Caster Bushing Deterioration

[uabericm]

I took my 96 LX450 in today to get a rotate / balance before we head 8 hours east to the beach on Sunday. I mentioned to them, that I had installed some OME shocks over a week ago and I've noticed a noise when I hit a bump with my driver's side tire. I thought maybe I hadn't tightened the shock well enough and I would get them to check it.

Well...it ends up the shocks are tight, but the caster bushings are deteriorating and the front driver's side bushing is toast. They are blue Ironman bushings, that I've had on the truck for >1 yr and were used when I got them (we swapped control arms) and I have OME heavies front and back. So what can cause this deterioration?

Would it be a good idea to get a rental for the trip, or would it be ok to take to the beach?

 

[SiRaDuDe]

We need to know how much lift you have, to know how much caster you need corrected. If less than 2" lift you might be able to get some stock bushings in temporarily.

Might be OK to drive as is, worst thing that could happen is what? a destroyed bushing? that need to be replaced anyways?

Are you going to do any wheeling?


Ironman has a 2 year warranty on their products and maybe Eli can cover you ar camel4x4?

 

[jvazquez53]

If its 4 inch or more, you will have to use the caster plates. I tried the bushings (stubborn ) and I have a slight vibration because the driveline does not have the correct angle. I am removing the blue bushings and getting caster plates ASAP.

 

[uabericm]

I figured I would update my thread. I finally found set of OME bushings that were already pressing in a set of arms. The truck drives like a dream now. I never realized that 3 of the 4 bushings were toast and the 4th was almost ready to go.

 

[Nay]

Wow that's bad

All bushings go bad over time - plastic ones are generally easier to tear up than rubber, but those are by far the worst I have ever seen.

 

[Wheelingnoob]

WOW those are really bad, I'm surprised it was only making sounds on bumps.

 

[Offroads4x4]

Your lucky they caught them before your trip.
Those look like they have had heat around them.
Those are some of the worst ive seen and still driving down the road. They look like plow trucks after a hard season of pushing snow.

 

[sl33p3]

I figured I would update my thread. I finally found set of OME bushings that were already pressing in a set of arms. The truck drives like a dream now. I never realized that 3 of the 4 bushings were toast and the 4th was almost ready to go.

yeow! are those the adjustable ironman ones? i might really rethink putting them under my rig!

 

[SiRaDuDe]

They dont look anything like the adjustable IronMan's I just installed.

If they are Ironman they must be older models.

 

[uabericm]

yeow! are those the adjustable ironman ones? i might really rethink putting them under my rig!

I wouldn't rethink it. I've heard great things about the different options out there. These were old school Ironman bushings coming off the internet years ago.

 

[uabericm]

Your lucky they caught them before your trip.
Those look like they have had heat around them.
Those are some of the worst ive seen and still driving down the road. They look like plow trucks after a hard season of pushing snow.

Yeah, I'm glad the shop caught it. I've been still driving the truck because it is my daily driver and the knocking had become more intense. I'm glad I was able to find some arms with OME bushings already pressed and to have a great job that let's me do some wrenching on the clock.

 

[sl33p3]

I wouldn't rethink it. I've heard great things about the different options out there. These were old school Ironman bushings coming off the internet years ago.

copy that. i'll give it a shot. got nothing to lose and i'll keep my eyes on them anyway.

 

[Northeaster Runner]

Outback Technologies USA is representing and selling Super Pro polyurethane bushings. Super Pro has 30 years of experiance and full time R&D team.
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