I installed new Hotchkis rear bushings in the frame of my 69, but the ones on the outer side of the frame do not sit completely flush. The inside bushings sit flush, but the outside ones have about about an 1/8 of inch gap between the frame and the end of the bushing. I've tried putting the shackles on and tighting them, but once I take them off, the gap remains. When the shackles are tight, there is almost no gap on the outside ones. It almost seems like that pin in the bushings will not move any more so I can't get the bushings flush. I cleaned the frame before installing them and I used a boat load of their lube, but I can't get them any tighter. Is this going to cause any problems because I don't think they are coming out without a fight?

Might have to trim an 1/8th inch off them to keep them from butting together??

No big deal at all, imho..

pdq67

I just installed these a few months ago and their are part numbers on the bushings that you cross reference with the instructions that specify which p/n's get used in the frame rails and the leaf springs.

I used a piece of all thread and a couple of big washers. Slide the allthread through both bushings then put a washer and nut on each end. Start tightening the nuts and voila the bushings will seat fully. Try it and let us know.

My bushings all looked the same so I just installed any one in the frame. I tried the threaded screw with the washers trick a few times. It seems as through when I'm tightening the screw it compresses the bushing and then I hit the pin and it won't go any farther. I back it off and I still have the 1/8 gap, but no gap when its tight. The bushing is in there so good, I have no idea how to even try to get it out, so I just might install the leafs and see how it goes.

Let me take a look at my setup and see if mine's the same way. I don't remember the bushings being different for the springs and the frame holes, but I'll look. I do remember that I didn't have a problem installing them.

I dug up my old installation instructions the p/n for the frame rail bushing is U61137 and the shackles are U61091. The p/n's are in small print on the bushings.

I had similar problem installing my bushings and called Hotchkis and they confirmed my kit had the wrong bushings in it and next day air me the correct ones. The bushing diameter was pretty much the same, but there was about an 1/6" difference in the width of the bushing.