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What can you guys tell me about the 'oakie bushing or driveline bushing' for a torque tube type driveline for a 1954 Chevy 1/2 ton 261 in-line 6? I really know nothing about it. How do you know it needs to be replaced? How do you remove it? How do you even know if one is in there? I see that ChevyDuty sells a driveline bushing puller, is it worth it? What is the trouble with installing it? If I sound like a Rookie, I AM!! Can you please give me some insight?!


ever in search of knowledge
rje

I don't know for sure how you check it.
I think to replace it you have to teardown
the rearend. They sell a new type of bushing/
seal that drives in the top of torque tube and pushes old one down. I don't know if you
can unbolt front cover of differential housing and pull pinion and drive shaft out
without changing adjustment on pinion gear
or not.

One function of that bushing is to keep the driveshaft from whipping around inside the torque tube. If your truck has a standard transmission, that oakie bushing also keeps the tranny oil from leaking down the tube and over filling the rear end. If your tranny is staying full of oil and your rear end is not overflowing then your oakie bushing is OK.

To replace it you do not need to pull the rear end. You can unhook the bell behind the tranny and drop the U joint. The downward force of the rear springs will drop the end of the tube down and out of the way of the back of the tranny. The end of the torque tube will be exposed. You can drive a new bushing in and drive the old one back. I personally like the idea of removing the old one first.

Keep an eye on the oil levels in your tranny and rear differential. If it ain't broke don't fix it..

[ 12-18-2001: Message edited by: 53 4 me ]