OEM Dodge Caravan Leaf Spring Bushing

Dodge Caravan Leaf Spring Bushing Parts and Q&A

• Spring Bushing
  4743040AA
  Q: How to Maintain and Fix a Leaf Spring Bushing on Dodge Caravan?

  A:

  The first step in servicing and repairing a leaf spring bushing is to get the vehicle on a frame-contact hoist, then put the corner-supporting hoist arm on a block of wood resting on the sill and begin raising the vehicle. After that, place an under-hoist jack such as a transmission or utility jack, underneath the rear axle against the side needing the bushing, so that the jack pad touches the axle. Remove the bolt from the shock absorber's lower mount and if you notice the bolt moving up or down with the jack applied, adjust the jack to suit the change. After that, remove the four bolts joining the front mounting bracket for the leaf spring to the body. Raise the rear axle with the jack and slowly lower it to hang the rear spring down over the shaft, bolster or replacement part you are using and then place a wooden block below it to hold it stationary. Get rid of the forward pivot bolt for the leaf spring and also get rid of the mounting bracket and while held by the shaft and bearing cap, straighten the retainer tabs on the mount bushings. Attach the Remover/Installer, Special Tool 8459 to the leaf spring and bushing using the Set Screw which you tighten to secure the Remover Plate to the threaded shaft. Securely tighten the nut to remove the bushing from the spring eye and after that, take both the spring and bushing off of the tool.
• Spring Bushing
  5006950AA
  Q: How to Install a Leaf Spring Bushing on Dodge Caravan?

  A:

  Hand-install the new leaf spring bushing into the left leaf spring eye first. Following this, set the Remover/Installer, Special Tool 8459, over the lifting eye and bush of the leaf spring and fasten the Set Screw to connect the Installer Plate (8459-3) with the shaft. Secure the bushing into the spring eye so that it's not completely flush with the spring and there is still some gap between the bushing flange and the spring eye. After getting rid of the Remover/Installer, bend the tabs on the bushing outwards so they press against the part of the spring. Before assembling the bushing, place the spring mounting bracket over the spring eye and thread the pivot bolt through the center, from the outside. Screw the nut onto the pivot bolt and don't tighten it completely right now. Raise the forward mounting bracket using a jack and fit it against the body, using a drift punch to direct the mounting bracket through the hole in the center of both bracket holes and the pilot hole in the body. After the four mounting bolt holes on the bracket line up with their threads in the body, install and tighten the bolts to 61 Nm (45 ft. lbs.) torque. Place the jack so the lower eye of the shock aligns with the threads in the axle housing and install the lower mounting bolt partially. Once the vehicle is low enough, take out the hoist arms and the pieces of wood set up underneath it. After that, secure the spring front pivot bolt with 156 Nm (115 ft. lbs.) of torque and the lower shock absorber mounting bolt with 88 Nm (65 ft. lbs.) torque.