VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1912-1928 shackle bolts

any tips on removeing shackle bolts on 27 plan to heat and twist and hit.
thank's

The bolts have a spline into the shackle! don't twist them !!! or you will ream out the spline and the new bolts won't bite, If you have a mate handy, get them to hold a heavy length of 1-1/2" pipe over the bolt head side of the shackle as a dolly and drive the bolt out, a good sharp blow from a 5 lb hammer is usually enough to dislodge them, Ray

Thank you this is why I joined vcca

is it common to have brass bushing in the spring or is the spring worn
thanks jp49

On my 29 which should be the same as your 27 there are 2 sizes of bushings. The ones in this spring eyes are one size and the 4 in the frame are 1/16" smaller. At the time I bought my bushings the common knowledge was that they were all the same size. When I started in on it I found that was.not the case. In talking to the Filling Station someone else had found that same situation.wirh their car. Shortly after that they started carrying the smaller bushings.

To get the bushings out I used about an 8" piece of 3/8" all thread rod. With a combination of washers, spacers, nuts, and sockets I was able to pull the old ones out and press the new ones in. It is a pretty greasy job but it made a big difference in how the car handled.

Art

I was the one that discovered the difference in the bushings on my '28 frame. Found the right sized bushings at Motion Industries and then talked to Steve at the Filling Station. Got the "have been selling these bushings for years and nobody has complained" statement. After Steve checked for himself he started to carry both sizes. It was apparently the case of measured a bushing and assuming that Chevrolet would not have used two different sizes. I am thinking the frame engineer didn't talk to the spring engineer.

I use a pneumatic air gun to remove the bushings. Found a tool with the center that fits in the hollow of the bushing and has a wider ring on the shaft. Works great to push them out and new ones in. I know most will not be able to find or make such a tool but it is far better than all threaded rod, washers and nuts.

I 100% agree that new bushings vastly improve ride and handling.

Yeah, unfortunately I do not have many air tools because I did not have large enough of a compressor to power them. It was a money thing. I just included the method because that is how we have always done it and I was told I would have to take my frame to a shop that had a press. There are always alternative methods.

Main thing is that no one gets hurt. I knew a fellow who lost an eye because he was trying to get a shackle bushing out by hitting one hammer with another. Since they are hardened metal a piece broke off and put out his eye.

Art

Art,
Fellas like you are what keeps the VCCA and this site going. There are often many safe ways to get a task done. The more options we present the more likely ones in need will find a way to "get 'ur done".

I found this bushing discrepancy on the 27 1-ton I am building. I bought 6 splined bolts from the filling station and the bushings. The difference is in the OD of the bushes, I bought the larger 3/4" ones that fit my springs, and the obvious solution was to drill and ream the frame bosses to fit the larger OD bushes. I don't foresee them being replaced again any time soon, but I made note of the change and dimensions for the future..

The Filling Station is aware of the difference in the OD of the frame bushings and spring bushings. They carry both. Their catalog listings note that two different OD bushings are used.

FS-672 $8.50 EA
CHEVROLET 1925-1935 FRONT & REAR SPRING BUSHING
This spring bushing fits 1925-1935 Chevrolet cars & trucks. It is a bronze bushing 3/4" OD x 1-11/16" long. It is used to mount the leaf springs on front and rear. Note: 1925-1929 models use BOTH FS-639 (11/16" OD) & FS-672 (3/4" OD) - measure before ordering. Replaces GM# 344277. Specific Applications: 1925-1933 Passenger & 1/2 Ton Truck, 1934-1935 Standard - REAR; 1930-1933 & 1934-1935 Standard require 4 each. 1925-1929 models see also FS-639 for 11/16" OD bushing. See FS-671 for bolt and FS-510 for nut.

For 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 Chevrolet Cars and Trucks

Chevrolet Parts - 1925-29 11/16" OD SPRING BUSHING
FS-639 $8.50 EA
CHEVROLET 1925-29 11/16" OD SPRING BUSHING
This bronze bushing is 9/16" ID x 11/16" OD x 1-11/16" long. 1925-1929 Chevrolet car & truck models use both FS-639 (11/16" OD) & FS-672 (3/4" OD) - measure before ordering; See FS-671 for bolt and FS-510 for nut. 1925-29 models see also FS-672 for 3/4" OD bushing.

For 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 Chevrolet Cars and Trucks