If bushing edges are smooth, with no sharp
edges, and bushing tube length remains within
specification; continue with new bushing
installation. Otherwise, repeat the previous step as
needed.

14

L427 H

Bushing Replacement Procedure

BUSHING INSTALLATION

3. Insert the bushing into the transition tube
(Figure 29).
4. Align the position locator on the bushing with
the line drawn on the transition tube as shown in
Figure 29.

Transition tube

Figure 28: Drawing an orientation line on transition tube

1. Using a square, scribe or draw a line on the
transition tube (Figure 28). This line will be used to
properly orient the bushing during installation.

Figure 30: Applying lube to hex head bolt

5. Liberally apply extreme-pressure lube to the
threads of the hex head bolt (Figure 30).

2. Liberally apply Type “M” lubricant to the inside of
the bushing tube, transition tube and to the outside
diameter of the replacement bushing.
3

NOTICE

Insufficient or wrong lubricant type
can cause higher friction, incomplete
bushing insertion (binding) and damage
to the tool.

NOTICE

DO NOT substitute lubricants. The only
lubricant that should be used on the
bushing, bushing tube and transition
tube is Type “M” included in the pivot
bushing replacement kit.

NOTICE

Do not use Type “M” lubricant on the
threads of the hex head bolt, thrust
bearing or washers. This may result
in binding of the tool and/or damage
to hex head bolt threads shown in
Figure 30.

Line on transition tube

Figure 31: Applying lube to thrust bearing

6. Apply extreme-pressure lube to the internal parts of
the thrust bearing (Figure 31).

Bushing position locator

NOTICE

Figure 29: Inserting replacement bushing into transition tube
3

Seagull Type “M” Code lubricant is manufactured by Clark Oil Company
and is supplied with the pivot bushing replacement kit. Most or all must be
applied for this procedure.

L427 H

15

Do not use extreme-pressure lube on
the bushing. It is intended only for use
on the hex head bolt, thrust bearing and
thrust washers.

Bushing Replacement Procedure 
Front
plate

Replacement
bushing

Transition
tube

Rear
drive
plate

Hex Thrust
head bearing
bolt

Thrust
washers
Centering washer
(see step 7, two washers
can be used if required.)

Bearing
cup end

Bushing tube

A: Wide Bushing Tool

Transition
tube

Front
plate

Tapered
end
Plastic liner

Hex Thrust
head bearing
bolt

Replacement
bushing

Rear
drive
plate

Thrust
washers
Bushing
tube

Centering
washers

B: Narrow Bushing Tool
Figure 32: Assembling bushing tool for bushing installation

7. Assemble the hex head bolt, thrust washers, thrust
bearing and front plate as shown in Figure 32.
A. Wide Bushing Tool:
Position one centering washer under the front
plate (Figure 19 on page 11). If required, two
washers can be used.
B. Narrow Bushing Tool:
Position two centering washers under the front
plate.

Figure 33: Apply lube to thrust washers

16

L427 H

Bushing Replacement Procedure
NOTE: There must be two lubricated thrust washers
on each side of the thrust bearing as shown in
Figure 32 and Figure 33.
8. Apply extreme-pressure lube to external surfaces of
the thrust washers (Figure 33).
9. Narrow Bushing Tool Only:
If a narrow bushing is being installed, slide the
plastic liner (Figure 32, B) onto the hex head
bolt. This liner slips inside the bushing and helps
maintain the perpendicular relationship between
the replacement bushing and the hex head bolt
during installation.

Ensure the tool is
squarely seated
on both sides of
bushing tube

Bushing
tube

Transition
tube

Set screws
must enter
bushing voids

Figure 35: Ensure tool is square on both sides of bushing tube

3. Slide the transition tube and bushing assembly
onto the hex head bolt (Figure 32) and position it
to be squarely seated against the bushing tube as
shown in Figure 35.

INSTALLING BUSHING IN BUSHING TUBE

IMPORTANT: The transition tube guides and
compresses the bushing as it enters
the bushing tube. If the tool and its
components are not properly oriented
and assembled, the bushing and/or tool
will be damaged during installation.

