Can anyone who has replaced the bushings on their rear leaf springs answer a couple of questions? 1: Were the original bushings steel? I drove mine out and they were steel with a slot running lengthwise. At least one bushing was stamped GM on the outside of the bushing. 2: Do know if the front eye of the rear leaf spring has a larger I.D. than the rear eye? Mine seems to be. Do you know the I.D. x O.D. x Length dimensions for the front eye bushings? 3: Where have you had luck ordering bushings? I have a request into Self Lube for a quote.
Thanks. Nice build. I have an album for mine going as wel. I was hoping for dimension and info on the front bushings for the rear spring and whether or not they were originally steel or bronze
I was hoping for dimension and info on the front bushings for the rear spring and whether or not they were originally steel or bronze
Front rear is a LHE bushing 7/8x1-1/8x2-1/2 P/N 369721 The older bushing are steel the newer are bronze Spring Eye Pin P/N 3656669 Just google the numbers
According to the GM Heritage Site data for 1950 Chevy Trucks the below screenshots provides basic measurement details (see data in pics) for your COE rear springs and bushings.
A further search of parts resources resulted in GM# 369721 as the specific bushing for your application (same bushing for 3600 thru 6400 models).
Originals (see this eBay ad for a set of 4 NOS bushings) show them to be steel with the slot and GM stamping you mentioned.
A bit of further web searching using the GM# 369721 came back with several vendors offering both steel and brass bushings with the correct dimensions. Too many links to add here, but if you do your own web search you can easily find them. The after market bushings also give the dimension info you needed (matches that given in the GM Heritage data).
Hope this is helpful and you can get the bushings you need.
Dan
EDIT: jimgmc beat me to the draw on posting the info
Last edited by Gdads51; 07/29/20234:22 PM. Reason: update post
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 Follow this story in the DITY Gallery "My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine" 1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
Thank you so much for that information. Seems as though at least my rear main leaf springs were changed as the front eye is larger than 1.125" Yet it had a GM steel bushing. Mine measure about 1.160" so slightly larger. As you would imagine the 1.125" bushings just flop around in there. I wonder WHICH GM truck they came off of..... Marty
It could be that the spring eye is wallered out from age and use. Was the steel bushing in there spread out (the side split gaped apart)? Both front and rear eyes (and bushings) should be the same dimension.
Not sure what other springs may have been similar enough to swap over to you truck???
Dan
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 Follow this story in the DITY Gallery "My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine" 1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
.160-.125=.035 that’s a little over 1/32. I would say your either the eye has open up or has worn out. What is the dia of the pin. The spring is 11 leaf (std) and 6 leaf (aux) and 2 1/2 wide. Check the bottom leaf and see if you can find any numbers, sometimes they stamp the last four numbers of the part number.
It could be that the spring eye is wallered out from age and use. Was the steel bushing in there spread out (the side split gaped apart)? Both front and rear eyes (and bushings) should be the same dimension.
Not sure what other springs may have been similar enough to swap over to you truck???
Thanks Jim It is possible that it's spread a bit, but the shackle ends were not nor were the front spring eyes. I bought bushings and pins fro Detroit Eaton Spring. The pins are all 7/8" I will look at the last leaf to see if there is a part number