Radius Arm Bushing Installation on a 1977 Ford F-150
- 1). Park the F-150 on a level, paved surface and set the parking brake. Loosen the lug nuts on the front wheels. Raise the front of the F-150 and support it with jack stands. Finish removing the front wheels
- 2). Position the floor jack underneath the outside of the axle on which you are working. Raise the jack until it just starts to lift the axle. Use a ratchet and socket to remove the bolt from the lower shock absorber mount. Push the shock absorber out of the mount.
- 3). Use a ratchet and socket to remove the two bolts from the upper spring retainer. Remove the retainer.
- 4). Place a wrench on the lower spring retainer nut in the bottom-center of the coil spring to hold it while you use a ratchet and socket to remove the bolt that runs through the bottom of the radius arm. Remove the bolt. Slowly, and carefully, lower the jack far enough so that you can pull out the coil spring and lower spring seat.
- 5). Use a ratchet and socket to remove the nut from the rear of the radius arm where it attaches to the cross-member. Remove the washer and rubber insulator. Push the axle in towards the center of the truck until the rear of the radius arm is clear of the hole in the cross-member. Remove the inside rubber bushing. Slide on a new bushing. Slide the end of the radius arm back into the cross-member while pulling it back into position on the axle. Install a new bushing on the end of the radius arm. Install the washer and nut. You will tighten the nut after everything is put back together
- 6). Slide the coil spring with the lower spring seat back into position. Make sure the top of the coil spring is properly positioned in the upper spring seat. You'll notice that the upper spring seat has a stop in it that the end of the coil rests against.
- 7). Slide the radius arm bolt through the bottom of the radius arm and into the lower spring seat. Install the lower retainer and nut on the bolt. Use a torque wrench to torque the bolt to 100 foot-pounds.
- 8). Install the upper spring retainer and bolts. Use a torque wrench to torque the bolts to 25 foot-pounds. Place the bottom of the shock absorber back in its mount, install and torque the bolt to 50 foot-pounds.
- 9). Use a torque wrench to torque the nut at the rear of the radius arm to 80 foot-pounds.
- 10
Remove the floor jack from the axle. Raise the front of the F-150, remove the jack stands and lower it to the ground.