To Reinstall Radius arms on the axle:
I installed 4 degree polyurethane bushings from Wild Horse as I had a 2.5 inch lift on the truck that I installed when I was 17 in the 1970s.
Ensure you read the inside of the bushings and are clear on how they go in. The bushings need to be installed in the correct locations to ensure the axle is oriented the correct way. I marked the outside with a silver sharpie so I knew which one went on the front and which ones went on the back as well as which top/bottom orientation was correct on the bushings.
Liberally lubricated the C bushings on both sides, inside of the front caps as well as the inside of the radius arm. This is to the bushing will seat properly when torquing the C clamp bolts. I bought a jar of Energy Suspension Lube and used about 1/4 of it.
Do one side at a time.
Once all surfaces were lubed, I placed the bushings into the front C cap and the other bushing in the radius arm.
Place the radius arm and cap on the axle. This is where it is helpful to have a second hand. I put the radius arm on the jack stand so it was level with the axle. I purchased as set of C Capt bolts from Wild Horse to replace the fastening hardware.
Start with the two longer bolts. You will not be able to thread your final bolts into the radius arm because the bushings are not compressed. Start one long bolt into in one corner and the other bolt into the opposite corner so they form kind of an X pattern.
Slowly tighten the bolts. Start with one then move to the other. Alternate between bolts until the cap and radius arm start coming together. Once they are close enough, thread your regular bolts into the remaining holes without the lock washer so the threads catch. Once the shorter bolts are started, remove the long bolts and replace them with the short bolts.
SLOWLY righten your bolts in an X pattern drawing the two halves together. Make sure the radius arm C bushings don’t deform or shift as you’re tightening. Tighten one corner and then switch to the opposite corner on the opposite side. For example start with upper left, tighten, then move to lower right etc. Do not tighten them all down but use this alternating pattern to slowly tighten the bolts.
REPEAT FOR THE OTHER SIDE.
Once both radius arms are installed on the axle rotate the radius arms so the threaded portions are touching a level surface. Hopefully both arms are touching the ground. If one is higher than the other you have the potential for this unevenness to cause what’s known as Bronco lean. Where the torque action will actually cause one side of the Bronco to be lower than the other.
You can also do this on jack stands, which is what I did. I used a level to make sure the axle was level.
If the radius arms are not touching the floor evenly or both are touching your jack stands if that what you are using you have to adjust the C cap bolts until they both touch the floor or jack stands.
In my case my passenger radius arm was about 1 inch higher than the drivers radius arm.
Loosen the radius arm cap bolts until the tension is somewhat off the bushings on both sides.
Trying different tightening techniques. Top first, bottom first, X pattern etc. You’ll have to experiment. It can be frustrating because I was never able to get the two radius arms even.
I ended up placing the passenger (high) radius arm into the frame hold and held it in place with bushings and a bolt. I didn’t torque it yet.
I installed 4 degree polyurethane bushings from Wild Horse as I had a 2.5 inch lift on the truck that I installed when I was 17 in the 1970s.
Ensure you read the inside of the bushings and are clear on how they go in. The bushings need to be installed in the correct locations to ensure the axle is oriented the correct way. I marked the outside with a silver sharpie so I knew which one went on the front and which ones went on the back as well as which top/bottom orientation was correct on the bushings.
Liberally lubricated the C bushings on both sides, inside of the front caps as well as the inside of the radius arm. This is to the bushing will seat properly when torquing the C clamp bolts. I bought a jar of Energy Suspension Lube and used about 1/4 of it.
Do one side at a time.
Once all surfaces were lubed, I placed the bushings into the front C cap and the other bushing in the radius arm.
Place the radius arm and cap on the axle. This is where it is helpful to have a second hand. I put the radius arm on the jack stand so it was level with the axle. I purchased as set of C Capt bolts from Wild Horse to replace the fastening hardware.
Start with the two longer bolts. You will not be able to thread your final bolts into the radius arm because the bushings are not compressed. Start one long bolt into in one corner and the other bolt into the opposite corner so they form kind of an X pattern.
Slowly tighten the bolts. Start with one then move to the other. Alternate between bolts until the cap and radius arm start coming together. Once they are close enough, thread your regular bolts into the remaining holes without the lock washer so the threads catch. Once the shorter bolts are started, remove the long bolts and replace them with the short bolts.
SLOWLY righten your bolts in an X pattern drawing the two halves together. Make sure the radius arm C bushings don’t deform or shift as you’re tightening. Tighten one corner and then switch to the opposite corner on the opposite side. For example start with upper left, tighten, then move to lower right etc. Do not tighten them all down but use this alternating pattern to slowly tighten the bolts.
REPEAT FOR THE OTHER SIDE.
Once both radius arms are installed on the axle rotate the radius arms so the threaded portions are touching a level surface. Hopefully both arms are touching the ground. If one is higher than the other you have the potential for this unevenness to cause what’s known as Bronco lean. Where the torque action will actually cause one side of the Bronco to be lower than the other.
You can also do this on jack stands, which is what I did. I used a level to make sure the axle was level.
If the radius arms are not touching the floor evenly or both are touching your jack stands if that what you are using you have to adjust the C cap bolts until they both touch the floor or jack stands.
In my case my passenger radius arm was about 1 inch higher than the drivers radius arm.
Loosen the radius arm cap bolts until the tension is somewhat off the bushings on both sides.
Trying different tightening techniques. Top first, bottom first, X pattern etc. You’ll have to experiment. It can be frustrating because I was never able to get the two radius arms even.
I ended up placing the passenger (high) radius arm into the frame hold and held it in place with bushings and a bolt. I didn’t torque it yet.
