Energy rear shackle bushing *solved*

Exactly. So that's the Old Man Emu bushing on the left and factory on right? For the shackle and not spring eye?

 

That's exactly right. It's the metal shell on the factory bushing that seems to be causing the problem.

Thank you for your pics!

 

The reading comprehension problem was mine. I have nothing to contribute to the conversation.

 

The metal/rubber bushing is a factory bushing and I'm about 95% sure the poly ones are what OME sent with my springs. They are both for the shackle side of the springs. My OME set had a set of bushing already install in front, which appear to me to be factory style.

I have a set of red Energy Suspension bushing marked 2176 as well but I think they were for 89-95 and 1st gen springs. But FWIW they measure 0.565" ID of the sleeve and 1.625" OD on the bushing.

 

That would do it, the ID of that sleeve is about 1.365" (very roughly, it's kind of an eyeball with the caliper) and I suspect would be a very tough fit.

 

Now do I still get that extra set or take mine out and cut the sleeves out?

 

Extra set of which?

I'd cut or press out any sleeve, which is probably supposed to still be attached to the rubber of the original bushing but has torn off.

 

Extra set of shackles I found that a friend has.

 

Copy that. If it was me I'd start with fresh shackles - get out the old stuff, coat of paint, fit in new bushings.

 

Tackled this today. I used a redneck press to press out the rubber and inner sleeve, then cut slits in the flange with my Dremel then made a cut down through the sleeve with a metal cutting blade on my jigsaw, and finally hammered it out. The Energy bushings slide in by hand and the inner sleeve is a little tight so I put it back on the press with minimal pressure.

 

Hell yeah! Handled like a boss.

 

That's a 1.5" pvc coupler, I did end up squashing it because the 2nd bushing was a little more "at home" than the first.

 

Thanks for the pics! Ill see if mine have that, now that I assembled it all back together!

 

@Sandman614

I picked up a set of spare stock shackles a while back to work on.

I cut / drilled the rubber on the flange outta the way, then used some fire.



Here is a nice shot of the two shells, if you look inside you can see they don't quite touch in the middle.


Gonna make some cuts like you I think.

 

Sweet, cutting is the ticket.

 

The TLDR makes it sound like these tests were failures, but the last two posts in this thread look like you guys made some progress? Maybe I'm mistaken.

So no replacement bushings successfully fit in the shackles yet? Thanks for the R&D work regardless.

 

The energy bushings fit.

 

The ones out of the 8.2116 kit? (with sleeve removal)

EDIT: PM'd him to clarify and yes, they fit.

 

Did you put in greasable bolts? @Sandman614 @Crom

 

No