Rear leaf spring bushing replacement difficulty
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2015
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Rear leaf spring bushing replacement difficulty
I ordered some new stock like bushing from corvette central, looks pretty much stock and not a lowering bushing. However trying to thread in the new bushing gets stuck about half way and can’t get a 10 mm at the top of the bolt to get to to thread the rest of the way.
The old bushing screws in easily by hand through the whole bolt. Any suggestions?
Ended up taking out the whole rear leaf spring so I could look and make sure I didn’t strip the female threads on the leaf spring. Thought I might of taking out the broken bolt when the bushing ripped off while driving evidently
This 45 min switch ended up taking half my day like a SOB...lol
The old bushing screws in easily by hand through the whole bolt. Any suggestions?
Ended up taking out the whole rear leaf spring so I could look and make sure I didn’t strip the female threads on the leaf spring. Thought I might of taking out the broken bolt when the bushing ripped off while driving evidently
This 45 min switch ended up taking half my day like a SOB...lol
Last edited by lendellmm3; Nov 16, 2017 at 01:53 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
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C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I would take them both to Home Depot or Lowe's and find the nut that fits your stock bolt. Now try that nut on the new ones. If it does not fit you will need to return them and try another brand.
If they do work you might be able to use pliers on a rag wrapped around the bushing to thread it through the spring.
If they do work you might be able to use pliers on a rag wrapped around the bushing to thread it through the spring.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: West coast CA
I ordered some new stock like bushing from corvette central, looks pretty much stock and not a lowering bushing. However trying to thread in the new bushing gets stuck about half way and can’t get a 10 mm at the top of the bolt to get to to thread the rest of the way.
The old bushing screws in easily by hand through the whole bolt. Any suggestions?
The old bushing screws in easily by hand through the whole bolt. Any suggestions?
I'd suggest just applying some lubricant and persevering, or as a last resort chasing the threads with a loose die.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I had the same problem recently. Chasing the threads with a nut or even a standard die is not enough to get the heavy paint off. Been there and failed. Either wire brush or use a solvent to remove the paint. It may take some lube to help the install.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2015
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Ended up taking the new bushing to a machine shop we tried cleaning the threads w a wire brush and got all the paint off but still would get stuck. He had to rethread it partially on his lathe somewhat loose instead but it fits now. Just crappy quality from corvette central.
And from all the threads you can’t install these without taking the lower control arm off. I tried jacking up the rear leaf spring and there’s still about 1.5 “ that you can’t shove underneath. Not sure if the lowering bolts I’ve seen have a shorter bolt length that makes it easier to slide under neath
This ended up being a 9 hr adventure, removing the broken bolt first then trying to get these bushing without taking apart the suspension, then fixing these bushing
And from all the threads you can’t install these without taking the lower control arm off. I tried jacking up the rear leaf spring and there’s still about 1.5 “ that you can’t shove underneath. Not sure if the lowering bolts I’ve seen have a shorter bolt length that makes it easier to slide under neath
This ended up being a 9 hr adventure, removing the broken bolt first then trying to get these bushing without taking apart the suspension, then fixing these bushing
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,108
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Ended up taking the new bushing to a machine shop we tried cleaning the threads w a wire brush and got all the paint off but still would get stuck. He had to rethread it partially on his lathe somewhat loose instead but it fits now. Just crappy quality from corvette central.
And from all the threads you can’t install these without taking the lower control arm off. I tried jacking up the rear leaf spring and there’s still about 1.5 “ that you can’t shove underneath. Not sure if the lowering bolts I’ve seen have a shorter bolt length that makes it easier to slide under neath
This ended up being a 9 hr adventure, removing the broken bolt first then trying to get these bushing without taking apart the suspension, then fixing these bushing
And from all the threads you can’t install these without taking the lower control arm off. I tried jacking up the rear leaf spring and there’s still about 1.5 “ that you can’t shove underneath. Not sure if the lowering bolts I’ve seen have a shorter bolt length that makes it easier to slide under neath
This ended up being a 9 hr adventure, removing the broken bolt first then trying to get these bushing without taking apart the suspension, then fixing these bushing
I most certainly agree that whatever process that Corvette Central's supplier is doing to the threads, needs to be addressed. I spent more time fixing the thread issue than the entire rest of the job.
