Bed shifting

I've been noticing in the past several months a rear noise, like something's happening in the rear when I make some turns, something I could feel and hear. I don't think it's drive shaft related as I don't hear this going off straight forward or in reverse. But I've noticed that the leaf springs rear lower bushings are shot. I was trying to track down source/part numbers for the B2200 leaf spring bushings.

So today I figured I'd take a better look-see. And I shot some photos for Earl.

How it looked. No rubber showing on the one side.

The other side of same one at least showed some rubber.


With the shackle plate off, look at the gap in my bushing !!!


I pried up that stud, cut a rubber seal like a water heater element seals like, and stuck pieces of that under the stud in the gap there when I pried. Then I filled the top gap with silicone RTV. Then I added a $1.14 rubber washer with 1/2 inch i.d. that came from Ace Hardware.


Then I had to loosen the big nuts on the U-bolts and pry (very hard) to get the shackle holes to line up to get that on. Then I just tightened everything. I haven't driven it yet to know if that has helped. If it does, when my "fix" goes bad, I'll at least "know" it was the leaf spring bushings. So here it is, with the Ace Hardware rubber washer showing, hopefully to restrict/prevent left-right motion. On the other side, it was the inside part that was worn/missing. Since I was fearful of not being able to get that all back together by myself, I just tapped the stud with a hammer, slit one of the Ace Hardware washers, and slipped that in, then retightened.


QUESTION: what's an easy or reasonable way to get the second end of the leaf spring lined up so stuff can be slipped on and bolted down?