Front axle pivot bushing install

[gears]

Anyone know the best way to replace the pivot bushing on the front axle?

Will I go wrong freezing the bushing and heating the axle with a rosebud - or do I want to press it in with a pice of pipe inside to keep it from distorting?

 

[Old8Guy]

I used a socket and a small 12 ton shop press to remove mine and the same press and a 1" thick piece of flat steel to reinstall. Had no problems. Best of luck to you.

 

[gears]

Thanks Old, I pressed the old one out and was worried about distorting or crushing the new one as the OD of the bushing is 1.913" and the axle center hole is 1.898" that just seems like a heck of an interference fit!

 

[Del Huebner]

The last two that I did I had to hone out the axle hole so the bushing would fit.

 

[Bruce (VA)]

The pic is of an axle w/ a new king pin as high as it will go; as you can see, it has a good 1/2" before it will hit the cap.

The axle must move freely up & down. Full travel is about 9 1/2". Back & forth (front to back) should be negligible.

You need to remove the motor mount to get the pivot pin out.

The front flange on the pin is a teardrop shape. After you've removed the retaining bolt, use your drift on the side of the flange down low (narrow end of the teardrop)and your BFH to drive the flange toward the opposite side. This turns the pin in the hole and breaks the rust bond. Then whack it the other direction, apply some penetrating oil, and knock it out from the back.

Breaking that rust bond before hammering it out makes the job much easier. Save the hold pin & make a hi-tech "pivot pin removal tool" as in the picture.

75 Tips

 

[Old8Guy]

Del has a good idea with the hone. If I ever do another one I will use a hone on it, if for no other reason than to clean out the shaft.

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 12:03:24 02/08/14) Del has a good idea with the hone. If I ever do another one I will use a hone on it, if for no other reason than to clean out the shaft.

Just my $.02 bit it is never good to oversize a press fit hole because the new part is oversize. Those aftermarket bushings are bronze and will easily peel off as they are pressed in. If the ID is under when you are done (extremely unlikely) ream it out. If you oversize the hole what happens when down the road you get a bushing that is not way oversize on the OD?

TOH

 

[gears]

It's all apart and the only issue I've got is installing that bushing - is it the wrong one being too large? Should I turn it down so it's only a few thousandths interference (rather than the current .015") or is .015 interference acceptable? Or order a new bushing?

 

[Ultradog MN]

Are those a split bushing?
If so you could probably open it a bit at the split and take a file to one end and remove a bit of material. Same way you would file a piston ring to acheive the correct end gap.

 

[gears]

Old bushing was split, new one's solid. BTW, thanks for those pics Bruce.

 

[Del Huebner]

Looks like everyone is selling the solid bushing
2N 9039. Could not find the split 9N 3039 available anywhere. All the ones I seen measured the same as the one he has 1.913.

 

[Ultradog MN]

Oh well...
Thanks Del.

 

[Bruce (VA)]

You're welcome. Glad to help.
75 Tips

 

[gears]

So what's the call? Turn down the bushing? Heat & freeze? Press it in and re-size as needed?

Swap in a powerwagon front axle and make it 4x4?

 

[Hobo,NC]

I drive'em HOME and forget about it...