Upper control arm bushings disintegrating
08-04-2014, 12:19 PM
#1
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Upper control arm bushings disintegrating
I rebuilt the entire front suspension about 7 years ago. All new rubber bushings from a reputable vendor found on here. The upper A arm bushings are disintegrating, the lowers look brand new.
I discovered this when the front of the A arm slid off the end of the shaft resulting in about 30 degrees of camber. Somehow I didn't get and body damage.
The pics below are from the A arm that slid of the shaft and a pic of the other A arm still in place. You can see the bushings falling apart.
Anyone else have this issue?
Any solution other than going with poly bushings?
I discovered this when the front of the A arm slid off the end of the shaft resulting in about 30 degrees of camber. Somehow I didn't get and body damage.
The pics below are from the A arm that slid of the shaft and a pic of the other A arm still in place. You can see the bushings falling apart.
Anyone else have this issue?
Any solution other than going with poly bushings?
08-04-2014, 12:37 PM
#2
did you wait till you lowered the car on the ground before tightening the bolts retaining the bushings?
08-04-2014, 02:05 PM
#3
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
08-04-2014, 05:42 PM
#5
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Well it took me 3-4 hrs, but got them swapped out today.
I think I bought the complete set (upper and lower) from the vendor, so it kinda surprises me that the lowers look perfect and uppers are in dozens of pieces.
I guess I'll just need to keep an eye on this set.
I think I bought the complete set (upper and lower) from the vendor, so it kinda surprises me that the lowers look perfect and uppers are in dozens of pieces.
I guess I'll just need to keep an eye on this set.
08-04-2014, 10:53 PM
#6
Nam Labrat
Member Since: Sep 2013
Location: New Orleans Loo-z-anna
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The upper bushings were shredded on my '68 and the inner sleeves were seized on the shaft....after wire brushing the shaft, I test-fitted the new Moog bushings onto the shaft ends......they had to be forced on which didn't seem like a good thing to this rookie.
I had to drill/ream the I.D. of the bushing- sleeves to get a decent slip-fit over the shaft ends.....I .applied heavy duty grease on the shaft ends before assembling everything.
The lower control arms required much less work because they had been oil-soaked and the original bushings could not seize up......LOL!
I had to drill/ream the I.D. of the bushing- sleeves to get a decent slip-fit over the shaft ends.....I .applied heavy duty grease on the shaft ends before assembling everything.
The lower control arms required much less work because they had been oil-soaked and the original bushings could not seize up......LOL!
08-04-2014, 11:52 PM
#7
New products don't have the old time REAL rubber in them. Most so called rubber bands and everything has little if any real rubber .
I have some toys from the 60's that STILL have their original rubber bands ,
......
Today s plastics from China break down and fall apart .....like shoes.
Chinese = junk
I have some toys from the 60's that STILL have their original rubber bands ,
......Today s plastics from China break down and fall apart .....like shoes.
Chinese = junk
08-05-2014, 08:31 AM
#8
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
I kind of suspected cheap Chinese stuff. Just a little disappointed vendors would put together a complete suspension rebuild kit with some cheap parts. Looks like I'll need to check the source on every part before ordering.
08-05-2014, 09:38 AM
#9
Nam Labrat
Member Since: Sep 2013
Location: New Orleans Loo-z-anna
Posts: 33,943
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I know what you mean.....I removed the battery yesterday from my "U.S. Brand" Laptop.............made in CHINA!
08-05-2014, 10:30 AM
#10
Le Mans Master
i replaced my OEM rubber ones with poly 8 years ago and could not be happier-they look great and the handling/steering is superior to rubber. they do NOT ride harder-maybe a hair ...
08-05-2014, 02:40 PM
#11
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Yeah, I probably should have got poly, but needed to get the car moving this week. I found some locally. Never thought I would say this.....but I'm actually happy they were made in Mexico 
08-05-2014, 06:01 PM
#13
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
08-06-2014, 06:27 AM
#15
Pro
Now you've got me worried. I just installed new rubber Moog (Mexico) bushings in my control arms.
08-06-2014, 06:57 AM
#16
Safety Car
funny story about moog branded autoparts....
I bought new generic "procomp" shocks for my dodge truck as well as a moog steering stabilizer and the shock iin the stabilizer kit appeared in every way to be identical to the procomp branded ones...they had the markings in the same spot and all.
at least moog does a good job of checking quality control when they buy and rebrand.
I believe moog might have done what Timken bearings did and basically outsource their automotive parts now so they can focus on the bigger stuff like air and defense.
I bought new generic "procomp" shocks for my dodge truck as well as a moog steering stabilizer and the shock iin the stabilizer kit appeared in every way to be identical to the procomp branded ones...they had the markings in the same spot and all.
at least moog does a good job of checking quality control when they buy and rebrand.
I believe moog might have done what Timken bearings did and basically outsource their automotive parts now so they can focus on the bigger stuff like air and defense.
Last edited by augiedoggy; 08-06-2014 at 07:14 AM.
08-06-2014, 07:10 AM
#17
Safety Car
The upper bushings were shredded on my '68 and the inner sleeves were seized on the shaft....after wire brushing the shaft, I test-fitted the new Moog bushings onto the shaft ends......they had to be forced on which didn't seem like a good thing to this rookie.
I had to drill/ream the I.D. of the bushing- sleeves to get a decent slip-fit over the shaft ends.....I .applied heavy duty grease on the shaft ends before assembling everything.
The lower control arms required much less work because they had been oil-soaked and the original bushings could not seize up......LOL!
I had to drill/ream the I.D. of the bushing- sleeves to get a decent slip-fit over the shaft ends.....I .applied heavy duty grease on the shaft ends before assembling everything.
The lower control arms required much less work because they had been oil-soaked and the original bushings could not seize up......LOL!
Last edited by augiedoggy; 08-06-2014 at 07:51 AM.
08-06-2014, 07:44 AM
#19
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
If you look at the second pic, it's actually pretty easy to see them falling apart. To be honest, I never really looked at them. This is on my LS conversion, so I pretty much only look under the hood a couple times a year.
The front drivers bushing was the worst. It looks like the bushing fell apart allowing the outside sleeve to slide back and forth. It eventually allowed the control arm slide forward off the end of the shaft. The only indication I had was the steering wheel was a bit off center a couple weeks before.
Just glad it happened at 20mph and not 70mph. Even at 20mph, the jerked a half lane to the right instantly.
The front drivers bushing was the worst. It looks like the bushing fell apart allowing the outside sleeve to slide back and forth. It eventually allowed the control arm slide forward off the end of the shaft. The only indication I had was the steering wheel was a bit off center a couple weeks before.
Just glad it happened at 20mph and not 70mph. Even at 20mph, the jerked a half lane to the right instantly.
08-06-2014, 07:44 AM
#20
Burning Brakes
Yep got me concerned too, I just rebuilt the whole front end with the USA kit from Wilcox. I too have loosened the bolts until I put my engine in, hope that doesn't happen here.