Dobinsons rubber caster bushings

[leitev8]

I am in the process of rounding up parts for a 2.5-3" lift for my 93 fzj80.
What is the general opinion towards the Dobinsons rubber caster bushings? I don't want to do the poly ones, since there is a lot of ppl that have them fail prematurely when the truck is not just a mall cruiser.
I'm debating between the rubber bushings or the Witsend 2.5 plate.

 

[BILT4ME]

Buy OEM bushings and go with AWE caster plates.

See thread below for bushing P/N's.

OEM Bushing Kits?

 

[leitev8]

Buy OEM bushings and go with AWE caster plates.

See thread below for bushing P/N's.

OEM Bushing Kits?

AWE caster plates?
I don't think I know who AWE is.
I know slee, dobinsons, witsend... I searched but Idk who they are.

 

[BILT4ME]

AWE caster plates?
I don't think I know who AWE is.
I know slee, dobinsons, witsend... I searched but Idk who they are.

Absolute
Wits'
End

Gotta use his OFFICIAL name or you end up buying pantyhose or something.

@NLXTACY

 

[leitev8]

LOL, got it. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Tools R Us]

Have installed them (the fixed type not adjustable) look good, don't have enough time on them to guess at life. Got them from Cruiser Outfitters

 

[JohnnyOshow22]

Here is my long term update/review. I had them installed September of 2017 and as of August 2019 my dobinson rubber castor correction bushings are toast. I haven't removed them yet but looking at the gap between axle mounting and the control arm they have clearly given up. Will be going OEM with castor plates. Since 2017 they (dobinson rubber) have seen a lot of wheeling but the OME poly bushings before that had lasted 4ish years with some hard wheeling, rubicon (every summer), moab, etc. I thought they would do better than the ome poly and from a flex standpoint they definitely had more give but from a maintenance standpoint replacing the front bushings every 2 years is not very ideal. Would not recommend them, go OEM rubber with castor plates. There are 2 other 80s in the family with castor plates and oem rubber holding up just fine compared to these dobinson bushings

 

[pnwcruiser]

What is your recommendation on getting new leading arm bolts vs using the old ones?

 

[inkpot]

What is your recommendation on getting new leading arm bolts vs using the old ones?

IF just replacing the bushings but NOT using caster plates, we usually reuse the hardware. Rarely see it damaged. If doing caster plates, every brand of kit I have used has included new longer bolts.

 

[mudgudgeon]

Here is my long term update/review. I had them installed September of 2017 and as of August 2019 my dobinson rubber castor correction bushings are toast. I haven't removed them yet but looking at the gap between axle mounting and the control arm they have clearly given up. Will be going OEM with castor plates. Since 2017 they (dobinson rubber) have seen a lot of wheeling but the OME poly bushings before that had lasted 4ish years with some hard wheeling, rubicon (every summer), moab, etc. I thought they would do better than the ome poly and from a flex standpoint they definitely had more give but from a maintenance standpoint replacing the front bushings every 2 years is not very ideal. Would not recommend them, go OEM rubber with castor plates. There are 2 other 80s in the family with castor plates and oem rubber holding up just fine compared to these dobinson bushings

I had similar experience with aftermarket rubber offset bushes.
The ones I used appeared well made, but failed in short order with only mild wheeling

 

[Shoredreamer]

Here is my long term update/review. I had them installed September of 2017 and as of August 2019 my dobinson rubber castor correction bushings are toast. I haven't removed them yet but looking at the gap between axle mounting and the control arm they have clearly given up. Will be going OEM with castor plates. Since 2017 they (dobinson rubber) have seen a lot of wheeling but the OME poly bushings before that had lasted 4ish years with some hard wheeling, rubicon (every summer), moab, etc. I thought they would do better than the ome poly and from a flex standpoint they definitely had more give but from a maintenance standpoint replacing the front bushings every 2 years is not very ideal. Would not recommend them, go OEM rubber with castor plates. There are 2 other 80s in the family with castor plates and oem rubber holding up just fine compared to these dobinson bushings

Similar results here. The inner sleeve had almost separated completely from the rubber. I had a set in from Sept 2015 to February 2019. 50,000 miles during that time, of daily driving and monthly wheeling and camping trips on a heavy, built 80. Had to readdress caster at that time, and I actually replaced them with another set, due to them being the lowest cost option and the fact I have a 20 ton press. Won’t buy them again though. Just gotta sack up and spend some money next time. Sucks to blow out a bushing when you’re out on a trip.

 

[BeachnCruiser]

Here is my long term update/review. I had them installed September of 2017 and as of August 2019 my dobinson rubber castor correction bushings are toast. I haven't removed them yet but looking at the gap between axle mounting and the control arm they have clearly given up. Will be going OEM with castor plates. Since 2017 they (dobinson rubber) have seen a lot of wheeling but the OME poly bushings before that had lasted 4ish years with some hard wheeling, rubicon (every summer), moab, etc. I thought they would do better than the ome poly and from a flex standpoint they definitely had more give but from a maintenance standpoint replacing the front bushings every 2 years is not very ideal. Would not recommend them, go OEM rubber with castor plates. There are 2 other 80s in the family with castor plates and oem rubber holding up just fine compared to these dobinson bushings

Have you looked into Delta for all new corrected arms? I would be interested in finding out how well they work.