Unworn side
(Install tool
from this side)

Worn side
(Install
bushing from
this side)

Transition tube
Bushing tube
Figure 34: Install bushing from worn (but dressed) side
Figure 36: Align lines for proper bushing orientation

1. Insert the hex head bolt of the partially assembled
tool through the bushing tube.

4. Align the line drawn on the transition tube (step 1
on page 15) with the line drawn on the bushing
tube (step 2 on page 9) as shown in Figure 36.

A. If no bushing tube wear was detected in
step 2 on page 14, the assembled tool can
be inserted into either side of the bushing tube.

5. Ensure the bushing position locator (Figure 29
on page 15) is aligned with the line on the
transition tube and bushing tube (Figure 36).

B. If bushing tube wear was detected in step 2
on page 14, the assembled tool must be
inserted into the unworn side of the bushing
tube (Figure 34) so the replacement bushing
can be installed from the worn (but dressed)
side of the bushing tube.

NOTE: The removal spacer required for bushing
removal is not used for bushing installation.

2. Orient the lubricated transition tube as shown in
Figure 32, with bushing inserted, so the end of the
transition tube with the wide tool bearing cup or
narrow tool taper is toward the bushing tube.
L427 H

17

Bushing Replacement Procedure 
6. Configure the set screws in the rear drive plate as
follows:

8. Push the tool parts together, making sure all
components are properly aligned:
A.

Short screws

The front drive plate is squarely seated on one
side of the bushing tube.

B. The transition tube is squarely seated on and
aligned with the other side of the bushing tube
(Figure 35 and Figure 36).
Alignment groove

Long screws
Figure 37: Wide bushing rear drive plate set screws

A. Wide Bushing Tool: Thread all four set screws
(two and four-inch) into the “HVY” holes in
the concave side of the rear drive plate. The
two-inch set screws should be flush with the
flat side of the rear drive plate (Figure 37). The
four-inch set screws should extend two inches
beyond the flat side of the rear drive plate as
shown in Figure 21 on page 11.
NOTICE

Wide bushing rear drive plate

Narrow bushing rear drive plate

Figure 39: Rear drive plate alignment groove

C. Bushing position locator (Figure 2 and Figure 3
on page 4) aligns with rear drive plate
alignment groove.

Improperly positioned set screws can
jam the tool during bushing installation.
Make sure set screws are positioned as
stated above.

D. Rear drive plate alignment groove (Figure 39)
is aligned with lines on the transition tube and
bushing tube (Figure 36).
9. Hand tighten the hex head bolt.
10. Snug the hex head bolt with a 111/16‑inch wrench.
11. Ensure:
A. The tool is squarely seated on each side of the
bushing tube
B. Set screws are in the bushing voids.
C. Rear drive plate is squarely seated on the
replacement bushing.
D. Alignment of the line on the transition tube, the
line on the bushing tube, the bushing position
locator and rear drive plate alignment groove.

Figure 38: Narrow bushing rear drive plate alignment pins

B. Narrow Bushing Tool: The alignment pins in
the rear drive plate of the narrow bushing tool
(Figure 38) are fixed and cannot be adjusted.

NOTICE

7. Thread the rear drive plate (concave side first) onto
the hex head bolt (Figure 35).
IMPORTANT: The set screws (wide bushing tool) or
alignment pins (narrow bushing tool)
must enter the bushing voids (open
areas) to prevent the rear drive plate
from turning.
18

The thrust bearing (Figure 24 on
page 12) needs to be free to turn to
prevent binding or damage to the hex
head bolt threads during the installation
process.

L427 H

Bushing Replacement Procedure
NOTICE

Do not over torque the hex head bolt.
Damage to the hex head bolt, front drive
plate or rear drive plate could occur.

IMPORTANT: If the rear drive plate is not sitting
squarely on the bushing, rubber will
extrude around the sides of the rear
drive plate and stop any movement of
the bushing. If the impact wrench stops,
reverse the impact wrench and squarely
reset the rear drive plate on the bushing.

Figure 40: Installing bushing with impact wrench

12. Using a 3/4‑inch impact wrench and a 111/16‑inch
heavy-duty (six-point) impact socket, install the
bushing by turning the hex head bolt clockwise
(Figure 40).

