushings for the front end today. Hardtailjohn, I'll let you know how they work out.

['75-4x4guy]

I think they will work out just fine for you , I dont notice any squeaking noises from mine . let us know how it works out.