 

[JohnnyOshow22]

Have you looked into Delta for all new corrected arms? I would be interested in finding out how well they work.

Lol the arms aren't the problem... The bushings are the issue. There is no reason at all to spend a grand on some fancy control arm when castor plates with stock bushings achieve the same thing for a fraction of the cost. Don't get me wrong, I think the arms they make are nice but for 97% of the 80s on this forum they aren't needed. For people running 6 plus inches of lift sure go for the delta arms since they fix a lot of issues with that large of lift but anything say 5" or under I don't see the need for them and me being on 2.5" with 35's the delta arms are the last thing I need.

 

[pnwcruiser]

Lol the arms aren't the problem... The bushings are the issue. There is no reason at all to spend a grand on some fancy control arm when castor plates with stock bushings achieve the same thing for a fraction of the cost. Don't get me wrong, I think the arms they make are nice but for 97% of the 80s on this forum they aren't needed. For people running 6 plus inches of lift sure go for the delta arms since they fix a lot of issues with that large of lift but anything say 5" or under I don't see the need for them and me being on 2.5" with 35's the delta arms are the last thing I need.

@Delta VS arms have more flex and don't require permanent modification to you truck like plates do.

 

[BeachnCruiser]

Lol the arms aren't the problem... The bushings are the issue. There is no reason at all to spend a grand on some fancy control arm when castor plates with stock bushings achieve the same thing for a fraction of the cost. Don't get me wrong, I think the arms they make are nice but for 97% of the 80s on this forum they aren't needed. For people running 6 plus inches of lift sure go for the delta arms since they fix a lot of issues with that large of lift but anything say 5" or under I don't see the need for them and me being on 2.5" with 35's the delta arms are the last thing I need.

So if you had this all figured out, why did you even bother posting. There are many companies that make urethane bushing and plate correction. Next time don't post and just go ahead and do whatever the the hell you want.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Lol the arms aren't the problem... The bushings are the issue. There is no reason at all to spend a grand on some fancy control arm when castor plates with stock bushings achieve the same thing for a fraction of the cost. Don't get me wrong, I think the arms they make are nice but for 97% of the 80s on this forum they aren't needed. For people running 6 plus inches of lift sure go for the delta arms since they fix a lot of issues with that large of lift but anything say 5" or under I don't see the need for them and me being on 2.5" with 35's the delta arms are the last thing I need.

Everything above screams its time for you to do some research.
As for what is needed, 97% of all mods are not "needed" for most.
Dobinson bushing are good while you save up for arms

 

[JohnnyOshow22]

@Delta VS arms have more flex and don't require permanent modification to you truck like plates do.

You aren't going to get that much more flex using the same OEM bushing in their arm vs an OEM bushing in a stock arm. Their arms are slightly narrower so they don't bind in the factory mount as much but the geometry given by the radius arms are never going to allow a lot of flex. If your all out goal is flex then go 3 link your rig because the delta arms aren't going to provide much more than the stock. Sure plates require some modifications but it would be really easy to go back to stock. And 99% of things put on a truck will never come back off so it's really a non issue modifying it permanently.

So if you had this all figured out, why did you even bother posting. There are many companies that make urethane bushing and plate correction. Next time don't post and just go ahead and do whatever the the hell you want.

I posted because I was giving a long term review of a bushing that could help other members and then I responded to you about the delta arms and how they aren't necessary for most trucks. I had with the dobinson bushings. I gave helpful feedback about the bushings and that people should do plates and stock bushings. Problem solved without spending a grand on some arms with bushings. This is a forum where people reply to other people on the forum so I will continue to post feedback and "do whatever the hell I want". You asked about them, I replied

Everything above screams its time for you to do some research.
As for what is needed, 97% of all mods are not "needed" for most.
Dobinson bushing are good while you save up for arms

I
I have done my research and have come to the conclusion that the delta arms aren't needed. I've wheeled the crap out of my truck like I stated. Rubicon several times, go to Moab almost yearly and tackle hard trails there, I have wheeled all over Colorado and Montana and have never once need a new control arm for my rig. Rig drives straight as an arrow when the bushings aren't toasted, flexes well enough for a radius arm truck and all around rides great. Like I said the delta arms are nice but aren't necessary for most 80s that people are wheeling and people should understand that plates with OEM bushings get the job done just fine. Most people should keep the grand, use the stock arms and spend that money on something that will get them further like a rear locker instead of putting delta arms on the truck.


that is my 2¢ for all of you everyone has a different opinion and that's ok. Remember people this is a forum where things will get discussed