Suspension Question....

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Sep 1, 2005 | 10:14 AM

RhainyC

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Joined: Jul 2005

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From: Custer, WA

Suspension Question....

Ok, dummy strikes again

Can someone tell me what raduis control arm bushings actually _Do_? And if them being bad would cause a bit of steering drift? My best friend, who gave me my '86 F150, says the steering gear is shot and that I have to replace it right away...but, the truck doesn't act like the gear is shot. It goes down the road fine, unless you hit a wavy bit of road, or a bad bump. Then it shimmys a bit, but is overall pretty normal seeming to me.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
RhainyC

Sep 1, 2005 | 10:33 AM

big hoss 29

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Joined: May 2004

Posts: 2,223

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From: Billings Montana

Your radius arms and bushings keep the axle from folding up under the frame of your truck. If you didn't have them, every time you tried to drive, your front axle would fold back when you drove forward and fold forward if you backed up.

The radius arm bushings take the shock out of the axle moving forward and back all the time and keep everything lined up. If they weren't there, your radius arms would bang and clank and cause the arms to wobble up, down, side to side at any speed over 5 mph. If your bushings are bad, they will give you some sloppy steering, wandering, etc do to the arm moving around inside the radius arm brackets. If you're planning on replacing them, do both at the same time. It's cheap insurance and it'd be a waste of time if you only replaced one because you'd still have sloppy steering with one new and one old bushing.

Sep 1, 2005 | 11:35 AM

fordborn

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Joined: Jan 2004

Posts: 6,610

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From: Northwest, Arkansas

Thread moved to " Brakes, Steering, Suspension,Tires, Wheels" Forum. Should be able to receive more response's to your question here.

Sep 1, 2005 | 08:27 PM

Ecuri

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Joined: Jun 2003

Posts: 886

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From: Houston/Hope BC

Definitely get the urethane bushings.

Sep 2, 2005 | 08:48 PM