[darule336]

Need to change out my Rear Upper Control Arm bushings, on my 2000 WJ AGAIN For the forth time. Looking for experiences and life expectancies with different brands of bushings. Mopar, Dorman, Crown "I know are crap", and others I can't think of. Btw I hate this control arm, but at stock height there isn't any options to change it out, that I have seen.

[ChrisHager]

I don't have a clue on what brand for control arm bushings but I'm curious as to why you've gone through 4 sets. Do you torque the bolts down with the vehicle sitting on its own weight?

[nickblack]

You have to be doing something wrong. Just changed mine after 13 years and 150k miles.

[nor7cal7]

I torqued mine with the vehicle in the air, and they were toast after 20k. Those were mopars. I now have dormans, torqued them done with the rig on the ground. Lasted 5k so far so good

[darule336]

Honestly I think it's less of doing something wrong, than it is of what's causing it.
Only reason I replace the factory ones was the ball joint was shot. So order crown balljoint and crown bushings from quadratec. They tend to not shot the brand, and I had no preference at the time. I had a shop do the repair. Drove 1000 miles from mn to co and the balljoint went bad and the bushings were starting to tear and should signs of wear.
Now I am in Breckenridge co shop rates double. Here's where I started researching heavily. Now I am assuming the shop screwed up. So I call quadratec, good customer service btw, told them my issue warranted the ball joint np, the bushings on the other hand were back ordered. So got a massive discount on a full control arm with bushings installed, over nighted for free. Had a different shop
Install these. After that install I refused to look at the bushings for close to a year. Said if had to change them again I would get rid of the truck. But after moved back to mn, hauling a trailer of stuff, these were toast. Completely, the core was free floating.
At some point during this crown sent me replacement bushings for the warranted set. Which I just installed and now they themselves have started to tear in less than 500 miles of on road driving.


Now I took my time installing them. Torque at ride height.

[darule336]

Now one thing I did think about but haven't seen any clarification is the orientation of the bushing. Pictures would be helpful on this one.

[darule336]

Heres what it looked like last weekend.

[CarlJH]

I think you need to look at the lower arms as well, if the axle is out of line it will put uneven torque on the a frame. Get a full laser alignment done to make sure the axles aren't out of line with each other

[darule336]

I think I might have goofed when I installed those bushings. But I am not 100% certain yet. Does anyone know which direction the bushings should go. Orientation wise, 0 deg or 90 degree turn if that makes sense.

I am going to link to another thread vs stealing his pic, I need to take a picture.
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f310/...issue-1062933/

The bushing on the right how would you guys orient it, cause if you look at the middle the rubber is not uniform it extends out on only 2 sides. Should those sides be on the left and right. or back and front.


I hope this makes sense.

[3JsWJ]

The webbing should be on the left and right. That will allow the center post to flex front to back.

[darule336]

I am glad I made sense to someone, Thank you. That was one thing I was going to verify before I swapped them out. To bad I forgot since this is such an easy repair.

[darule336]

So I got my alignment checked,

[darule336]

Deleted my other thread so bumping this one.

[darule336]

Trying to confirm which way the webbing of the bushings go.
Left to right
Front to back
Or somewhere between

[darule336]

If I ever have to do this repair again, well it's just not going to happen.

The positives
Repair is done, I hope the mopar bushings last. 4th repair.
The bigger clunks are gone, but still had a fast pace rattle. So went around tightened up the shock bolts, then the sway bar links. And one snapped with very little force. Broke it after the dealership closed, and it's a "special" bolt. I looked for some alternative bolt option.but it has a small bolt section and a big shank, so out of luck till Monday if the dealership has it.
Meanwhile I have one link hooked up, but as it turns out, that bolt was making a lot of noise. So less noise and still drives better than before even with out it.

Overall replacing the control arm bushings sucked. I will not do it again. I won't pay to have it done again.
If a dealership will warranty their parts and labor. Let the deal with it, pay the extra money. This job sucks.

Crown bushings are terrible, crowns control arm with the bushings instill is also terrible.