I think its a bit broken

[Tonko] · 09-11-2006, 12:16 AM

after complaining about shuddering steering on the old mans EL ghia 5.0 i decided to have a bit of a looksee first the tyres were scrubbed right down to the canvas... she'll be right he says,
but im glad i got to it before disaster struck.
i couldnt believe after just clicking over to 100,000k's the steering rack is already gone,

Thats exactly how it looked when it come out too, except there were heaps of rubber shavings all over the place...

EA2BA · 09-11-2006, 09:44 AM

looks like some missing washers caused the problem.

OLDFORDNUT · 09-11-2006, 11:17 AM

this is the reason i dont trust anything but real rubber.

Tiga_EL · 09-11-2006, 12:44 PM

Isnt nolathane supposed to be better than the rubber though?

Sundeep · 09-11-2006, 12:55 PM

It's stiffer so instead of wearing out it'll just break or split.

That's not the steering rack though, that looks like the k-frame side of the lower control arm.

Sundeep

OLDFORDNUT · 09-11-2006, 01:24 PM

nolathane wears out just as quick in 4x4 springhangersas rubber if not faster

arm79 · 09-11-2006, 03:53 PM

What you have there would be about right for the KM and a Tickford suspended car.

I and 3 other guys with Ticky suspension have already had this happen, but we were talking KM ranges between 120,000 and 170,000. And I'm sure your old man would have complained about really floaty steering and tires that would squeal like crazy, which would be the first indicator of the problem.

Being a urethane compound, it will require some maintenance. The maintenance being a regular greasing of the inner bore of the bush. As we know, the bush pivots on the pin (unlike the rubber versions) and if there isnt any grease, the bush will quickly deteriorate, like you have seen.

It is mainly compounded by the problem that from the factory they put very little to no grease on the bush.

When I replaced mine, I put in a reasonable amount of grease, and when I took the arm out about 13,000km later to check them, they were like brand new. The bush was as stiff as it was brand new, and the inner bore looked brand new. Still had the cross cross patten on the bore. So I regreased them and put them back in. Sadly shortly later the car was written off, but when I got the car home and took the bush out, it was still perfect. These are for sale now if you're interested. <-- Inserted shameless plug here. They arent a cheap replacement.

While some people prefer the rubber bushes, even if I spend a couple of hours a every 5/6 months greasing these bushes, its a fair trade off for the better handing they offer than the rubber equivalents.

BI6TIM · 09-11-2006, 04:51 PM

Urethane bushing has proven itself useless in the 'lower inner' position on EF/EL time and time again. To the point that, when I left Pedders, they wouldn't sell urethane bushes for that aplication, rubber only. The rubber one are easily lasting a minimum of two years without customer complaint or adversly afecting wheel alignments.

Although I am all for Poly Urethane bushes correctly placed, I would warn anyone off using them for the 'lower inner' on EF/EL.

arm79 · 09-11-2006, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BI6TIM

Urethane bushing has proven itself useless in the 'lower inner' position on EF/EL time and time again. To the point that, when I left Pedders, they wouldn't sell urethane bushes for that aplication, rubber only. The rubber one are easily lasting a minimum of two years without customer complaint or adversly afecting wheel alignments.

Although I am all for Poly Urethane bushes correctly placed, I would warn anyone off using them for the 'lower inner' on EF/EL.

That would be a big call considering there was zero problems with my vehicle (and many others with urethane) for the first 3 to 4 years of its life, with no affects to wheel alignments in that time. The failures happened quickly (within 8 weeks) from first noticing until the car being undriveable.

I think we should all realise that urethane bushes require manitenance during their life, and that rubber doesn't. Now that I know regreasing is required, I will make it happen reguarly.

XRated · 09-11-2006, 05:41 PM

BI6TIM, is there any chance you could give us a list of where you recommend rubber, and where you recommend urethane on EB/ED EF/EL by any chance?

I don't fancy having to remember to "grease" bushes every 6-12 months.

futura97 · 09-11-2006, 09:23 PM

i'd personally only use urethane bushes for the swaybar d's and links.

Rubber everywhere else...

fmc351 · 10-11-2006, 01:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BI6TIM

Urethane bushing has proven itself useless in the 'lower inner' position on EF/EL time and time again. To the point that, when I left Pedders, they wouldn't sell urethane bushes for that aplication, rubber only. The rubber one are easily lasting a minimum of two years without customer complaint or adversly afecting wheel alignments.

Although I am all for Poly Urethane bushes correctly placed, I would warn anyone off using them for the 'lower inner' on EF/EL.

Quote:

Originally Posted by XRated

BI6TIM, is there any chance you could give us a list of where you recommend rubber, and where you recommend urethane on EB/ED EF/EL by any chance?

I don't fancy having to remember to "grease" bushes every 6-12 months.

I second this request. :lookedat:

futura97 · 10-11-2006, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by futura97

i'd personally only use urethane bushes for the swaybar d's and links.

Rubber everywhere else...

I think bi6tim will same the same as me....

futura97 · 10-11-2006, 11:03 PM

or though.... the urethane aftermarket lower inners for the ef/el are heaps better than the tickford ones... as long as they are greased properly you will have no dramas

[Tonko] · 10-11-2006, 11:37 PM

i think its happened before, because one bush was rubber and the other (this one) was Nolathane, now to fix the power steering rack...