Forum Discussion

Lynnmor's avatar
Lynnmor
Explorer
Nov 27, 2013

Spring Bushings

I had replaced the plastic bushings with a wet bolt kit. The bushings supplied appear to be oilite material. Oilite has a granular structure and will break easily. The photos are of bushings with a few thousand miles on them. A spring broke and when I replaced both springs on that axle the bushings were all cracked. Spring eyes are not very round (none are) and that is probably the main reason for the cracking. If I ever replace bushings again, I'll choose a better brass, bronze or aluminum bronze to make my own.



http://i1270.photobucket.com/albums/jj603/lynnmor/SpringBushings2_zps1a7f8ee7.jpg
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Nov 28, 2013
    I thought the bolt was supposed to rotate inside the bushing. Spring eye should not see any wear or movement.

    Seems like something may have been wrong with the assembly or equipment when installed.
  • Lynnmor's avatar
    Lynnmor
    Explorer
    Nov 27, 2013
    It was Dexter parts, I don't know if other brands use the oilite material.

    The spring eyes are not a machined surface, just flat steel formed around a mandrel. The spring holes did not change shape and were even better than the new springs that replaced them. The bushings failed because the spring holes are never round or straight and the oilite material will crack unless it is in a perfect hole.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Nov 27, 2013
    Problem is not with the bushings...

    "A spring broke...........Spring eyes are not very round"

    Spring breaking and having elongated spring eyes placed a lot of stress/torque on those bushings.
    How are the holes in shackles.......round or elongated also?

    Slop will damage/destroy bushings regardless of material.
  • thomasmnile's avatar
    thomasmnile
    Explorer
    Nov 27, 2013
    Lynnmor wrote:
    I had replaced the plastic bushings with a wet bolt kit. The bushings supplied appear to be oilite material. Oilite has a granular structure and will break easily. The photos are of bushings with a few thousand miles on them. A spring broke and when I replaced both springs on that axle the bushings were all cracked. Spring eyes are not very round (none are) and that is probably the main reason for the cracking. If I ever replace bushings again, I'll choose a better brass, bronze or aluminum bronze to make my own.



    http://i1270.photobucket.com/albums/jj603/lynnmor/SpringBushings2_zps1a7f8ee7.jpg


    Was it a Dexter wet bolt kit? Would like to put wet bolts on my TT suspension. Only improvement I can make since the trailer has the wide set axles and Dexter doesn't make an EZ Flex equalizer for that axle configuration.
  • 12thgenusa's avatar
    12thgenusa
    Explorer
    Nov 27, 2013
    rexlion wrote:
    Well, see, this is autumn. So you left your spring bushings in too long. You need to put in some fall bushings for now, and reinstall spring bushings in late March. :D

  • rexlion's avatar
    rexlion
    Explorer
    Nov 27, 2013
    Well, see, this is autumn. So you left your spring bushings in too long. You need to put in some fall bushings for now, and reinstall spring bushings in late March. :D

    Thanks for posting that. I would have thought oilite bushings to be good for the application, so you may have saved me some trouble down the road. Guess I'll stay with other types.

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