Cage/Duff Radius Arm Bushing (Not C Bushings)

[welndmn]

Radius arms by design do wrap, but when there is not a lot of vertical separation it becomes worse. Don't get me wrong, that setup works for 99% of the people out there.
I'd not add more links, if you're going to, might as well just 3 link it.

I'd looking into either making a derlin bushing or one from oilite. You will feel the front end vibrate with a more ridgid setup, but who cares IMO.

 

[KyleQ]

Hey Kyle, I actually over heard you and Bryan talking today on the phone. You bushing are on the way. Now I totally agree w/the axle wrap just beating those bushings to death with the weld on brackets. Basically what you have is 8 poly bushings holding all that torque. That is a big difference than having a nice big "C" bushing to absorb the wrap. Now go check your PM messages.

Haha - checked it. I'm down for your idea - willing to try it.

 

[broncoman1972]

Haha - checked it. I'm down for your idea - willing to try it.

I'm running the Duff arms on mine with no problems so far, but..... Curious about this idea..... Do tell please.?:?

 

[KyleQ]

Aluminum bushings -

 

[bax]

I am having this issue with the Duff set up. The truck is Karl's old ECORS racer. We beat the snot out of it so I guess it is normal wear taking in the amount of abuse. I check those bolts every time out. There is always some slop in them even when I pull them up as tight as I can get them. I think a steel bushing would work but the bushings are not hard to change.

 

[bmc69]

Aluminum bushings -

That's what I've always done.

 

[SpareParts]

For 40's you need 7-8" of vertical separation. The Cage/Duff arms are at 5 1/2" if I remember correctly. 25% of your tire size is what I have read. The further apart the separation, the longer "lever" you have holding your axle from twisting. I could not keep bushings in mine either. When I had mine set up that way, I was using the weld on brackets. Since then I switched to a 3 link and Johnny Joints.

I think the Duff arms are perfect for most people out there. But when big tires...over 37-38"... and big power and gear reduction come in to play, the bushings give up.

 

[KyleQ]

Yeah, I'm going to need a solution for my 43's...

 

[broncoman1972]

Yeah, I'm going to need a solution for my 43's...

Well, it does look like you have the pressures set about right. That's a step in the right direction. Lol

I'll be watching the progress on this. I plan on stepping up in size when I change tires so this trouble may be in my future...

 

[KyleQ]

Well, it does look like you have the pressures set about right. That's a step in the right direction. Lol

I'll be watching the progress on this. I plan on stepping up in size when I change tires so this trouble may be in my future...

I'll update this as I go - probably a month plus before the aluminum bushings come out, so I'll run the poly I've got on the way. I'll probably take it apart after Memorial weekend and see how they fared.

I've got zero PSI in those - 4 bolts holding the outer ring on and no o-rings installed, there is about a one inch gap between the bead. Got to have something to mock stuff up with - I've still got to finish my outer rings, they are bare metal from plasma cutting them out.

Kyle

 

[allenfahey]

I have the weld on Cage arms as well and I'd be interested in a set of the aluminum bushings if they work for you and you are selling them. I have cutting brakes and can do front digs as well but shifting the D20 in and out of 2wd is not as easy as it should be. I have also stepped my tire size up to 41.5's and have been to Moab for a week and also a day at Blue Rocks. So far so good, but I'll keep an eye out on them. Please report back when you find out if the aluminum ones will work for you.

 

[KyleQ]

Will do - we have some of the best vendors out there <3

 

[chuzie]

BTT. Any updates regarding the use of the aluminum bushings? I am in need of replacement bushing and want a longer term solution.

 

[broncosbybart]

Leave it to you to bump an old thread

My 2 cents:

For a C wedge axle you could get away with alum bushings. Not on a welded bracket style. The reason being that when the axle articulates, the radius arm angles differ from one to another. Something has to give with the arms and/or the housing twisting some. I'm sure this is why the arms were designed with those bushings there. It could work with a wristed axle device, but not as is.

 

[01Dudley]

We are still playing with this issue and sorry we haven't come up with a 100% fix yet. To answer the "twisting house" comment from BBB, I'm sure if thats an issue since a factory radius arm is 1 piece from the axle to the frame mount. The "C" bushing should be taking the abuse from a twisting housing. The bad part is we thought the big problem was weld on brackets that do not use "C" bushings, but that has not been the case. There are a couple of you out there with "C" bushings also having this problem.

 

[KyleQ]

No real results with my new bushings yet - I will say that the boggers were WAY tougher on components compared to the TSL's, that may play a part in it.

I'm wondering if one aluminum bushing on top on the driver side and one on the bottom of the pass side would allow the housing to flex in the bushings enough...

 

[KyleQ]

I've still had great luck with the poly bushings - tried replacing them earlier this year and couldn't get the bolts out of the bracket anymore. I don't know if something is bent or under pressure- might have to cut the head of the bolt off and drive it through from the outside, cutting the bolt so it continues to clear the diff.

I didn't try the pass side -

I'm not getting wrap like I used to -I don't know if it is because the Boggers are gone or if the poly really helped that much.

I've wheeled more this year than I ever have and I've had no issues with the bushings - the only reason I tried to take the arm out was I found another set of bushings and wanted to see if they needed replacement.

No wheel hop even WOT up steep sandy hills.
[youtube]hD2AhjsMSJA[/youtube]

 

[chuzie]

Thanks for the update. I'm still keeping an eye on mine but it only gets wheeled twice a year.

 

[KyleQ]

When I've got some help I'll strap the truck to something and record what my front axle is doing in FWD until the tires break lose.

 

[chuzie]

My bushings are shot again! No longer amused.

When I've got some help I'll strap the truck to something and record what my front axle is doing in FWD until the tires break lose.

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