Leaf Spring Bushing Sizes

I did a search of the forum and didnt see an old thread about this so here goes.

I working on a 64 Dart 225 for a friend, its a 7.25 rear, replacing the rear axle with an 8.75 that the owner got rebuilt, I think from Eaton. He also got the relocation package. Keeping the original springs
My main problem is front leaf spring bushings.

The front spring eye inside diameter is 1 3/8.
The original bushing measures 1 3/8 od. Thats the outer shell of the bushing and with a 7/16 bolt hole.
Now the replacement bushing they sent is 1 1/2 od of the shell and 5/8 bolt hole. cCurse it wont work.

Now when I look for new busings, I can find 1 1/2 and 2 inch but cant find one thats 1 3/8. with also a 5/8 bolt hole.

Now if you look for a bushing for a 74 Dart , because they could of had an 8 3/4, you find an 1 1/2 or 2 inch od with a 5/8 hole.

Now Ive measured the spring eye many times to make sure its 1 3/8 and Im not mentally challenged. One person told me he had never heard of that size.

Am I going nuts!

Steve

What I have found thru research is that the early Darts with /6s and 7.25 rears used smaller leaf spring front bushings. The bushing od is 1 3/8 with a 7/16 bolt hole. The springs themselves were 2.5 wide.

The later Darts, say mid 70's with a V8 used front bushings that were 1.5 or 2 inch od with a 5/8 bolt hole.

The 8.75 rear from Eaton came with offset purches with the front spring brackets using a 5/8 bolt hole, thus needing the standard mid 70's Dart bushings.

There doesn't seem to be a front spring bushing that is 1 3/8 od with a 5/8 bolt hole. Something that will allow you to use the original leaf springs from the 64 with /6 and 7.25.

Fixes - Get different offset front spring purches with a 7/16 bolt hole. or weld washers with 7/16 hole on the spring purches I have to cover up the 5/8 bolt hole. Or maybe see if a spring shop can enlarge the front spring eye to accept the 1 1/5 od bushing.

Steve

Have you called the supplier to see if they have the correct bushings or spring perches for your application?

Yes we talked to the supplier. They dont have front spring bushings with 1 3/8 od with 5/8 bolt hole. Once you look at the original bushing you can understand why. With that small of a bushing, putting a 5/8 hole thru it for the inner sleeve wouldn't leave much rubber between the inner sleeve and the outter shell.

And they drill all of their offset spring brackets with 5/8 bolt holes.

I need to ask if they can build some with a 7/16 bolt hole.
This is just something we hadn't anticipated we would have to deal with and that would stop the installation.

Can you weld? If so, just weld up the hole and redrill for the 7/16 bolt.

Steve,
I wish I would have ran through my issues back in Feb. I have the bushings/bolts that you need(ed). They were, however, listed for a '69 Dart \6 as 'leaf spring bolt' and to be used in the shackle (??) at RA. They looked right to me without having dimensions listed so I ordered them. Two months later I have gotten the old bushings out and those new suckers better expand a full 1/8" by application of some Mopar fairy fart dust or they ain't gonna hunt! I had no idea I was opening my own version of pandora's cardboard box that is this "front eye bushing issue" when were left on my doorstep. My old ones are 1.5" OD x 2.5" W x 1/2" ID (bolt diameter) - Is there a part number for that? Why is it so hard to get these listed right? Were there that many changes made through the years/engines?

Howdy, I never found the right bushings for our application so I have no part number.

To resolve the situation I went to a local spring shop here in Austin, gave them the bushing deminsions and they found the bushings I needed. They were not for a Chrysler product.

Steve

Well I have mine for sale if you know anybody that might be interested. (2x) Raybestos p/n 5765011 - 1 3/8" OD x 2 1/2" L outer shell, 7/16" ID x 3" L inner shell (rubber insulator same length), 7/16" D x 4" L NF bolt w/nut included. $25 shipped ($16.44 each on RA).