I have had to replace my front passangers side bushing on the top of the shock twice in the past 4 months. What could be causing this? Could it be a bad shock wearing it out?

Thanks
TailGater_73F100

 

Are they being installed correctly?

What compound are they made of?

 

Has the shock been replaced or just the bushings?

 

Make sure the shock is the right length, Could be the wrong shock absorber.

 

Some of these bushings may be brand new, but could be years old (new, old stock). Minute cracks develop from heat and pollutants in the air. Age cracking (shrinkage) is another cause. Look carefully at any bushing before you install it. Pinch it, see if cracks appear.

Age cracks in bushings are very common today.

 

If the bushings are not installed correctly they will deteriorate rapidly. The bushings must be completely compressed.

 

Or you can buy the poly urethane bushing for shock absorbers.
take a look at shock at right side


Also, note what Torque1st mentioned on the compression of shock bushing.

 

I replaced all my shocks at the same time with rancho 5500 which was about 3 to 4 years ago. All the bushing were installed with the bushings buldging just slighly past the bushing washer. The first one failed about 4 months ago. The other three are still holding up fine.
I went to my local parts store looking for a replacement. Well the only thing they had was from the Help! section. You know the stuff you look at and say crap. Well I've now been to that section twice. I'm not going back a third time that's for sure. I have installed these just as I did the first time. I know there not as good as the one's that came with the shocks.
So I'm thinking I would like to replace all the bushings in the front end with the polyurethane type bushings. But I have few other issues that might be having some work in why my shock bushing wore out. I have some play in the steering maybe about a 1 1/2" with a shake to the right and if you let go of the wheel it pulls to the the left more than slightly. Should I take this on myself or take it to a shop? Or do some of it myself then let them do the rest? Thanks again

TailGater_73F100

 

Tighten the nut down until it does not tighten any more, not until it "bulges" the bushing.

 

I did tighten them all the way down, till i couldn't turn it anymore.

 

These auto parts store usually have a section with the poly bushings. This section is where they stock the lift blocks, and handling add ons. If they don't stock them, try the local off road shop.

 

Were you holding the shaft stationary?

 

used a set of vise-grips and a 9/16th open end

 

Make sure the mounting surfaces are smooth and not worn by trashed bushings. If the bushing mount has been reamed out by the shaft rubbing steel-on-steel it will need to be replaced.

 

I will pull it apart this weekend and have an even closer look at the mounting service.