The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 450 Series GMC suspension...all the same???

Ok my 454-30 rear suspension will be needing new rubber bushing for the torsion bars soon.

Anyone know where to get them replaced???

Do not know for sure who manufactured the suspension.

The axle is an Eaton TSDP 166000.

Was looking over or rather up at the rear suspension yesterday and realized that someday soon the torsion bars will need new rubber bushings on each end. 4 in total.

I have replaced bushings before for Hendricks suspensions. So I am familiar with the process. These seem to be much simpler.

Remove 4 bolts, drop torsion bars, replace bushing, replace and bolt up.

Where to find bushing is number one question.

Perhaps someone with a master parts catalog can get you a part number that you can cross reference.

Hy GMCPic, the o.e.m. p/n for the bushings is 2016704, hope that helps.

GMCpic, keep us posted of your findings. I will need them for my 450 eventually.

Link to Pics: http://s1253.photobucket.com/albums/hh594/GMCPic/

I looked at my 1953 450 and it doesn't have the torsion bars yours does.

None of these trucks have "torsion bars" as they're usually defined, a spring that supports vehicle weight.
What you're asking about is often called a "torque rod" and it helps locate the axle in the correct position, not carry weight.

Grigg

I have several 450, 550 and a 600 series that use that torque rod. I doubt that anyone furnishes a bushing for it any more. Unless you untrack heavy loads, you really don't need torque rods anyway. If I ever get the urge to replace bushings, it will be to keep the torque rods from rattling around and I will jerry rig some kind of bushing just to fill up the space.

I believe (from what I've seen/remember) the GMC trucks with torque rods use a spring shackle at both ends of the springs. Those without the rods have the springs fixed front and shackles at the rear.
Not sure it's wise to remove the rods without also removing a shackle if that's possible? If it is probably takes some shimming for pinion angle correction without the second shackle.

Grigg

Mine has shackles at both ends of springs, using radius rods to maintain axle alignment.

As Grigg said torque rods

I looked in a Batco catalog from about 40 years ago and there is no listing. Batco, which went broke in the 1990's was the best source for odd stuff. In my previous post, I didn't mean to remove them all together. But they really don't do a whole lot other than keep the axle in place which doesn't require much. Spring ride trailer suspensions still use a similar set up except for not having any shackles at all. I think GMC only used this setup a few years. I think that you will probably have will have to get the nearest thing you can find to fit. Fitment is not all that critical. I just don't take mine apart because if I do, I will have to find something to keep them from rattling around. And I would have a better chance in finding something to fit because I still have a lot of parts for trucks and trailers that I junked over 30 years ago.

The other GMC 454-30 truck I just bought has a more standard type of rear leaf suspension.

For now, mine are in good shape, but someday they will need replacing.

From my experience, some where out there is something that will fit.

Or I will make them from scratch.

Bushings...

http://www.sdtrucksprings.com/bushings/rubber-leaf-spring-bushings

On oldGMCtrucks.com there is an GMC ACR723, it has the same suspension as my truck.

GMCPic, did you have any luck finding a source for these bushings?