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Replacing rear spring eye bushings on a BN1. How difficult?

55modified

Senior Member
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Working on suspension. I want to "service" the rear springs by replacing the rubber spring eye bushings on each spring.

Question is: Is it worth the effort? Will they be impossible to get out? Require total removal to get them in a press to seat new bushings?

I did this on my 1954 Willy's Jeep and it made a big difference. My 55' springs look original so I bet they have never been replaced.
 
I bought new springs, which included new bushings. I disassembled them and inserted high-pressure teflon tape (a sailing product) between each leaf. This has worked nicely for > 10 years.

Do you still have the original zinc leaves between the springs? It's important for each leaf to slide adjacent to the other leaves - rather than sticking.

Any of this work will require removal of the springs. The hardest part is getting the front pins out. You need to soak them in Kroil or PB blaster. Then if they don't come out, saw them off with a sawzall.

There are many previous threads dealing with spring removal.
 
I burned out the old rubber to let me drift out the remaining steel sleeve. I made new bushes from nylon and sleeved them inside and out with turned stainless sleeves. Fitted it all up with new pins, drop shackle plates and so forth.I also greased the spring leaves and made and fitted gathers from wetsuit neoprene.
A fair bit of work but worth it I hope.
 
British cars came with leather gathers which were wrapped and tied around the leaf springs and had zerk fitted to keep the springs greased and able to work. Some of the cars, which are 60+ yrs. old I found with the original wraps, still have pretty nice springs, except hardened grease.
 
P.S. Went with what he said so not to confuse.
 
Sorry big fingers. I made tapered wetsuit rubber sleeves that I pulled over my greased springs. Similar in function to the old type gaiters. Just to keep the grit out.
 
Are BJ8 rear springs same width as BN1? Was thinking about those Prothane poly spring pads if they would fit.
 
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