VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 Rear spring shackle bushings

Is it possible to just replace the individual rear spring shackle rubber bushings on a 1937 Chevy 2 door sedan or do I need to buy the whole greaseable shackle kit. Everyone seems to want to sell the whole shackle kit whereas I found a spring company that just has the bushings---thanks

I believe Chevs of the 40S sells the rubber bushings by themselves.

Yep, you can buy the rubber bushings alone. They are just rubber washers, and you can use thick O-rings instead.

When you take the shackles apart, be sure to unscrew the pins and inspect them. Mine were flattened on one side.

Started taking them apart and will need the whole shebang---any links as to how to disassemble for some one who never has--link anywhere--thanks

If you are going to replace everything, including the spring eye bushings, you need to have a tool to push the old bushings out and to push the new ones back in. The eye bushing is the most difficult part, everything else is a piece of cake.

I used my 20 ton shop press to remove & install the eye bushings on the springs.

For the bushing on the frame, I cleaned all grease and used a sawzall and carefully cut the bushing in three pieces, then used a chisel to get them out. I used a 3/8 threaded bolt & nuts, some really thick washers, and used an impact wrench to put the new one in. You will have to use your mechanical aptitude to figure a way of getting it back in without damaging the bushing.

I might have taken some pics of the process, will look around tomorrow.

Thank you--do you think that a large c clamp might work---went to remove the rear assembly last night--got the grease zerts of--inner bracket and started to remove the shackle and saw the shafts were worn---if after I get them out(not wanting to remove spring--BFH or air chisel might work

Don't use a BFH or air chizel. What a mess and the noise! All you need is a lenght of all thread rod some washers, a short piece of pipe and a couple of nuts. I used a breakover bar with a cheater if you have to. Once it starts switch over to air ratachet. The rod must be small enough to pass through the hole. Attach the nut, washers and pipe on one side. Note: the pipe must not pass through the hole on the frame. It must be big enough to let the shim pass into it. Place washers and nut small enough to pass through the hole in the frame on side that will pull toward pipe. The washers & nut must be big enough to pull out the shim but not hang up on the hold in the frame. Tighten the nut on the pipe side. The shim will pull out and into the pipe. Use the reverse of this to press new shims back in. Good luck.

Sorry, don't have any pics of the process... and I agree with the above post, don't use an air chisel, can cause more damage too. I can find the nuts, bolts & washers and put them back together to show you how I set it up.

What about the tool that is made to use on ball joints etc. ? It has an open ring at one end and the screw shaft at the other. I have used it on hinges and other things as a small press.

That I what I used, seemed to work okay.