How do you replace rear spring pins and bushings?

Answer 1

Specifics depend on the vehicle, but one holds true for all of them - if you don't know what you're doing, you WILL hurt yourself trying to do this.

The best way to do it requires a bottle jack, a port-a-power, an impact wrench, an air hammer and a bit set which includes a bit you can cut sheet metal with. For the port-a-power, there's a specific attachment for doing spring pins. Additionally, you'll need a driver or socket which fits against the bushing itself (not the pin, because it'll push the new pin right out of the bushing).

Basically, you'll have to chock the front wheels, raise the rear axle and put it on jack stands, then you'll probably have to remove the wheels and tires in order to have access, depending on your vehicle. Take a bottle jock, set it in the suspension spring, put enough pressure to where the spring won't collapse when you remove the pins.

Undo the bolts holding the spring pin shackles, then you'll have to knock the shackles off. Always a good idea to replace the shackles when you do this repair.

Then, you take the port-a-power with the spring pin attachments, and, in conjunction with the aforementioned socket(s) which line up with the bushings, you drive the pins out. On the lower spring pin, the bushing often stays in place... that's where you take your air hammer and cutting bit and cut a line through the bushing so that it'll push out.

Clean up the holes for the spring pins, put some anti-seize on the new ones, and drive them in with the port-a-power and socket... drive it in with the bushing, NOT with the pin, as you will separate the pin from the bushing if you try it.

Put the new shackles on... you'll have to adjust the bottle jack to line them up right... tap them into place with a hammer. Secure the bolts on the shackles, and put your wheels back on.

I can't emphasize how much I would NOT advise you to proceed with this on your own based on what you've read. Again, if you don't it right, you WILL hurt yourself.