Cheers everyone,

the rebuilding of my 2004 RAM 1500 HEMI 4x4 is still in progress. Next stuff is the suspension.
I'm having some bumpy noises from the rear when going over some bigger obstacles, so I bet the rear bushes are shot.
I already ordered new bushes (Polyurethane from Energy Suspension).
I watched some videos already on YouTube and it seems doable, but I am bit afraid as it would be the first time working with leaf spring suspension.
I can access a 2 post lift but can only lift the rear or the front as the lift is 2 tons maximum.
Now my questions:
is it better to remove the whole spring and re-new the U-bolts?
Or keep the U-bolts in place and try to push the spring down and remove the bushes?
What is the easier task to do?

And is it easy to re-install the springs "off load" or will there be tension in the system? I watched a video where the guy needed some ratchet straps to pull/push the spring into place to get the screw threw the bushing.

Thanks a lot for any help!

 

Much easier changing those bushings with the springs off the truck. Getting the old ones out can be fun.... They have been in there for 20 years, have a steel casing, that tends to 'become one' with the spring. A torch and/or press is pretty much required to swap 'em.

 

Yeah, I saw that in some of the videos, not that easy to do when the spring is in there.
But is it "easy" to remove the whole spring one by one?
So just jack up the frame so the axle is free and then remove the springs? Or will I need to release the shock absorbers as well to remove the springs?
And I read that I have to replace the U-bolts, correct?

 

You can drop the axle with springs as a unit, then change out the eye bushings on the springs. The u bolts will likely not be reusable if you try to take the nuts off. Bushings are likely not going to want to come out easily, you might have to burn them out.

 

So you mean like loosening lower shock bolts, all leaf spring bushing bolts, then lower the whole axle?
I have hydraulic press (12 tons I think), but that won't be usable then.
I also have a ball joint press tool, maybe that will work as well?

 

Yeah, pulling the springs can be exciting. The axle is HEAVY, and you never really know if you have the weight unloaded, or not.... My procedure was to support the rear of the truck by the frame, till the axle is JUST off the ground, then put a jack under the axle (one side at a time....) put most of the weight on the jack, remove the u-bolts, then set the axle down. Go do the other side. Be sure and block the wheels, so the axle can't move, and when you are doing the other side, be sure and support the pinion as well, so the axle doesn't roll, and break various things.....With the weight off the springs, knock out the bolts holding it at each end, and pull the whole spring. A 12 ton press *might* be enough to push out the bushings. I used a 25 ton though, and even that was fun..

 

Thanks for the input guys.
Just watched a video from the good old ChrisFix and he showed it nearly the same.
Kept one spring in place and removed the other, changed the bushings and put it in again then did the other side.

If the press won't work I might use the "saw" method and saw a gap into the outer metal sleeve and hammer it out with a chisel maybe. Or maybe use a Dremel and grind it "thin" and then hammer it.
I bet that heating the outer spring part will help as well?

 

I didn't like heating the spring itself, as that will change its properties, and that isn't always a good thing.

 

Yeah, hard to tell if the steel would soften or something.
But maybe just cut or grind it out is the easiest way then.

 

I've burned the bushings out before, and yeah, that stinks.... then I usually just chisel out the steel case that's left in the spring.