Leaf Spring Bushes

Nolathane leaf spring bushes replace the worn bushes at each pivot of a leaf spring: the front eye, the rear eye and the shackle. Every load a leaf sprung vehicle carries passes through these bushes. They support the weight of the vehicle and its payload, take the full force of acceleration and braking, and resist sideways loads in corners, all while letting the spring flex.

When leaf spring bushes wear, the axle moves on the springs, the rear end squeaks and clunks, and the vehicle feels unstable under load. Polyurethane leaf spring bushes restore firm axle location and stand up to the heavy loads, dust, water and mud that pick-ups, 4WDs, vans and classic vehicles deal with every day.

How Leaf Spring Bushes Work

A leaf spring is attached to the chassis at both ends. The front eye pivots on a fixed pin through a bush in the chassis hanger. The rear eye connects to a shackle, a short swinging link that allows the spring to lengthen as it compresses, and the shackle pivots on another bush at the chassis.

Each of these spring eye and shackle bushes allows rotation, absorbs vibration and holds the spring, and therefore the axle, in position. Because the leaf spring is also what locates the axle on most leaf sprung vehicles, worn bushes don?t just make noise. They let the axle shift fore and aft and side to side, which changes how the vehicle steers and brakes.

Why Leaf Spring Bushes Wear Out

Leaf spring bushes are among the hardest-working bushes on any vehicle. Wear is accelerated by:

• Heavy loads in the tray or a canopy full of gear
• Towing caravans, boats and trailers
• Off-road driving, corrugations and repeated impacts
• Dust, mud, sand and salt water working into the pivots
• Heat, ozone and age hardening and cracking rubber
• Seized pins that force the bush to twist instead of pivot

High kilometres and heavy load carrying wear factory rubber bushes quickly, which is why leaf spring bushes are a routine service item on work pick-ups and touring 4WDs.

Signs of Worn Leaf Spring Bushes

• Squeaking or creaking from the rear over bumps and driveways
• Clunking when taking off, braking or going over speed humps
• The rear of the vehicle wandering or steering itself on the road
• Instability or sway when towing or carrying a load
• Uneven rear tyre wear
• Visible cracks, splits or rubber squeezed out of the spring eyes or shackle mounts
• Movement at the spring eyes or shackles when the vehicle is rocked or levered

Benefits of Replacing Leaf Spring Bushes

• Firmer axle location, reducing rear-end steer and wander
• Better stability when towing or carrying heavy loads
• More predictable braking, with less axle movement under load
• A quieter rear end without squeaks and clunks
• Longer life for springs, shackles, pins and tyres
• Restored ride quality and smoother spring articulation

Polyurethane vs Rubber Leaf Spring Bushes

Rubber spring bushes are quiet and soft when new but deflect under load, then harden, crack and tear with age. Polyurethane leaf spring bushes hold the spring eye in position under load and resist breakdown far longer.

Nolathane has been making polyurethane suspension bushings since 1974, originally developed to replace brass bushes in hillclimb competition. The signature red bushings are made in a range of durometers (hardness grades) for each position, are mechanically fitted with minimal crush, and use a lubricated centre sleeve so the spring pivots freely rather than twisting the bush. They offer outstanding abrasion resistance, high load-bearing capability, increased tensile strength and resistance to oil, grease, ozone and weathering.

The honest trade-off is that polyurethane leaf spring bushes need periodic lubrication to stay quiet, especially on vehicles that see dust and water. A firmer bush can also transmit slightly more road feel than soft rubber.

Front Eye, Rear Eye and Shackle Bushes

Each position does a different job, so it?s worth understanding where wear happens:

• Front eye bushes carry most of the driving and braking loads and locate the axle fore and aft
• Rear eye bushes connect the spring to the shackle and see constant movement as the spring flexes
• Shackle bushes connect the shackle to the chassis and allow it to swing

Replacing all positions on both springs at the same time gives the most consistent result. Some classic vehicles also use saddle insulators or slipper pads, which cushion the spring at the axle or chassis. Each listing shows which positions a kit covers and the vehicles it suits.

Related Components to Check

When the leaf spring bushes are being replaced, inspect:

• Shackles and pins for wear, bending and corrosion
• The spring eyes for elongation or cracks
• Centre bolts and U-bolts for tightness and corrosion
• Spring leaves for cracks, broken leaves or sag

Worn shackle pins are a common cause of rapid bush wear. On 4WDs and pick-ups, upgrading to greasable shackles and pins at the same time allows the bushes to be lubricated in place.

Replacing Leaf Spring Bushes

Fitting suits professional workshops and experienced home mechanics. Factory bushes are often pressed into the spring eyes and may need a press or puller to remove. As a general guide:

1. Support the chassis securely on stands and support the axle with a jack to unload the springs.
2. Work on one side at a time, removing the shackle and fixed pins.
3. Remove the old bushes and clean the spring eyes and chassis mounts.
4. Fit the new polyurethane bushes with a grease suitable for polyurethane, such as a silicone or PTFE-based grease.
5. Refit the pins and shackle, and lower the vehicle onto its wheels.
6. Tighten the pins and shackle bolts to specification with the vehicle at ride height.

Tightening with the axle hanging pre-loads the bushes and shortens their life, so always do the final tightening at ride height. Check that the axle sits square and that rear tyre wear is even after fitting.

Leaf Spring Bush Replacement Cost

The cost of replacing leaf spring bushes is mostly labour. It depends on whether the factory bushes come out easily, whether pins have seized, and whether the springs need to be removed from the vehicle. Replacing every position on both sides in one visit avoids paying for the same work twice, and replacing worn pins and shackles at the same time prevents early wear of the new bushes.

Maintenance and Longevity

To get the longest life from leaf spring bushes:

• Inspect the spring eyes and shackles at every service
• Lubricate greasable pins regularly, especially after beach, mud or water crossings
• Re-check shackle and pin bolt torque after the first few hundred kilometres
• Avoid regularly overloading the vehicle beyond its rated capacity

Shop Leaf Spring Bushes

Find the leaf spring bushes for your vehicle, then order online with fast shipping or have them fitted by a Nolathane reseller. Every kit is backed by our warranty and our fitment guarantee, 60-day returns give you time if a part isn?t right, and our local support team can help whether you?re repairing a squeaky rear end, servicing a working pick-up or restoring a classic.