A-arm bushings and bulkhead bushings

[wayno]

Just took my buds a-arm bolts out because he had a lot of play in bulkhead bushings. There has been some discussion on this topic before, and just had a few question.

Did anyone find any grease in the bushings when taken apart?

Does the bolt turn freely when tightened to the torque specs. in the repair manual?
the manual states that grease should be applied to these areas when reassembling but his were bone dry when we tore it apart. So why no grease from the factory? Secondly why does the bolt have to have end play when completly tightened, this lets the bolt spin freely, causing the bulkhead bushings to wear out. The a-arm rotates on the bolt, so there is no reason for the bolt to also rotate. It seems to me if I were to put a small o-ring under the bolt head, to take up the end play, so the bolt could not rotate, bushing wear would be eliminated. Anyone have any feedback on this issue please post. Thanks Wayne

 

[yamrx1]

Replaced all bushings both sides on my 04 rx1mtn with approx. 3000km no sign of any grease either,was thinking about drilling and tapping for a grease fitting in the a-arms..

 

[twomorestrokes]

Not sure on the bolt spin question. I see that my sled is due for front end bushings at 2,200 miles. Greased it an a lift this week and see that there is quite a bit of play in the spindles...

 

[STORM-CHASER]

Just took my buds a-arm bolts out because he had a lot of play in bulkhead bushings. There has been some discussion on this topic before, and just had a few question.

Did anyone find any grease in the bushings when taken apart?

Does the bolt turn freely when tightened to the torque specs. in the repair manual?
the manual states that grease should be applied to these areas when reassembling but his were bone dry when we tore it apart. So why no grease from the factory? Secondly why does the bolt have to have end play when completly tightened, this lets the bolt spin freely, causing the bulkhead bushings to wear out. The a-arm rotates on the bolt, so there is no reason for the bolt to also rotate. It seems to me if I were to put a small o-ring under the bolt head, to take up the end play, so the bolt could not rotate, bushing wear would be eliminated. Anyone have any feedback on this issue please post. Thanks Wayne

I not knocking Yami But those bushings are junk, they put them together with no grease, Mine were all junk at 1000 miles, I got them to cover them, But next spring will have to do the same thing, I greased mine when I put them back in.

 

[number1kyster]

mine will have 6500 miles on it soon and i have the original bushings and i ride friggen hard. They are totally shot and i plan on replacing them after this winter.

 

[Groomerdriver]

Just took my buds a-arm bolts out because he had a lot of play in bulkhead bushings. There has been some discussion on this topic before, and just had a few question.

Did anyone find any grease in the bushings when taken apart?

Does the bolt turn freely when tightened to the torque specs. in the repair manual?
the manual states that grease should be applied to these areas when reassembling but his were bone dry when we tore it apart. So why no grease from the factory? Secondly why does the bolt have to have end play when completly tightened, this lets the bolt spin freely, causing the bulkhead bushings to wear out. The a-arm rotates on the bolt, so there is no reason for the bolt to also rotate. It seems to me if I were to put a small o-ring under the bolt head, to take up the end play, so the bolt could not rotate, bushing wear would be eliminated. Anyone have any feedback on this issue please post. Thanks Wayne

I not knocking Yami But those bushings are junk, they put them together with no grease, Mine were all junk at 1000 miles, I got them to cover them, But next spring will have to do the same thing, I greased mine when I put them back in.

These bushing issues go back to the original RX-1. Yami sure is smart about where they can keep cost out of the sled!

 

[STORM-CHASER]

mine will have 6500 miles on it soon and i have the original bushings and i ride friggen hard. They are totally shot and i plan on replacing them after this winter.

if your bushings are shot and they get into the bulk head and ovel it you will have a problem , This happend to me on my rx-1 with 2700 miles, so on the vector I replace them ever season. You might want to take a close look

 

[twomorestrokes]

Most of the play in mine is at the spindle end. After 3 seasons of basically no maintenance other than oil change and grease, it's time for me to get serious. I can probably hold out till the end of the season but my sled is definitely due for some work...

 

[4Fighter]

Try the Nylatron bushings from Pioneer Performance.

 

[twomorestrokes]

I remember you saying that you used them Brian but couldn't remember where you had gotten them. Thanks.

 

[garserio]

Try the Nylatron bushings from Pioneer Performance.

I 2nd that... I used Pioneer's kit and they are much better. In some cases, they were even too tight. Just be aware that Pioneer's kit DOES NOT include the bolt bushings in the bulkhead. These are the ones that typically wear out first, so be sure to order them. They are shown on the frame microfiche...

Finally, the bolts are supposed to float when fully torqued. The end of the bolt is stepped for this reason. The nut bottoms out on the step and there is about 0.050" of axial clearance.

 

[wayno]

Thanks for all the info. guys, but I still have to question why the bolts must float,(turn in the bulkhead). It only makes sense to me, that if the bolts didn't turn, there would be less wear on these bushings. Has anyone came up with a really good grease that will hang in there longer? Maybe some type of graphite based grease would work.

Thanks for all the response.
Wayne

 

[4Fighter]

Try the Nylatron bushings from Pioneer Performance.

I 2nd that... I used Pioneer's kit and they are much better. In some cases, they were even too tight. Just be aware that Pioneer's kit DOES NOT include the bolt bushings in the bulkhead. These are the ones that typically wear out first, so be sure to order them. They are shown on the frame microfiche...

Finally, the bolts are supposed to float when fully torqued. The end of the bolt is stepped for this reason. The nut bottoms out on the step and there is about 0.050" of axial clearance.

That's right! There are also those plastic cup washers that go on the ends too.

 

[STORM-CHASER]

Thanks for all the info. guys, but I still have to question why the bolts must float,(turn in the bulkhead). It only makes sense to me, that if the bolts didn't turn, there would be less wear on these bushings. Has anyone came up with a really good grease that will hang in there longer? Maybe some type of graphite based grease would work.

Thanks for all the response.
Wayne

If the bolts were tight in the bulk head .they would put extra stress on the bulk head end. this is already a weck spot.