Bad bushing symptoms
The bushings that most commonly need to be replaced are the following:
Anti-roll bar bushes
Anti-roll bar drop link bushes
Control arm bushes
Mount bushes
Shock absorber bushes
How to Tell If Suspension Bushes Are Worn
The bushings in a vehicle could be compared to the cartilage in the human body. Whereas cartilage protects against joint stress by preventing bone-to-bone contact, bushings safeguard metal joints from stress by preventing metal-to-metal contact. However, just as cartilage can wear down in a body as an individual ages, so too can bushings wear out in a vehicle.
One of the more damaging possibilities of worn bushings is when the problem affects the control arm of the vehicle. If the bushings wear out on this component, the front end of the truck could fall into misalignment, which could ultimately cause the tires to wear out prematurely.
One of the common misinterpretations of a bushing-related problem is when a truck makes noise along turns and the driver attributes the issue to a loose stabilizer bar. In many of these cases, an inspection reveals that the problem stems from the bushings, not the bar.
Bushings and Car Noise
In some cases, movements and noises that would seem to indicate trouble with a suspension component or ball joint might actually stem from a problem with the bushings.
bad bushing symptoms
When bushings cause noise, the problem is not always a matter of rubber wear or stress. In some cases, the noise is simply the result of dried bushings.
When to Replace Bushings
There is no set timeframe for when to change suspension bushings. They wear down at different speeds in different vehicles. It really depends on the environment where you operate the vehicle and the amount of stress you put it through on a regular basis. Basically, you will know when to change bushings in a car or truck when the symptoms of bad bushings make it difficult to operate your vehicle.
