Shackle bushing reamer use

jwilliams81

jwilliams81

Senior Member
Hey guys,

I had never used a shackle bushing reamer and was nervous I could screw something up. I had read a lot and was trying to find a video of one in use, but had no luck. So I bought the reamer and made a video for others to check out.

Here is the link:
https://youtu.be/nu15rEbWZR0
 
I like it - i dont see anything major to comment on. Personally i would use more oil as you ream - can never have enough cutting oil when reaming. Also once you remove the ream you blew it off which is good but i like to slip it back in the cardboard tube to protect the flutes - hate to drop a wrench or the ream and damage/nick it. Probably over protective but deffinately cannot hurt. I also wad up a paper towel or shop rag and wipe the crud out of it - this also evenly spreads the cutting oil as an anti rust agent and its clean for the next job. DONT put the towel in your palm and grab and try to wipe it off like a socket wrench - if it can cut metal it will shred right thru a towel into your hand.

Also should wear safety glasses when blowing particles out of holes - i know i sound like an old lady but particles in eyes is no fun.
 
NO.. you don't sound like an old lady at all. Those are all very valid tips. Especially the eye protection. Thanks for the input. The adjustable wrench instead of the proper handle was annoying, even to me haha.
More oil makes a ton of sense.
Eye protection is the biggest thing that I should have done. Thanks for pointing it out.
 
Easy. Get a YouTube acct. On video Mgr, hit the upload button , then the big arrow, find your video and it will up load. A few things to fill in, but that is all easy and not critical.
 
jwilliams81 said:
NO.. you don't sound like an old lady at all. Those are all very valid tips. Especially the eye protection. Thanks for the input. The adjustable wrench instead of the proper handle was annoying, even to me haha.
More oil makes a ton of sense.
Eye protection is the biggest thing that I should have done. Thanks for pointing it out.
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i cant say ive ever used a proper wrench while using a large ream - skinny ones sure as they can bend easily.:rolleyes:
 
Where do you get shackle kits with bushes that need reeming? The ones I have ever bought from the vendors were sooo loose, it was a joke.
 
SeaSlugs said:
loose after you pressed them in? Did they actually press in or just kinda slide?
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I had to push them in and lousy loose afterwards. I suspect they were some of the rubbish we talk about so often here.:mad: Other club members have the same issue. One even throws away the bushes that come in the kit and makes his own. I have some on order now and if they are the same, I will let the vendor know and probably make my own too. It's not difficult but something we shouldn't have to do.
 
Huh weird - when I redid my front end maybe 2010? 2011 ish mine fit tight and needed reamed. I believe they came from Snyders.
 
I bought my springs from a-springs.com.
They come with new brass bushings installed on the springs and I ordered new brass bushings for the shackles as well.
I used the original shackles that came with the car.
 
It looks to me like the reamer for doing that kind of job needs a pilot ground on the starting end so it will follow the center line of the hole. Maybe I'm just not good enough at holding a reamer straight in a situation like this. After owning and operating a Tool&Die shop for the last 37 years you would think I would have caught on.:rolleyes:
 
Back in the 90s most if no all of the shackle bushings needed to be reamed after installation. At the time Brattons offered a reamer for the shackle bushings that was reasonably priced and easy enough for the common man to use. Bratton no longer offers the bushing reamer, I'm glad that I still have mine . Snyders offers a slightly different shackle reamer . All of the shackle bushings that I have used were steel . Some offer a special drill bit for drilling the bushings instead of reaming but I wouldn't reccomend it . Brattons now offer pre reamed bushings and a bushing driver that works for removing and replacing shackle bushings and rear brake camshaft bushings as well. When the bushing driver is used it removes the risk of distorting the bushings when installing . I have bought new springs with the bushings installed from Smith and Jones in Columbia south Carolina . The clearance on shackle bushings isn't as critical as clearance on engine parts . After the spring spreader is released any slack will be taken up .
 
Purdy is correct. A good fit is not necessary. Running a drill through the hole is plenty good enough. The spring tension and weight of the car sort things out very quickly. Besides, VERY FEW springs haven't got a twist in them from the manufacturing and tempering process. A tight fit makes fitting the shackle pins difficult.
 
Synchro909 said:
Where do you get shackle kits with bushes that need reeming? The ones I have ever bought from the vendors were sooo loose, it was a joke.
Click to expand...

I just replaced the shackle bushings in my front end. Sure as can be, I don't even need to use the nice reamer I just bought. They're so loose and sloppy, it's offensive. They're worse than the worn out ones I pressed out.

What's worse is I have a lathe and should have just made my own.
 
Nathan_1929 said:
I just replaced the shackle bushings in my front end. Sure as can be, I don't even need to use the nice reamer I just bought. They're so loose and sloppy, it's offensive. They're worse than the worn out ones I pressed out.

What's worse is I have a lathe and should have just made my own.
Click to expand...

Oh dear, and here was I hoping that I had some from a crappy manufacturer and that they would be out of the system by now.:mad:
 
Nathan_1929 said:
I just replaced the shackle bushings in my front end. Sure as can be, I don't even need to use the nice reamer I just bought. They're so loose and sloppy, it's offensive. They're worse than the worn out ones I pressed out.

What's worse is I have a lathe and should have just made my own.
Click to expand...

I used to buy the shackle kit and the replacement bushings from Bratton's. Toss the shackle kit bushings in your spare parts bin, then use the shackles and replacement bushings. They were always a perfect fit together. This was 10 years ago, so things may have changed.
 
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