How to Change stuck leaf spring and shackle bushings in a Jeep YJ Wrangler

Expand for Full Description and Links: In this video, I show how to remove and install new leaf spring and shackle bushings on my Jeep YJ Wrangler. This method can be used for any vehicle that uses this type of leaf spring and effective when the old bushings are stuck in place. The most difficult part is removing the old bushings and the old bushing outer shell that is pressed into the leaf spring. I used prothane polyurethane bushings.
Bushing Link amzn.to/3OwNB52
One set for front, and one set for rear.

[@fallnangel55]

Going over the leafs now with new poly bushings, hardware, and custom shackles. Your video helped a lot all throughout. Thank you!

[@kdsgarage8475]

Awesome. Thank you for watching. I'm glad it was a help. I noticed a substantial improvement in the drivability. Make sure you torque the shackle and leaf-to-frame bolts after its settled on its own weight, and not while it’s jacked up. It makes a big difference in the softness of the ride.

[@fallnangel55]

Update: Did the rear leafs and wow what a pain it was doing both the same time with those axle pins… Lesson learned and now onto the 2nd leaf on the front!

[@kdsgarage8475]

@@fallnangel55 nice. I still haven’t done my rears. I’ve been working on a few other projects. Did you drop your tank? I’ll dive into it as soon as I use up some gas to empty the tank. I’ll do the rears one at a time.

[@fallnangel55]

@@kdsgarage8475 Didn’t drop the tank as new hardware was going in. Used a sawzall to cut the bolts out. Decently easy and saves a lot of hassle.

[@porterdor39]

The best video thank you

[@kdsgarage8475]

Thank you for watching!

[@littletoze]

The nuts on the u-bolts look like nylon locking nuts. Once heated, you can’t reuse them…the nylon melts. Those should have been replaced with new. For example the nuts on the bots that hold the leaf springs on are not nylon lockers, they are a steel locking nut, and can be reused after heating.

[@kdsgarage8475]

Good tip. These do look like nylocks, but were steel lockers.

[@mytoman120681]

Hi, great video!! Do you have the link on Amazon of that bushings? I see a lot of options...

[@kdsgarage8475]

Thank you. Yes, Ill include the link below. I ordered 2 sets. One set will do the front and one will do the back. I'm not sure if the rears are the same, but we will see when I get to the rear next weekend. I read that they should be the same. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003AVL988/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[@fallnangel55]

Good looking what seems to be a Street Bob in the garage

[@kdsgarage8475]

Thanks! Yes. 06 Street Bob. Great bike!!

[@TempoDrift1480]

I got those exact units and a set for my swaybar. 85 Suburban. How do these perform in terms of noise? Do they clang and bang or clunk and clank at all? Do they break in after a period of time?

[@kdsgarage8475]

So far so good on my end!

[@chrishunt5291]

Looks good, what size tires and lift?

[@kdsgarage8475]

Thanks. 33’s and 2.5 spring and 1 body. I had 35’s on my previous Jeep and didn’t love them.

[@floridajeepdad7919]

What site did you buy your bushing kit from?

[@kdsgarage8475]

I bought the set on Amazon.

[@rogeliohernandez5533]

Hi, dumb question: are shackles the same on both rear and front leaf springs?

[@kdsgarage8475]

They should be……if they’re stock. You never know what changes a prior owner may have done.

[@TempoDrift1480]

Reckon you could have done that without dropping the axle? Suppose you took a piece of stove pipe or something as an upper fire shield? seems like the spring being in place would make it easier to manhandle.

[@kdsgarage8475]

Anything’s possible, but I think it would’ve taken longer with a lot more frustration.

[@porterdor39]

I believe so since it already bolted on the axle I going to change mine this summer not going to take the spring off the axle

[@ariebossley2509]

You need to get rid of that track bar. They are completely unnecessary with the leafspring suspension and if you look at your own video, your leaf spring doesn’t compress at all and then your shackle flexes inward.

[@frankn4618]

You should never reuse u-bolts for leaf springs.

[@kdsgarage8475]

They were fine. If I was changing the springs, I would have done the ubolts as well. They do stretch, but it’s not like a single use aluminum bolt. Since I was just changing the bushings, I decided to reuse.

[@frankn4618]

@@kdsgarage8475 the threads on u-bolts are rolled when new, once used they lose holding power on the nut if reused

[@porterdor39]

@@kdsgarage8475I agree with you

[@cdeprima1209]

I agree urethane busings will last much longer than rubber but they will not absorb impact and make the vehicle ride loud and noisy. Beware, your vehicle will never ride the same again! You might have to sell it! :(

[@kdsgarage8475]

Lol. Sell it to me. Mine rides better now with the new bushings. You just have to torque everything in the proper sequence.

[@porterdor39]

It should ride softer since it doesn’t have the outer bushings that you chisel out