new bushing metal?

[68on22s]

I have a 68 c10 with a coil rear end and I was wondering if there is any way of buying new bushing shells that go on the rear trailing arms. I took the old ones out a while ago and made the mistake of throwing them away and now I am in need of some. Energy suspension and a couple of other places I looked at say you must reuse existing metal. I dont want to resort to getting some from another truck but if that is the only route then please let me know.

[COBALT]

Shells? You mean the actual metal housings the bushings go in that are inside the end of the trailing arms? I don't see how you could get them out without breaking the arms, so I doubt you're talking about that.

Are you talking about the bushings themselves? A new bushing set will have metal cores for the mounting bolts. You don't need to salvage your old ones. In fact they're probably egged out on the ends anyway, so you'd have to replace them. Get a new set of grade-8 bolts while you're at it too, and GREASE them. Otherwise you'll hear squeaking if you use polys.

[4x4Poet]

The cylindrical metal around the bushings in the trailing arms is the outer shells. The mounting bolts go through inner sleeves that slide inside the bushings, to use exact terms. Energy/Prothane supply new sleeves, but not shells, with their trailing arm bushings.

[68on22s]

So the only thing to do is to get them off of another truck then?

[COBALT]

I would assume so, unless you want to have them made, or there happens to be a part number on them that you could try and chase down. That would be extra tough. I don't know if anyone here has an assembly manual with part numbers, but I'm willing to bet it shows the trailing arm as one part.

I'm surprised they come out. When I worked on my trailing arms it seemed like those sheels were actually part of the arms themselves. I didn't know they could be hammered in/out.

Have you thought about just buying some junk trailing arms from someone local?

[67Fleet]

no, call Early Classic, or Brothers or GMC Paul's. They all should sell the shells, or at least the complete bushing set. You have options.

[XXL]

Originally Posted by 67Fleet

no, call Early Classic, or Brothers or GMC Paul's. They all should sell the shells, or at least the complete bushing set. You have options.

I'm not sure this is correct. Don't quote me on this (because I'll just have to deny it), but I think Cobalt is correct. Either that or Mother Nature has done a superb job of melding the "sleeve" and arm together on my truck.

[greasemonkey]

My new rubber bushings came with metal sleeves, the old ones came right out. They are not part of the trailing arm, but are a press-fit deal.

[COBALT]

Again, based on what greasemonkey just said I think we're confusing the metal housing the bushing actually gets pressed into (that is part of the trailing arm) versus the metal core inside the bushing that comes in the box with the actual bushings.

The difference is huge:

1. The metal housing in the trailing arm (as Kenneth and I are thinking) are an intimate part of the trailing arm. I remember after burning my old bushings out with a torch that I was able to clean them up pretty well with some emery paper and cutting oil. Good luck getting the old ones out and new ones in, but I guess anything's possible.

2. The metal cores in the bushings that actually come with a bushing kit are just banged in with a rubber mallet. That's it. No magic.

Also, I remember my bushings being a tiny bit too long. The trailing arm didn't want to go into the bracket on the frame the way they were. I had to run them against the side of my grinder wheel to take about 1/16" off to get them to fit. No amount of grease in the world was going to get them to fit as-is.

Energy Suspension Systems was the type I used.

[mbgmike]

I don't know if applies to all years but most of the ones I've seen the outer tube is seperate from the arm. You "can" press them out but it ain't very easy to do. Why you would want to take it out I don't know. I don't thing many companies would sell them

[67Fleet]

Originally Posted by COBALT

Again, based on what greasemonkey just said I think we're confusing the metal housing the bushing actually gets pressed into (that is part of the trailing arm) versus the metal core inside the bushing that comes in the box with the actual bushings.

The difference is huge:

1. The metal housing in the trailing arm (as Kenneth and I are thinking) are an intimate part of the trailing arm. I remember after burning my old bushings out with a torch that I was able to clean them up pretty well with some emery paper and cutting oil. Good luck getting the old ones out and new ones in, but I guess anything's possible.

2. The metal cores in the bushings that actually come with a bushing kit are just banged in with a rubber mallet. That's it. No magic.

Also, I remember my bushings being a tiny bit too long. The trailing arm didn't want to go into the bracket on the frame the way they were. I had to run them against the side of my grinder wheel to take about 1/16" off to get them to fit. No amount of grease in the world was going to get them to fit as-is.

Energy Suspension Systems was the type I used.

I was referring to the core as you call it. Pretty sure 68on22's must have been talking about this as well as he mentioned that he took his old ones out. If it was the outer part that is integral to the trailing arm, he probably wouldn't of been able to get them out to throw them away. I guess I should have more clearly defined what I was referring to....

[greasemonkey]

The poly bushings reuse the existing outer shells, yes. Mine were the rubber bushings that supply new outer and inner shells. Pictures taken from Brother's website of rubber vs. poly:

[Chevrolet4x4s]

You could probaly have some made or find a truck being parted out.
Shane

[68on22s]

The picture of what greasemonkey posted is what I need. I am sure It is the outer shell I am talking about. If Brothers sells the outer shells with rubber bushings I would gladly buy both poly and rubber and just swap the rubber out. The only bad thing about this is that I made the mistake of powdercoating the arms already so I will probably tear it all up pressing those back in.