I need some help locating a replacement bushing for my 1953 Chevy 1/2 pickup restoration project. This bushing is on the top center of the rear leaf springs and holds the lower shock mount on the bottom side and attaches the top of the leaf springs to the underside of the rear axle. This does not appear to be a stock part as it does not look like what is in the chevy assembly manual for this truck. The brackets on the underside of the axel that the bolts that goes through this bushing attaches two is welded on. I could grind them off and replace with modern leaf spring to axel mounting brackets, but that will change the geometry of the rear end somewhat and I am concerned that when I put it all back together the rear wheels will be too low in the wheel well opening. My preference would be to put it back together the way it came apart, but if I can't locate this bushing, that will not be possible.
Anyone know where I might find this bushing? I have already tried all of the usual restoration parts stores.
Is it worn out? If not, why replace it? The rubber shock mount looks OK to me. Just do a good cleanup and reuse it. Another option would be to ream the sleeve and press a brass bushing into it to tighten up the fit. It's also possible to rebuild that one with a new Teflon sleeve. Any "machinist" worthy of the name could recondition that part. Jerry
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Robert, They are known as SEAT, w/cap (3652318 cast on cap), GM# 3652182 and were used on 1940-54 Passenger cars and 1948-54 Chevy 1/2ton trucks. Not currently being reproduced, but there are a couple of vendors that offer "revulcanizing" to restore them to as new condition.
Alternatively, Chev's of the 40's offers a replacement bushing that I believe is used to repair the old housing. You have to remove all the rubber and center steel tube to install them from what I know.
Others should be along to try and offer further help or suggestions.
Last edited by Gdads51; 03/19/20254:13 PM. Reason: spelling
~ 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)
Robert, As an add on to what is provided above, here's another Thread on your topic that offers another alternative. Let us know what you decide to do.
~ 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)
I suppose I could just use them as is as they are not worn out. For this restoration I have taken the truck down to the frame and am replacing every bushing and bearing as I go since the truck was not running when I got it, so I don't know what was working and what was not. Seems counterintuitive to me to reuse old bushings in this process, but I will have to do what I can. I would hate to get this thing all back together only to find out that these bushings don't really work and then have to tear it down again.
Steel Rubber Products wants $165 each to revulcanize them, so we aren't going to do that. The Chevy's of the 40's part is only the inner sleave, not the rubber part of the bushing, so that only solves part of the issue. I will look into the two-part rubber mix idea. Have to figure out how to be sure the metal sleeve is centered in the bushing case correctly or I might just create a new problem.
If the rubber is in good shape and not crumbling, it should be fine to reuse. The bolt thru the center and on the rear axle brackets is tightened enough that there shouldn't be any movement to cause wear on the inside of the steel sleeve. If you want to redo those with two-part urethane, I used PVC pipe for the white mold pieces in that post that Dan linked to above, with a little RTV to seal around the casting. Getting the sleeve centered by eyeball isn't that hard and will be close enough that you won't have issues if you don't get it EXACT. The product I used was Enduro-Flex from Simple Resin.
Last edited by klhansen; 03/19/20255:54 PM. Reason: added more info
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
It appears to me that the Chevy's of the 40's bushing does include rubber. Kind of hard to tell from the photo, but it appears to have a steel sleeve on the outside that's pressed into the housing as well as a steel sleeve for the bolt. I don't believe they were available when I repaired mine, but the price is reasonable. If they don't work, you could send them back and go with the 2-part urethane.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
