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Rear spring shackle bushing?
Posted: September 7th, 2021, 6:21 am
by wild4679
Is there a bushing in the rear spring shackle of a 31 AA? After removing the rear axle from the spring, I see a lot of slop between the spring shackle casing the bolt that carries the weight of the truck on the axle. It appears the removal of this bolt will take on a life of its own and I'd like to know ahead of time if there is a bushing to replace before I get into it.
Re: Rear spring shackle bushing?
Posted: September 7th, 2021, 7:17 am
by Neil Wilson
wild4679 wrote: ↑September 7th, 2021, 6:21 am
Is there a bushing in the rear spring shackle of a 31 AA? After removing the rear axle from the spring, I see a lot of slop between the spring shackle casing the bolt that carries the weight of the truck on the axle. It appears the removal of this bolt will take on a life of its own and I'd like to know ahead of time if there is a bushing to replace before I get into it.
There were no bushing between the axle and the rear spring seats (see attached). The rear spring shackles are located at the front of the rear springs. The shackles include a bushing.
Re: Rear spring shackle bushing?
Posted: September 7th, 2021, 1:00 pm
by wild4679
Thank you, Neil. I was using the wrong terminology. I agree the shackles are on the front end of the rear spring. I will want to re-bush and re-pin these shackles.
Looking at the rear end of the same spring, the upper seat assembly in your attached picture has a place for what I think is called the Rear Spring Seat Locking Pin, part # AA-5798. I'm making an assumption this locking pin retains the Rear Spring Seat Pin, part #AA-5799. How is this locking pin removed? Or said another way, how is the locking pin held in place? It doesn't seem logical to back off the nut and have the pin simply pull out.
Looking ahead, I envision this locking pin is corroded. I'd like some advice on how to dismantle this rear spring seat pin and locking pin and rebuild it.
Re: Rear spring shackle bushing?
Posted: September 7th, 2021, 7:19 pm
by Neil Wilson
wild4679 wrote: ↑September 7th, 2021, 1:00 pm
Thank you, Neil. I was using the wrong terminology. I agree the shackles are on the front end of the rear spring. I will want to re-bush and re-pin these shackles.
Looking at the rear end of the same spring, the upper seat assembly in your attached picture has a place for what I think is called the Rear Spring Seat Locking Pin, part # AA-5798. I'm making an assumption this locking pin retains the Rear Spring Seat Pin, part #AA-5799. How is this locking pin removed? Or said another way, how is the locking pin held in place? It doesn't seem logical to back off the nut and have the pin simply pull out.
Looking ahead, I envision this locking pin is corroded. I'd like some advice on how to dismantle this rear spring seat pin and locking pin and rebuild it.
There have been five articles published in the Double A'er (fmaatc newsletter). There is a list of AA-chassis articles found at
https://aafords.com/c/nl/#cat. These articles should help in understanding this subject.
If you don't have the Double A'er past newsletters, they are available - see
https://aafords.com/c/nl/#pn
The locking pin is tapered. To remove, take the nut off and drive the locking pin out (like the locking pin for the king pin).
I have found the seats seldom got grease and are many times worn (up/down play). The shackles may not need much as they got little movement.
The upper rear seat pin will likely require heat (a fair amount likely) to remove.
Re: Rear spring shackle bushing?
Posted: September 12th, 2021, 6:11 am
by David R.
Just finished with this on mine. Bolts and bushings in spring eyes well worn. Bolts in shackles useable with new bushings. Pins in rear spring eyes worn badly. Some heat and heavy hammer rule in old truck disassembly. I removed nut and lock washers on locking pin and put nut back on to hammer it till it moves so I don’t batter it.
I ground mating edges of spring seat pairs on wide flat belt sander to remove slop in fit around axle.