Trailer spring bushings

Keith True

Well-known Member
I'm restoring an old John Deere tagalong trailer,and trying to find spring bushings.Having worked on trucks,tractors,and trailers all my life,I thought it would not be too hard to find what I needed.Truck spring shops are NOT what they used to be.I tried the usual ones near me,that I've dealt with for 40 years.No go,if I can't give them an application they can't find it.They have told me though that they could have the bushings custom made by size.16 of them times $58.each is kind of out of the question.It has been suggested to make them out of UHMW,(polyurethane)as the off road boys use it for that.Does anybody know how it holds up long term?
 
Most trailer spring and low end equalizer bushings are plastic. Give me the dimensions and I might have some and can send them to you. If you want brass or bronze there is a factory near me that will make them for you and I would be surprised if they cost over $30 total.
 
My spring bushings have an OD of,1-1/8,an ID of 5/8,and are 2-1/2 long.They originally consisted of steel outer sleeve,rubber and a steel inner bushing.Those old John Deere trailers were built rather strangely,heavy iron,heavy axles,super heavy springs,and wimpy little 5 lug wheels.I have a 15 ton tagalong with lighter springs than this trailer is equipped with.I don't mind making them,if the bushings were going to be thinner walled I would think nothing of using the polyurethane.The bushings I make are going to wind up with a 1/4 inch wall thickness,it's probably going to be fine.
 
I have some of these at home and you can order them. Are you sure on the 5/8 inside? Most trailers are 9/16. You could drill these.
a176499.jpg
 
The eye bolts on this trailer are all 5/8.15/16 heads on them.I have found spring bushings with both 5/8 and 9/16 bores,but none with the 1-1/8 OD that I need.The shackle bars,or links,are all a full 3/8 thick.I actually only need 12,not 16.I do some trailer work and have a lot of bushings,bolts,hangers,rockers,U-bolts,brake parts,etc around.This trailer was made in the 60's and seems to be all by itself.
 
I can find all those conventional size parts OK,it is the odd sizes that I need that are hard to come by.I have most of that stuff pictured here on the shelf.I have 5/8 eye bolts,which you normally see in 9/16.Also,when you see 5/8 eye bolts you normally see 1-3/8 OD spring bushings.Not so with mine,they are 1-1/8 on the OD.I don't really want to go with solid bronze,the originals had some give and I would like to keep it that way.I do have some bronze rod cut to length and ready to bore.A spring shop has told me the UHMW material I am thinking about using will be fine.He said to stay from the cheapo nylon,and the teflon.The teflon will ooze out under constant pressure.(cold flow)
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top