Front and rear bushings

[theflash]

Re: Front and rear bushings

With the tire inplace these rips in the bushings would be hard to see.

[dcrichards]

Re: Front and rear bushings

007Cruiser, not detailed as being covered in the warranty. That's all I know. Front-end stuff is detailed. Doesn't make sense that they would cover one and not the other, but what can I say????

[Salprint]

Re: Front and rear bushings

Sal, Many years ago I had a second job in a service station, When we did a lube job, we used to spray all rubber parts we could see under the car, with the same spray that we use today to protect and keep our rubber hardtop gasket plyable and freash.

Me also George...my brother owned a service station many years ago and I worked there part time and we also used the rubber lube on every car that came in for service. Those were the days when mechanics weren't timed by how fast they got the car on the rack and off. They had time to do the little extras. Hell...I remember when we greased the car we would wipe the grease fitting off of excess grease before going to the next one.

[CVCashmere]

Re: Front and rear bushings

I did email ES Poly Bushings to see if they had any poly bushings for the T-Bird. No such luck....

Thanks

If this is a common problem.........has anyone asked about the availability of any "poly" bushings to replace the stock rubber bushings?

[Blue Heaven]

Re: Front and rear bushings

It would be interesting to know if there was a supplier change somewhere along the line. The bushings on our '02's (30k miles and 10k miles) look almost brand new, so time doesn't seem to be the culprit.

It would be great if urathane bushings were available. I had all urathane on my Trans Am many years ago and the handling difference was noticable.

[DavidA]

Re: Front and rear bushings

Blue Heaven: Interesting theory. What are the last 5 numbers of your serial number?

We should also look at DCRichard's serial number. Mine is 01439 which makes mine an early Bird!

[MerlotBlue]

Re: Front and rear bushings

It would be interesting to know if there was a supplier change somewhere along the line. The bushings on our '02's (30k miles and 10k miles) look almost brand new, so time doesn't seem to be the culprit.

It would be great if urathane bushings were available. I had all urathane on my Trans Am many years ago and the handling difference was noticable.

That about sums up the best reason for using 'em.

The other reason?

They're almost indestructible too.

the most common complaint on the downside is squeaking........and even that isn't the problem it used to be. Most quality bushings are now impregnated with the graphite you used to have to sprinkle on 'em years ago to keep things quiet.

It's not perfect but for the most part it works pretty well at controlling the embarrassing noises as you enter a parking lot or space on uneven pavement.

Rubber bushings are quiet but a pretty severe penalty is paid in terms of the wear (pretty obvious in these pictures) and "deflection" that messes up your best efforts at responsive control and perfect alignment in all driving situations.

Fact is I can't think of a single reason to prefer "rubber".

I'm a little surprised nothing is available for the T-Bird. Is this car really so unique under there?

What other cars in the Ford Line up share these same tie-rods or at least the same size bushings for a different part? I bet there is something available out there.

[dcrichards]

Re: Front and rear bushings

The door panel says 12/01. I presume that is the mfg date? Last 5 digits are 07469. Car was made for Canada, has no parking lights, but the original owner is a Ford dealer in Angleton, TX who bought it for his wife. I'm second owner.

[Blue Heaven]

Re: Front and rear bushings

Blue Heaven: Interesting theory. What are the last 5 numbers of your serial number?

We should also look at DCRichard's serial number. Mine is 01439 which makes mine an early Bird!

David,
I assume by serial number you're referring to VIN? If so, the TB Blue was built in May of '02, and the last five are 17426 (I think the seq # is 7632). The IY was built in Nov. of '02, last five are 31041 (Don't have the seq#).

[DavidA]

Re: Front and rear bushings

Clearly, early production is not the answer to the problem as there is someone with an '04 having this same problem.

Repair prices seem to be all lover the place too.

[dcrichards]

Re: Front and rear bushings

I think it was built in 12/01, not 02? Over the weekend, I talked to a retired body man from the same Ford dealership that I do business with who is in a Ford club here with me. He said the probable cause is someone sprayed the wrong kind of lubricant on the bushings. He also said the deterioration can occur very quickly, like mine apparently has.

[5bird7]

Re: Front and rear bushings

Bringing this subject back up. Went to a gathering of classic 'birds this evening and one of the people there has a friend with 14500 on his 02. He had the car checked out by his Ford dealer who told him that all the bushings were bad on his car, front and rear. They wanted $5000 to replace them all. He didn't believe them so had an independant mechanic that he trusted check them out. He, too, said they were all shot and needed replacing.

[eboose7]

Re: Front and rear bushings

Regrettably, I've discovered that I have the same problem with my '02 which has only 34,611 miles. I discovered this recently while detailing my car. All the bushings need replacing, front and rear!

[DavidA]

Re: Front and rear bushings

Dot: $5000 is a rip-off. I think I paid about $400 for the rears, I have not done the fronts yet. I just had my car serviced by the dealer and they did not report a problem with the fronts ... YET!

[5bird7]

Re: Front and rear bushings

I'm thinking that the probable cause is like dcrichards says in post 26 or else the car was driven thru something bad for the rubber.