A couple yrs ago Big Bad Bee was swapping out the rubber SS spring bushings for an aftermarket set. As I recall, he carved up & pressed out the existing rubber. The aftermarket bushings didn't fit right away. He found a metal collar inside the big eye of the leaf spring. Once he pressed out the collar, the aftermarket bushings went right in.

You'll have to ask him (Lindy) what brand of aftermarket bushings he used & if he is happy with the feel of the suspension.