Control Arm Bushings

[Adam]

How often are you guys replacing your UCA bushings? I have the superlift/rough country arms on the pathy, and I thought they would last longer than the poop ones that 4x4parts had. Apparently not. I grease them every oil change. They have been on for probably 1.5 years. They aren't expensive or hard to change so it's not a huge deal, but is this normal service life? FWIW only the driver's side is loose but I'll replace em all.

This probably only applies to pathy's and 1st gen xterras.

In other news I am extremely stoked about my idler arm lasting a whole wheeling season. That grassroots CL is a lifesaver.

[Miner]

Bushing at the frame or the uni-ball / ball-join at the spindle?

[Adam]

Frame, there are 2 poly bushings on each side. Ball joints I haven't had an issue with.

[Simon]

I hate poly bushings for this reason. I have never had any luck with longevity of poly bushings. Rubber, while not performing as well (when new) seems to last longer.

[Adam]

Thank you for confirming what I was thinking already. I was told by superlift that the rubber (stock type) will not fit in their control arms. Do you remember if you were able to use rubber in yours way back when?

It isn't a race car so I'm sure the difference won't be noticeable, lol.

[Miner]

My PRG UCAs used Heim Joints at the frame. No discernible wear in over 100,000 km. There is a downside to them though, there is zero isolation from the frame so you feel everything through them.

[Adam]

That would be awesome to have but would require a lot of fab work to adapt to mine. I already feel most things because the rest of the bushings on my truck are polyurethane.

Last time I was able to get away with turning the spindle so it rode on the non-worn part of the bushing, and it bought me time, but not this time

[Simon]

Thank you for confirming what I was thinking already. I was told by superlift that the rubber (stock type) will not fit in their control arms. Do you remember if you were able to use rubber in yours way back when?

It isn't a race car so I'm sure the difference won't be noticeable, lol.

I never tried. I was lucky with the X that the Rancho lift had lifetime warranty. I just kept ordering UCA bushings and they kept sending them.

I wonder if you could verify the fitment of the stock bushings in the Superlift A-arms. Maybe Superlift is full of poop. Stock replacement bushings aren't terribly expensive. Might be worth a shot.

[Adam]

Called and ordered a set of stockers today. They are cheap, my cost was 15 dollars a side! Bought one set for now.

I'll post up the results this week.

[Drizit]

My PRG UCAs used Heim Joints at the frame. No discernible wear in over 100,000 km. There is a downside to them though, there is zero isolation from the frame so you feel everything through them.

Those must be some super high quality heim joints, the ones in my steering are generally good for a season or two, then they get sloppy. Same with the small ones on my sway bars. Bet on a lot of dollars for new ones when they do go... Well worth it if they last that long though.

I have no idea what size the bushings in question are but one thing that may be an option. Curie makes a press in Johny joint to replace the upper control arm bushing on the axle side of a jeep. Again I don't know your dimensions but it's worth looking at.

[Miner]

Not sure on the supplier. I know the early spindle bearings had premature failures so they were upgraded.

[Adam]

My PRG UCAs used Heim Joints at the frame. No discernible wear in over 100,000 km. There is a downside to them though, there is zero isolation from the frame so you feel everything through them.

Those must be some super high quality heim joints, the ones in my steering are generally good for a season or two, then they get sloppy. Same with the small ones on my sway bars. Bet on a lot of dollars for new ones when they do go... Well worth it if they last that long though.

I have no idea what size the bushings in question are but one thing that may be an option. Curie makes a press in Johny joint to replace the upper control arm bushing on the axle side of a jeep. Again I don't know your dimensions but it's worth looking at.

That would be something to look into. They make rear trailing arms with johnny joints for mine. I'm sure there is a size that would fit.

As for steering, I've never really had an issue with the tie rods on mine. After I upgraded the drag link and idler arm, I just changed the original 1994 tie rods last summer.

[Drizit]

Something like this.
http://www.currieenterprises.com/CE-9112M

[Adam]

Got the stock bushings yesterday. I'll try today or tomorrow and see if they fit :S

[frontyon35s]

I got prg uppers as well. The heims are stll good but i go thur a set of uniballs every year. I say it is becuse the sit horizontal on top of spindle. Rode grim just gets worked in as suspenshion cycles. The hiems are in not as grimy of a spot and sit vertical alowing grime to come off and not get worked into the joint.

[BigRed44]

weird i have the same uppers from PRG and have had no issues with the uniballs on top and have over 50k on them whith 4 good seasons of wheeling.

[Adam]

I just ended up getting the superlift bushings again...

The only thing I ever had an issue, where no one else did, was those bandit 4x4 idler arm bushings. They didn't last worth poop for me, and I grease all of the zerks at each oil change. The stock plastic ones last longer. I'm probably doing something wrong but the plastic ones are cheaper and have been on the truck for 2 years so far no issues.