Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Buggering around under the car, and noticed the front shackles look really loose? I have no idea if they are or not through steering feel as the big bus is new to me. These pics should explain what i'm getting at.

Also, i keep hearing talk about greaseable shackles. I don't think these are, but there pretty dirty and dry looking, do they need any lubing up anyway?





I'm under the impression there should be no gap in the middle, but they shouldn't be done up too tight either.[/img]

looks to me like you may need to replace those bushes and / or tighted up the bottom bolt.

That bottom bush is stuffed, get some newys lube the up with the right lube for the bushes you buy and do the bolts up a little more then they are now. Should be firm but still able to be easily moved by hand.

Yeah was thinking they looked a little farked.

Jsut ahd a look on ebay, can get replacement bushes for $30, or replacement greasable bushes for $60. The car is more for touring/light offroad, so are the normal bushes fine? (Keep in mind i don't expect to have this car forever)

Should be firm but still able to be easily moved by hand.

Move what easily by hand?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... &rd=1&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... &rd=1&rd=1

One set is urethane, one is rubber - the urethanes better?

And i think i was mistaken on the $60 greaseables.

Greasable shackles such as on the front of early MQs have a grease nipple in the centre of the pin which would be on the left of your photo. There is a passage from the nipple through the centre of the pin exiting from a hole in the middle of the bushes. The problem with this system is that the grease takes the easy route out so you end up lubricating only half the bush.

Yours however look like ordinary rubber bushes as on later MQs. They do wear and can be replaced by either rubber or neoprene ones. To check for wear put a hefty lever such as a pinch bar inthe gap between the upper and lower bushes and apply a bit of pressure. Excessive movement due to wear will be readily apparent especially if you raise the front of the truck with a hi-lift jack till the wheels are just off the ground and the springs are hanging free.

Rubber bushes are not lubricated but neoprene (nolathene?) ones generally come with a little tube of special grease. After fitting new bushes and before tightening the nuts the truck should be lowered so the weight comes on the springs which will take up a "neutral" unloaded position. Then clamp the bushes by torquing the nuts to the manufacturer's specification. If you don't have a manual with the torque settings specify the vehicle here and I am sure someone will know.

Greasable bushes on the other hand are tightened to the specified torque and then backed off a 1/4 turn to avoid clamping the suspension so hard it does not work. But yours are the rubber sort.

David

Andres wrote:

Should be firm but still able to be easily moved by hand.

Move what easily by hand?

The Shackle should move relative to the springs and chassis mount

Neoprene wont let your springs flex. To stiff for the bush IMO.