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By Rono - 9 Years Ago
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Well I got the parking brake cable issue resolved by leaving the stock 56 Ranch Wagon one piece cable in place because they did have the same cable ends as those on the 57 rear. While things are apart I thought I would replace the bushings (front and rear ) on the leaf springs. This created another problem when I found that for some reason Ford used a larger diameter front leaf spring bushing in the Ranch Wagon than in the passenger car. The rear leaf spring shakle bushings are no problem. Why would they do this? I bought the new front bushings only to find that they are about 0.050" too small after I pressed out one of the old front bushings, which, by the way, did not come out complete. Still have the outer steel sleeve stuck in the spring eye. No one seems to carry the Ranch Wagon front leaf spring bushings, but I may have a lead on a pair. So, assuming I can locate a pair of these what would be a good way to install them? Freeze the bushing and heat the spring eye and then try pressing or hammering them in?
Thanks,
Rono
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By The Master Cylinder - 9 Years Ago
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That's odd. I didn't have that problem on my '55 Ranch.
I used my hydraulic press to press the old front bushings out and and new ones in.
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By aussiebill - 9 Years Ago
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Rono (10/18/2015)
Well I got the parking brake cable issue resolved by leaving the stock 56 Ranch Wagon one piece cable in place because they did have the same cable ends as those on the 57 rear. While things are apart I thought I would replace the bushings (front and rear ) on the leaf springs. This created another problem when I found that for some reason Ford used a larger diameter front leaf spring bushing in the Ranch Wagon than in the passenger car. The rear leaf spring shakle bushings are no problem. Why would they do this? I bought the new front bushings only to find that they are about 0.050" too small after I pressed out one of the old front bushings, which, by the way, did not come out complete. Still have the outer steel sleeve stuck in the spring eye. No one seems to carry the Ranch Wagon front leaf spring bushings, but I may have a lead on a pair. So, assuming I can locate a pair of these what would be a good way to install them? Freeze the bushing and heat the spring eye and then try pressing or hammering them in? Thanks, Rono
try measureing inner diameter of stuck outer bush and seee if new bush will just pressinto it. when fitting rear spring eye bushs, i drive screwdriver type wedge into end of eye to partially open it to start bush.
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By Dobie - 9 Years Ago
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And slather everything well with silicone spray lube.
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By 62bigwindow - 9 Years Ago
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Freezing the won't shrink them enough. I would heat the eye end also and a little oil will help. Do you have a local spring shop? I plan to have the rear springs on my 56 wagon taken apart and new pads put in between the springs. They cross referenced and found a bushing that was the right diameter but a smidgen longer. They said they could cut them off the right length no problem.
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By Rono - 9 Years Ago
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Do you have a brand name and a part number for the longer bushing in case my source doesn't work out? Closest local spring shop is 3 hours from me, but if they are just a bit longer I think I can cure that.
Rono
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By Rono - 9 Years Ago
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AussieBill;
The new bushings (made in India) I bought from "MAC"s Auto Parts, dropped right through the stuck remainder of the old bushing. No way it could be correct. Good tip about driving a wedge in the eye slot to free up that stuck piece. I'll definitely try that.
Thanks,
Rono
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By 62bigwindow - 9 Years Ago
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No sorry I didn't ask. I was going to have them installed when they did my springs. It will be a while before I get there. Any spring shop that has been around a while should have the books to find the 56 part number and then cross reference the size of the bushing.
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By MoonShadow - 9 Years Ago
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Try to find a socket that will fit in the spring eye and contact the bushing shell. Hit with hammer, sometimes a lot, and it should come out. I would be afraid of affecting the spring temper with too much heat. Chuck
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By 57RancheroJim - 9 Years Ago
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Beware of some of these replacement bushings they are Chinese rubber crap. I replaced the fronts on my 57 and in less then six months the rubber had collapsed ( I think I got them from Macs ). I ended up getting some polyurethane ones that I had to cut down to fit.
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By Rono - 9 Years Ago
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Thanks Jim! Good to know! The MAC's bushings for the front eye on the leaf springs of the Ranch Wagon were too small on the O.D.
I did a lot of searching including Energy Systems poly bushings which also didn't have a universal bushing that would fit. Finally my wife found a company that advertised through JEG's "Rare Parts" that manufactures their own bushings here in the USA. I called them today and gave them the dimensions of the stock bushings and they have a direct fit for the 56 Ranch Wagon (at $38.00/ea.) so I bought them. Let you know how they work out.
Rono
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By MoonShadow - 9 Years Ago
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Do they have a catalog?
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By 57RancheroJim - 9 Years Ago
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Thanks Ron, that good to know. I hope I don't have to pull the springs again I'm getting to old for that. The poly ones are in about 2 years now, so far so good..
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By 2721955meteor - 9 Years Ago
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i used my hack saw,took it apart sliped the fine good blade iside the bushing shall made a cut then used a tapered chisel to colaps the bushing.not easey butvworked
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By Rono - 9 Years Ago
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The first bushing I tried to remove with my arbor press came out in 2 pieces and I had to use some heat, the screwdriver method and a metric socket and heavy hammer to get the outer shell of the bushing out of the eye. The second bushing I tried Aussie Bills idea from the start and wedged a standard screwdriver blade where the curl of the spring eye meets the flat part of the spring and this time my press got the bushing out in one piece.
The bushings are coming from Stockton, CA
Rono
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By 57RancheroJim - 9 Years Ago
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I don't have a press so I use a 1/2' drive socket on one side, a larger deep socket on the receiving side with a piece of allthread going through the socket/bushing/socket and a nut on each end and as you tighten them the bushing gets pressed out. Same method to install but without the receiving socket, just a large washer..
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By Rono - 9 Years Ago
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Here are some pictures of the leaf spring parts and the differences between the 56 and 57 lower spring plate that the U bolts attach to. 57 on the left. Mounting hole locations are the same, but the lower shock mount location is different. Also the weird cup that the top shock mount attaches to on the wagons.    Rono
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