Moogs Thermoplastic strut rod bushings

[tonybrooklyn]

I know these get bad press however my bushings where pretty much toast. The whole suspension was new except for them. I bit the bullet and installed them not as tough a job as i thought. So far i love them the front end is so much tighter. I bought my Mark VIII with 53,000 miles i gotta say it never felt this tight. I will let you know how they hold up.
Regards
Tony

 

[chris2523]

no need to let us know, we already know how it will end.

failedbushings by Chris Bratten, on Flickr

2011-07-01123653 by Chris Bratten, on Flickr

IMG_0204 by Chris Bratten, on Flickr

plus many many others.

 

[tonybrooklyn]

no need to let us know, we already know how it will end.

failedbushings by Chris Bratten, on Flickr

2011-07-01123653 by Chris Bratten, on Flickr

IMG_0204 by Chris Bratten, on Flickr

plus many many others.

Yes Chris i have read the horror stories. I have also spoken to those that have them for 30, 40, 50 thousand miles with no issues.
The early horror stories from what i am told where do to the collar being to long. And installed incorrectly we shall see. I love those pictures they are all over the net. They spread fear in the heart of many a Moog customer. I cant imagine how much money the company has lost over them.

 

[Mad1stGen]

While there is nothing great about those front strut rod bushings, the ones pictured got destroyed because they weren't installed correctly.
The nippled bushing goes in the front of the K-member. Leaky PS fluid doesn't help either. I've had really good luck with the ones at the control arm.

 

[tonybrooklyn]

While there is nothing great about those front strut rod bushings, the ones pictured got destroyed because they weren't installed correctly.
The nippled bushing goes in the front of the K-member. Leaky PS fluid doesn't help either. I've had really good luck with the ones at the control arm.

I also have had luck at the control arm in fact the bushings outlasted the lower control arms.
Sad the originals are unavailable and if you can find them.
The price gouging makes one throw up a little in ones mouth lol.
We shall see only time shall tell.
Regards
Tony

 

[chris2523]

While there is nothing great about those front strut rod bushings, the ones pictured got destroyed because they weren't installed correctly.
The nippled bushing goes in the front of the K-member. Leaky PS fluid doesn't help either. I've had really good luck with the ones at the control arm.

mine were installed correctly, i shortened the sleeve and everything, first time i really laid into the brakes, there was a thump, and they were dead. second set lasted slightly longer, but it was the same story. TCCOA is filled with pages and pages of the same thing again and again.

the Thermoplastic is not good under tension, and it simply should not be used in this configuration. it collapses as the thermoplastic just splits apart. there is a reason the factory style has a metal retaining ring around the rubber.

at the control arm, being used inside the control arm and therefore being compressed, they work fine. and of course failures there are quite rare.

 

[chris2523]

I also have had luck at the control arm in fact the bushings outlasted the lower control arms.
Sad the originals are unavailable and if you can find them.
The price gouging makes one throw up a little in ones mouth lol.
We shall see only time shall tell.
Regards
Tony

the bushings at the subframe, E9SZ-3B271-A and F7SZ-3A225-AA, are still listed as available at around $30 a set plus shipping from Tasca Parts Online.
and i have talked to several people who have actually gotten parts in hand from Ford in recent weeks.
so they are still available, and cheaper than the MOOG counterpart, which i just priced from O'reilly's at $60.99.

 

[tonybrooklyn]

the bushings at the subframe, E9SZ-3B271-A and F7SZ-3A225-AA, are still listed as available at around $30 a set plus shipping from Tasca Parts Online.
and i have talked to several people who have actually gotten parts in hand from Ford in recent weeks.
so they are still available, and cheaper than the MOOG counterpart, which i just priced from O'reilly's at $60.99.

Well O reillys is a crook got mine for 30 bucks. As far as the originals at 30 lowest i seen em is 90.
At 30 ill take as many originals as you can get.
Ill give you a 10 percent commision and pay all shipping.:thumbsup:

 

[beerdog]

OEM will last 100k+ miles.

 

[Mad1stGen]

mine were installed correctly, i shortened the sleeve and everything, first time i really laid into the brakes, there was a thump, and they were dead. second set lasted slightly longer, but it was the same story. TCCOA is filled with pages and pages of the same thing again and again.

the Thermoplastic is not good under tension, and it simply should not be used in this configuration. it collapses as the thermoplastic just splits apart. there is a reason the factory style has a metal retaining ring around the rubber.

at the control arm, being used inside the control arm and therefore being compressed, they work fine. and of course failures there are quite rare.

LOL, I absolutely share your hate of those bushings. At the same time though they work for a lot of people for quite a few miles.

Everysingle pic I ever seen of the failed ones looked like the ones you posted, soaked in either oil or power steering fluid. No kidding. LOL. Must be a leaky tbird thing.

Shortening the sleeve just kills them quicker as the plastic doesn't like being compressed much (as you stated yourself).

While the separate OEM bushings are still out there, their days are counted, just as in the case of the ones at the control arm. Sad but true.

OEM will last 100k+ miles.

Yeah, they get real mushy though. But some like that