C6H12O6
SILVER Star
This is the first of what will be several threads on the different phases of a complete replacement of my severely worn OEM rubber suspension bushings with new Whiteline polyurethane bushings. Apologies in advance for the length, but I've been searching for months and most of the threads about replacing bushings end with somebody saying they are going to do it, or have already done it, then nothing.
To make a very long story a little shorter, after an accident a couple years ago, my '95 80 received a brand new steering gearbox with the new-style sector shaft, new drag link, new Slee tie rod and relay rod, new tie rod ends, rebuilt PS pump, new PS hoses, full front axle service with new wheel bearings and trunion bearings, and new OME Nitrocharger Sport shocks. After each of these, the steering feel and handling improved, but things have started to go down hill in a hurry lately.
I was experiencing a lot of wandering, particularly on worn/grooved roads. On turns at speed, I had a lot of understeer – it almost felt as if the axles were shifting under the truck as you tried to turn. The truck would just keep pushing straight most of the way through the turn, so you had to keep turning and turning, until... oversteer. Part-way through the curve, the steering would catch up and almost dive into the corner. I found it hard to believe that the poor steering response and handling characteristics were due to any problem with the hard parts that were just replaced, so I crawled underneath to inspect things. At 218,000 miles, you could clearly see the rear lower control arm bushings were shot.
To make a very long story a little shorter, after an accident a couple years ago, my '95 80 received a brand new steering gearbox with the new-style sector shaft, new drag link, new Slee tie rod and relay rod, new tie rod ends, rebuilt PS pump, new PS hoses, full front axle service with new wheel bearings and trunion bearings, and new OME Nitrocharger Sport shocks. After each of these, the steering feel and handling improved, but things have started to go down hill in a hurry lately.
I was experiencing a lot of wandering, particularly on worn/grooved roads. On turns at speed, I had a lot of understeer – it almost felt as if the axles were shifting under the truck as you tried to turn. The truck would just keep pushing straight most of the way through the turn, so you had to keep turning and turning, until... oversteer. Part-way through the curve, the steering would catch up and almost dive into the corner. I found it hard to believe that the poor steering response and handling characteristics were due to any problem with the hard parts that were just replaced, so I crawled underneath to inspect things. At 218,000 miles, you could clearly see the rear lower control arm bushings were shot.