Upper control arm bushings disintegrating
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,655
Likes: 19
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?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,655
Likes: 19
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.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,600
Likes: 7,046
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
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!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 40
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
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,655
Likes: 19
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.
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2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
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From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
I know what you mean.....I removed the battery yesterday from my "U.S. Brand" Laptop.............made in CHINA!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,455
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From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
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 ...
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,369
Likes: 103
From: Centerville Louisiana
Mine did the same also a vendor kit. I noticed it a few years after install not anywhere near eight years.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
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Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,029
Likes: 1,120
From: North tonawanda NY
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; Aug 6, 2014 at 07:14 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,029
Likes: 1,120
From: North tonawanda NY
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; Aug 6, 2014 at 07:51 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,369
Likes: 103
From: Centerville Louisiana
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,655
Likes: 19
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.
