Energy rear shackle bushing *solved*

TLDR; Final thought on Energy shackle bushings... The outside diameter is too large.

My leaf spring bushings were shot so I ordered Energy 8.2116g bushing kit for the springs and shackle. I opted not to use the new spring eye bushings because I was moving to a brand new leaf pack.

Now the trouble starts with the shackle bushings. Judging by the OME Dakar bushings, you are supposed to push the bushing into the sleeve/eye by head or with a little pressure. With the energy bushings we had to use a press/vice/all-thread.. Now you slide the metal sleeve through the center.. Again had to use the press.. But couldn't get it through the 'left' half of the bushing, it just kept catching and pressing it out.. Even if we could slide it through the 'right' side was under so much pressure that it squeezed out too..

I now see that OME offers bushings SB89(for stock shackles). @HeadStrong Off-Road is this for 2 shackles, reading (Pair)
http://www.headstrongoffroad.com/st...its_(Pair)_-_Greasable_and_Non-greasable.html FOR FIRST GENS...

@Crom I see you were looking at doing yours, any luck? https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2nd-gen-shackle-bushings.253507/

1st gen with same issue
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/lower-shackle-bushings-from-toytec-warning.152438/

 

Crap OME SB89 Is for 1st gens...

 

I ordered poly bushings from headstrong. I still have them in a box. I never attempted to replace the factory rubber bushing in the shackle because I was unsure how to remove the old rubber one at the time, and had tight time constraints.

I also had a hell of a time getting anyone to confirm the proper diameter bushing size for the shackle. It was assumed it would be the same as the leaf eye, but nobody was sure and, I still have my doubts.

 

Which ones did you order from headstrong? After this ordeal I can confirm the shackle diameter is smaller than the leaf eyes. We measured the energy shackle bushing and the shackle but in our frustration and heat exhaustion never wrote it down.. The energy set are all the same size diameter with different flanges for spring eye and shackle.

 

That sucks.

These are the ones that Headstrong sent me.

http://www.headstrongoffroad.com/store/p125/Poly_Bushing_and_Sleeves_for_Leaf_Pack_-_05__Tacoma.html



They are stamped with "2041" as the only visible marking.

I could over the next few days put a caliper on them to determine their OD...

Based on what your telling me, I suspect they might not fit the rear shackle eye...

I still have an interest in replacing mine... But I want to be sure I have right bushs before I take it apart.

 

I also now remember that I tried to buy the shackle bushing from ES separate, and they would not do it...

Have you contacted ES to see what they say about it not fitting? It would not be the first time they got something wrong with fitment on the second gens...

 

Judging that they're all marked the same, and my experience, I would say they are for the
leaf eyes. OME Dakar springs need the front bushings and the listing references that fact, so I believe these are comparable to the house brand kit wheelersoffroad sells.

I haven't contacted them yet, but I will.

 

@HeadStrong Off-Road Marie do y'all know of a bushing for the 2nd gen shackle?

 

I tried to install the shackle bushings from Energy last weekend,I had the same fitment issues. I called and they said that I had to remove the "Shell" from the inside of the shackle. This would be a sleeve that would decrease the ID of the shackle to fit the rubber stock bushings. The energy website said some shackles have them and some don't. I gues Ill have to see if this is the real problem or not, next time my springs are out. Does anyone know more about this "Shell" or sleeve for the shackle?

 

Mine did not have a sleeve. So that's just a bs excuse from them :sad:

 

Yes. I'm pretty sure my factory rubber bushing have a metal outer shell that's pressed into the shackle.



In this not-so-good photo, you can see that the bushing shell is rusty colored compared to the rest of the shackle

 

I wish I would've taken pics of mine when I removed the factory bushings. I have those flared edges on mine but they look to be one piece with the shackle. The inside of the shackle had a low half ring(blue) on one half and high half ring(red) around the other half, where it looked to be welded together. If there really is a sleeve in there I guess that's where the 2 halfs meet, and the one side was filled with crap?? I want to get my hands on another set to try and see if that comes out..

 

I just got 2 spare shackles lined up for pickup next month, that I will dick(cut) with and see if there is actually a sleeve in there.

 

Awesome!



Best thread ever on this subject!

 

I recently installed Dakars and put in the bushings from @HeadStrong Off-Road. They seem to be doing their job just fine. I hammered out the OEM style bushings that come in the Dakars with a hammer and large deep well socket. I have the brand new bushings from the Dakars if anyone wants them. $15 + shipping. Will fit in the $6.xx flat rate box. Call it $22 shipped.

 

So headstrong has shackle bushings, not just spring eye bushings?

 

So much for reading comprehension... I have the spring eye bushings - didn't touch the shackles. Shackle flip soon... might have shackle bushings then.

 

On your part or mine lol? We are talking shackle bushings and how Energy says there's a sleeve in there.

 

Is this what you mean? The factory bushing on the right and I think the ones OME included (they are marked 2247) on the left and middle. The OD of the metal sleeve is 1.580" and the OD of the poly bushing is 1.570". The ID of the metal sleeve on the factory bushing is 0.585" and the ID of the poly bushing sleeve is 0.565".