Figure 42: Continue to tighten hex head bolt after transition tube
falls away

13. Continue to tighten until the hex head bolt
almost stops turning. The transition tube will fall
away before the bushing is fully seated in the
bushing tube and the hex head bolt stops turning
(Figure 42).
CAUTION Do not allow the transition tube to fall
to the floor. Transition tube damage or
personal injury could result.
14. With the bushing installed, verify:
A. The bushing position locator is aligned with the
bushing index mark (Figure 10 on page 9
or with the line drawn on the outside of the
bushing tube (Figure 12 on page 9).

Figure 41: Typical bushing installation progression as hex head bolt
is turned

NOTE: When the bushing is approximately halfway
in the bushing tube (Figure 41), the impact
wrench may slow down. After a very short time,
the wrench will pick up speed again. If all
procedures are followed properly, the impact
wrench will install the bushing in less than one
minute.

L427 H

19

Bushing Replacement Procedure 

SUSPENSION REASSEMBLY

After a new bushing is installed, the suspension can
be reassembled. Reference Figure 4 and Figure 6 on
page 6.
CAUTION Failure to follow these pivot connection
assembly procedures and to properly
torque the pivot connection fasteners
could result in a failed pivot connection
and damage to the axle, suspension or
trailer.
Figure 43: Bushing inner metal centered in bushing tube

1. Place and hold new bushing tube spacers over
bushing tubes. Refer to Hendrickson literature
number L750 Bushing Tube Spacer Inspection/
Replacement Procedure.

B. The bushing inner metal is centered in the
bushing tube, .
15. Disassemble, clean and store the tool in a clean,
dry place.

NOTE: Tape can be used to hold spacers in place
during beam installation into frame bracket.
NOTICE

If more bushing tube spacers than
what is recommended are added, the
TRI‑FUNCTIONAL® Bushing will not have
enough room within the frame bracket to
function properly and severe damage to
the suspension could result.

2. Using a jack, carefully raise the suspension beam
into place in the frame bracket.
CAUTION DO NOT APPLY anti-seize compound or
additional lubricant to pivot connection
hardware. A dry lubricant coating has
been applied to the threads of the pivot
connection bolt and nut. Do not allow
undercoating, paint, surface coatings, or
any other commonly used compounds
to contact the threads of the pivot
connection fasteners. These compounds
can act like a lubricant, reducing the
friction between the threads of the nut
and bolt. This can lead to overtightened
fasteners, unpredictable pivot
connection clamp loads and unreliable
axle alignments. Threads should be
clean, dry and free of contamination, as
supplied by Hendrickson.
CAUTION DO NOT apply undercoating, paint or
other surface coating to the suspension
and frame brackets until after
completing the alignment.

20

L427 H

Bushing Replacement Procedure
IMPORTANT: New pivot connection fasteners must be
used for pivot connection reassembly.
DO NOT tack weld the pivot bolt to the
alignment collar.

B. Welded Collar Style Pivot Connection
(Figure 6): Reassemble the welded collar style
pivot connection as follows:
NOTE: For Y-beam welded collar pivot connection
installation, refer to Y-BEAM PIVOT CONNECTION
REASSEMBLY on page 24.

3. Reassemble the pivot connection using one of the
following procedures:

i.

A. QUIK‑ALIGN® Style Pivot Connection (Figure 4):
Reassemble and align pivot connection as
follows:

ii. Thread the nut onto the cap screw and
tighten to 800±25 ft. lbs. (1085±30 N∙m)
of torque 4.

NOTE: This procedure applies to all QUIK-ALIGN style
pivot connections, except Y-beam QUIK-ALIGN
Style Pivot Connection (Figure 44 on page ).
Reassemble as follows: on page 25.
i.

Insert a new 11/8‑inch heavy hex cap screw
from the inboard side of the frame bracket.

iii. Tack weld the nut to the cap screw threads.
4. Restore trailer to normal operating condition when
complete.

Place the concentric alignment collar over
the new shear-type pivot bolt.

ii. Insert pivot bolt through inboard side of
frame bracket alignment slots, spacers and
bushing toward the outboard side till the
concentric collar rests squarely against the
inboard side of the frame bracket.
iii. Slide the eccentric alignment collar over
the threaded end of the pivot bolt on the