Change the front bushings in your Dakars

Ok. Thank you. hopefully I'll just be able to hammer it out

 

The passenger side hammered out without putting up a fight. The driver's side argued with me a little. It might have had something to do with the gas tank being in the way enough to make me swing the hammer a weird way using my right hand (I'm left handed). If you can get them out enough to get some large channel locks around the outer sleeve you should be able to wiggle it out the rest of the way.

Where in LA are you located?

 

Last question, are the front and rear spring eyes the same size? I know on stock leafs they are.

 

yes they are. I used the same poly bushings on both ends. Feel free to ask questions. I remember a time when this forum was all about asking questions instead of posting memes and bashing 3rd gens.

 

Ah ok. Maybe being right handed might come in handy this time around. Ive had to take the leafs off way too many times the past couple months Im just really hoping not to have to take em off again. Lol.

Im in Highland Park, a couple miles away from DTLA, but I'm between here and Orange County a lot

 

Cool thanks. A question in a meme but it's fun to bash third gens

 

I'm going to do Dakars from Wheelers soon, and I appreciate the time and hassle and squeaks that you all are saving me here. Cheers!

 

IDK if these would help on new leafs but the used ones I'm picking up are getting liners.
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Leaf-Spring-Liner-with-Lip-2-1-4-Inch,39823.html

 

I can confirm that these bushings for the Dakars. Also added these liners to my pack held in place with 3M clear(acrylic) tape. I used 8in pieces on between the top 3 leafs, the ones without the hockey pucks. We'll see how it holds up after a weekend of offroading.

 

Ghost-ship, thanks so much for the post and questions. I used this post yesterday! The stock bushing was dry as shit. No trace of lube at all!!

 

You got it! FWIW, I think the stock rubber bushing doesn't "require" grease per Toyota spec. But that's a decision that was likely made for the passenger car/truck market and not something that was taken into consideration for off-roaders or people looking for maximum flex out of their suspension. We are the minority after all.

 

Thanks to @GHOST SHIP for loaning me the tool I was able to get it done this weekend. Super simple job with the tool. I also loosened the hangar nuts (I misread the manual and had em torqued to 120) and that in combination with the front bushing makes the rear end feel a little bit better (could just be in the head though)

 

I had this same problem after installing my Dakars. I could hear clunks when the leafs shifted from left to right on the front bushings. I was able to hammer the OEM bushings out of the front eyelet with no problems. I replaced the bushings with a set I got from @YotaDan at Wheeler's Offroad. Much better now.

 

If any of you guys have to do it again , would you go with maybe a custom Deaver or Alcan pack ? Or one of the choices from wheeler or all pro? My truck will be running OME 888 in the front, and unloaded 99.9% of the time except for a few bicycles.

 

Thanks for the puller idea, I bought a pack of dakars used with 20k miles on them and am having a bitch of a time getting the old OEM Bushings out, I was about to torch them out but might try this first.

 

Yeah that manual had me messed up too, but I hadn't noticed the key in the lower left until someone pointed it out to me. I was always torqueing things down tight and figured there was no way I was putting 120 lbs of effort using a regular socket wrench and an open end. The new squishiness in your rear end is the leafpack moving/rotating freely now. I noticed it too, but like I said, I knew my hangers were binding so that limited a lot of my movement.

 

I'm still really happy with my Dakars as are a lot of members. One thing I will point out is that if you don't plan on having any weight in the rear, expect your truck to sit really ass-high until the springs break in. Once they settle, you should be good but some people are a bit more finicky about minutia than I am. Extra weight in the bed for the first month or two should speed up the break in time- water containers, sandbags, cement, local fat chicks (they need love too), etc.

 

Those aren't foot-pounds, dude, they're Newton-meters.
The number you are looking for is 89.
120 newton meters = 89 foot pounds.

 

Thank you for posting this. I have to tackle this job due to a bushing that got torn up for a different reason; one I discovered after a fairly lengthy off road trip.


I will be re-torquing suspension bolts more frequently in the future.
Got the bushings from Wheeler's and made a copy of your tool with junk on hand. Swapping this weekend.

 

That's weird. I just installed some dakars last weekend and mine didn't come with the front bushings. I ordered the wheelers bushing set for them just to have better bushings. Glad I did though since mine didn't come with any already on the leafs