'52 1/2 ton. I've been in the process of replacing my u-joint, seals, etc., for the first time. I've read everything I could and got some great help from folks on this forum (I have another recent thread, "Replacing u-joint for the first time"). Based on suggestions, I decided to go ahead and install an okie bushing since I had everything apart. Today, I pulled the original bushing without too much trouble. I fully expected the okie bushing to be a snug fit. To my delight, it went in the first inch or so just fine. Then, it stopped. I hit it harder thinking it would move slightly, but nope, it wouldn't budge. It wasn't like it was just a snug fit, but rather like it had suddenly hit something solid. I was hitting it with a small sledgehammer against a block of wood. But, instead of the thud sound you would expect, I was getting a metal-on-metal ping. Pulled out the new bearing, looked down the tube, and it appears that I have another factory bushing inside there. I tried the bushing puller and it will not grab it. I'm guessing that a quick fix for a sloppy bushing at one time was to simply drive a new bushing on without pulling the old one? That appears to be what has happened. And, there must be a step at that point in the tube, because that bushing simply will not go any farther in, and like I mentioned, I can't pull it out. I was not leaking much oil down the tube anyway, but I did have a lot of slop in that front bushing (u-joint was worn out, which was causing the shaft to vibrate and wobble). At this point, I think I will just buy a factory-style front bushing and put it in...assuming I can purchase one. Has anyone else seen this? Was it a common, cheap fix at one time? Photos show the bushing I removed, and then looking down the tube you can barely see the second bushing.
