The 1995 Ford F-150 pickup uses a twin I-beam and coil spring front suspension rather than the conventional upper and lower control arm suspension on other trucks. A radius arm is attached to each I-beam near the wheels to fix the fore and aft position of the beam. The radius arm runs from the I-beam back to a bracket attached to the frame where it is held with rubber bushings. The bushings wear out over time and must be replaced.
Park the F-150 on a level, paved surface and set the parking brake. Loosen the lug nuts on both front wheels. Raise the front of the F-150 with a jack and support with jack stands placed on the frame rails. Finish removing the lug nuts and wheels.
Use a wrench, ratchet and socket to remove the nut and bolt from the sway bar link where it attaches to the spring seat bracket. Pull the link out of the bracket. Place a jack under the axle you are working on and raise it until it just makes contact with the I-beam. Use a wrench, ratchet and socket to remove the nut and bolt from the lower shock absorber mount.
Use a ratchet and socket to remove the bolt from the upper coil spring retainer. Remove the retainer. Use a ratchet, socket and extension to remove the lower spring retainer nut from the center of the coil spring. Lower the jack enough so you can remove the coil spring and spring seat.
Use a wrench, breaker bar and socket to remove the nut and bolt that attach the radius arm to the I-beam.
Use a ratchet and socket to remove the nut and washer. Remove the bushing and spacer.
Slide the radius arm in toward the center of the F-150 until it clears the I-beam. Remove the radius arm from the bracket.
Slide a new bushing on the end of the radius arm. Slide the end of the radius arm into the bracket. Install the spacer, a new bushing, the washer and nut. Tighten the nut finger tight.
Mount the radius arm onto the I-beam. Reinstall the bolt and nut that hold the radius arm on the I-beam. Use a wrench, torque wrench and socket to torque the bolt to between 269 and 329 foot-pounds.
Mount the spring seat and rubber washer on the bolt, install the coil spring, install the lower spring retainer and nut. Use a torque wrench and socket to torque the nut to between 80 and 119 foot-pounds
Raise the jack until the top of the coil spring is seated in the upper spring housing. Install the retainer and bolt. Use a torque wrench and socket to torque the bolt to between 13 and 18 foot-pounds.
Use a torque wrench and socket to torque the rear radius arm nut to between 83 and 112 foot-pounds.
Mount the bottom of the shock absorber back in its bracket. Install the bolt and nut. Use a torque wrench and socket to torque the bolt to between 52 and 74 foot-pounds. Mount the sway bar link back in its bracket. Install the nut and bolt. Use a torque wrench to torque the bolt to between 57 and 77 foot-pounds.
Repeat the process for the other radius arm bushings. Install the wheels and lug nuts. Raise the front of the F-150 with jack, remove the jack stands and lower it to the ground. Tighten the lug nuts.
