'74 CJ5 front shackle busing install help??

I am trying to put in my 4wd.com 2.5" lift on my '74 CJ5. I am to the point of re-assembly but am stuck at putting in the bushings into the front shackle mount. It appears as if the bushings supplied are too large (just a barely).

Is there a trick to putting these in? I cannot even get mine started. I tried greasing the outside, but I can't get it started. In looking at it, it looks like maybe the stock bushing had another metal insert around the rubber, making the stock bushing be:

metal bushing, rubber, metal bushing

Is that true, and I have to remove the larger metal bushing, or is the 30+ year old Jeep just confusing me?

Thanks,
Scott
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true
the outer shell could still be stuck in the hangar
usually a hacksaw blade removed from the saw and inserted thru the hole will cut the shell; hammer and fine punch/chisel will fold it over so you can collapse it amd remove it.

 

There is a outer metal bushing around the rubber on a stock bushing. You have to cut it out with a hacksaw, thats what I did. Be careful not to cut to deep just enough and it will come loose. Saw it in a post on here somewhere. Do you have the poly bushings? They go in good after you get that outer bushing out.

 

Ok, so the bushings are now in the freezer in hopes they shrink enough.

Still open to help.

Scott

 

Yeah,

I have the poly bushings. I guess I will need to go looking for a hacksaw. It looked like there was another bit of bushing in there, but I couldn't hammer it out with a socket.

THanks,
Scott

 

I put mine in hot water right before install so they would get gooshy. I would try that before the freezer. Also I used a sawzall on the bushings, just be careful, the blade barely fit into the hole. Dont cut to deep. Good luck.

 

Had this same problem... pain in the $#%. My old bushings were so old and worn they were practically fused to the inside of the hanger. I used a grinder but I would try the hacksaw it sounds a lot easier. I dont think I would soak the bushings or put them in the freezer. Once you get the outer metal part of the old bushing the new poly bushing should slip right in.

 

After you get the old sleeve cut out, the new bushings will slip right in without freezing or heating. I used a hacksaw blade also and it went pretty fast.....those sleeves are very soft steel.