Leaf spring silent block & bushings

[cwheel1975]

Slowly going through my 48 Plymouth fixing items as I find them and looking at the rear leafs it looks like the rubber front and rear is pretty much gone. From what I've found from searches the bushings at the rear are pretty easy to swap out but I haven't found a clear description of what it takes to do the silent block at the front of the leaf spring. How hard is it to install the silent block? Obviously the car will need to be on jack stands and the rear end supported, my concern is does the silent block need to be pressed in or can it be installed with a vise? Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

[Plymouthy Adams]

I think you will find it easier to get these out off the car and in a vise..then its still a PITA..inspect these close, odds are they are not in bad shape..once out, going back in with new is easy..Advance carries the rear shacle bushings..Moog part number K7307 get two kits..

[Andydodge]

The silent bloc front spring bush is much easier to install with the spring off the car...having said that, I have done it on the car using a large G clamp and a socket that is the correct size diameter as the bushes outer steel. From memory it was more of a pita removing the old bush........this was on a 1940 Dodge, they use the same front spring bush......andyd

[cwheel1975]

Thanks all,

My plan was to support the car with jackstands on the frame and take one leaf spring off at a time by supporting that end of the rear with a jack (my original post wasn't clear). Is there a better alternative to the rubber silent block (poly?). Where is a good source to get the silent block? Thanks.

[Plymouthy Adams]

as I stated..I bet upon inspection you wil fidn these have survived quite well adn if a tad worn...look at the age..new set of originals will outlast you..

[cwheel1975]

Thanks all for the advice. We were able to get the bushings changed out on Saturday. I've attached a picture of the old ones, the inner metal tube and the rubber of the silent block pretty much fell out. The damage on the outer metal housing was from the air chisel driving it out. Getting the new one started in the hole was a little bit of a challenge but after we got it going straight it pulled in fairly easy using a couple c-clamps. The rear bushings were easy. We managed to do it without removing the leaf springs completely from the car.

[Andydodge]

Good job, the rear shackle rubbers will wear quicker as they move thru a much larger arc........andyd