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split poly radius arm bushings

phred

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Aug 25, 2006
Messages
3,558
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Earth
Anybody ever had poly bushings split at the end of the radius arm? I was under the truck tonight for other reasons and noticed the poly bushings were split. Looks like I'm going to have to order some new ones. These bushings are only about 2 years old and have had no trail miles on them.
My other trucks have poly bushings on them and they are over 5 years old.:eek:
 

76 bronco J

Bronco Guru
Joined
Oct 20, 2005
Messages
1,480
>>>> the only poly bushings I've seen do that are when people torque them to the stock specs for rubber which is in 80-120ftlb range.... the poly bushings need to be preloaded with only 25-30ftlbs to keep the front end from doing the walking motion & allow full range of motion....
 

hose101

Full Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2006
Messages
272
76 bronco J, was wondering where you got the torque specs for the poly bushings? I just replaced mine and would be very interested in confirming that bit of info before I move on and forget to re torque.
 

Broncobowsher

Total hack
Joined
Jun 4, 2002
Messages
35,706
My C-bushings are both split. Front cap, top side. Some hard wheeling, 6+ years old. I have had new bushings sitting on the to be installed shelf for the past year or so. 7° black mystery brand
 

76 bronco J

Bronco Guru
Joined
Oct 20, 2005
Messages
1,480
76 bronco J, was wondering where you got the torque specs for the poly bushings? I just replaced mine and would be very interested in confirming that bit of info before I move on and forget to re torque.

>>>>> the poly bushing specs for pivot bushings on the radius arms are from my own R&D which includes putting around to 100 plus mph..........
 

ken75ranger

Bronco Guru
Joined
Jan 27, 2002
Messages
5,069
Loc.
Troy, NY
My C-bushings are both split. Front cap, top side. Some hard wheeling, 6+ years old. I have had new bushings sitting on the to be installed shelf for the past year or so. 7° black mystery brand
Same spot on mine. Probably about the same age. Only one for my though. The front end is getting redone over the winter.
The 3 link should take care of that problem and make it easier to adjust.;)
 

blubuckaroo

Grease Monkey
Joined
Jun 11, 2007
Messages
11,795
Loc.
Ridgefield WA
If you only have a couple of years on the "C" bushing change, then only replace the dunut radius arm bushings. Replace them with the stock rubber ones. You can get them from a good part store. TRW or Moog. I've had the same thing happen to mine and found that the rubber ones give better articulation than poly and last longer at by least 2 to 1. After this happened to me, I just throw the poly ones away that come in the kit. They may work ok for street driving but won't last long if you do any trail.
 
OP
OP
phred

phred

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Bronco Guru
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Aug 25, 2006
Messages
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Loc.
Earth
Its the donuts. They are duffs degreed bushings. Do I need the degreed donuts or will the stock rubber bushings be ok?
 

Galt72

Contributor
Newbie
Joined
Apr 21, 2004
Messages
621
At about 10 yrs I noticed small pices of blue poly bushing lying on the driveway under my bronco. I crawled under and could see there were hundreds of cracks. I picked at them and they fell apart like a saltine cracker.:eek:
 

BCH BRCO

Sr. Member
Joined
Jul 20, 2007
Messages
457
Same thing happened to me as Galt72. Blue donuts dried out and just fell apart. I went to NAPA and replaced them with rubber ones.

Beach Bronco
 
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