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

  Ron Lane,  Meridian, ID

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.

"The Master Cylinder"

Enjoying life at the beach in SOCAL

 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.




  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

And slather everything well with silicone spray lube.

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.

Durham Missouri

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

  Ron Lane,  Meridian, ID

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

  Ron Lane,  Meridian, ID

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.

Durham Missouri

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

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

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.