Rubicon Express Control Arm Bushings Redneck Style

[otisdog]

Ok so my Jeep has been a little squirley lately and can't seem to find anything - ah ha - get to rolling the tires back and forth by hand and notice the control arms moving in the mount. That might be the problem.
I have RE lower control arms and they are noted for the rubber hourglass bushings not lasting worth a doo-dah. Got some Daystar poly replacements and got the two rear arms done yesterday and today. And to think I gave up the Johnny Park run for this - how wonderful.

This is done in my condo complex redneck style since I have no garage and limited tools.

Bad bushing
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/otisdog4/Other%20Stuff/kdk_0394.jpg

High tech tree saw to cut and loosen bad bushing
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/otisdog4/Other%20Stuff/Rebushi1.jpg

A little Windex to lube things up - slick makes it slide in and out better
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/otisdog4/Other%20Stuff/Rebushi2.jpg

Hammer and screwdriver to remove bad bushing along with a few #@** words
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/otisdog4/Other%20Stuff/Rebushi3.jpg

Put it in the press with new Daystar bushing [I might apply for a patent on this setup]
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/otisdog4/Other%20Stuff/Rebushi4.jpg

Success
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/otisdog4/Other%20Stuff/Rebushi5.jpg


The Superflex joints can use some new races and tightening. I'll order some race sets and the tool then redo them along with the front lowers.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/otisdog4/Other%20Stuff/Rebushi6.jpg

My upper control arms are JKS. They use OEM bushings which I believe are harder to deal with but I will get to them. Maybe have to get them pressed in with a real press.
Jim

[Brody]

Hey Jim

Thanks for the write up! I was just under Jeff's(Beefy) rig and mentioned to him that the exact same bushings are moving around more than I like!

Next time you are need of tools/space, give a shout. We may be out in Arvada, but it also may be worth the drive.

[otisdog]

Hey Jim

Thanks for the write up! I was just under Jeff's(Beefy) rig and mentioned to him that the exact same bushings are moving around more than I like!

Next time you are need of tools/space, give a shout. We may be out in Arvada, but it also may be worth the drive.

Now knowing that you do fab work etc I likely will do some business with you. Are Jeff's arms Rubicon Express?
Jim

[Brody]

Not 100% sure. Same same design, but may not have the hourglass bushing. I got enough movement so that I wasn't exactly happy, but it wasn't something bad enough to screw the driving up, just something that needs to be dealt with in the near future.

Like the saw, too. Reminds me of when my steering shaft sheared in half on Carnage and we cut through a Hi Lift handle with a bone saw in order to have a piece to sleeve it with. Still on there, too, and that was 6 years ago. It is, of course, now double welded...

[otisdog]

See if jeff can post a pic of one of his arms. The people that built his Jeep would know what they are.
RE switched from OEM bushings to the rubber hourglass design in mid 04 I believe. They were quite unreliable. One end of the arm has the Superflex joint and the other has one or the other bushing.
Currie makes control arms that have Johhny Joints which are similar to the Superflex but Currie puts the JJ's in both ends of the arm.
I bought the Daystar bushing kit from 4 Wheel parts - comes with 4 big [lowers] and 4 small [uppers]. it's cheaper than buying them individually.
http://www.quadratec.com/products/16058_4000.htm

Here's what a Superflex Joint looks like
http://www.quadratec.com/products/16301_4405.htm

Jim

[Brody]

Thanks Jim. I will be talking to Jeff soon. Yup on the Johnny Joint on one end, bushing on the other.

4 To Go has both styles as does High Country 4x4. Good to know there is another source with stock.

Thanks for the links, too. I was busy doing a tightening of everything under his rig and wanted to get that done so that he could do a run today. I did mention the bushings, so that is now added to the top of the list. I'll get him to post pictures of his on this thread so that other people will know what we are talking about.

Let me know about the fab work. Happy to work with you on whatever you want done! Let me know if you need space/tools, etc., when you do the uppers. I have the bushing replacement going on pretty good right now having replaced about 50-70 (I wasn't counting...and about half that many tie rod ends...) or so bushings this year, including the joyful ones in my heap.

[Beefy]

I can take some better pictures tomorrow. I have these two pictures that I already took of the underside for other reasons that might answer the question (probably not). I have a RE 4.5" Superflex short arm kit. The bushings will be done on the next trip to Pete's. Plenty of stuff still to be done. :D

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss177/BeefyBeefo/VTXCafe%20Keep/IMG_0357.jpg

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss177/BeefyBeefo/c9345718.jpg


Pay no attention to the scars on the diffs from Spring Creek. :D

[otisdog]

Yep those look to be RE Superflex arms - they are the fixed length as opposed to adjustable but have the same ends as mine.

Looks like modern art on your diff.

I have the 4 upper bushings if you want them. Let me know and you can have them. I don't have any use for them.
I think though that it costs less to buy the full kit then it does to buy 4 lowers seperately.
Jim

[Brody]

What is showing the wear is 'B' on both sides and these are the adjustable arms (A). The bushings in 'C' the outer, lower arm, seem to be pretty happy. Of course bushings being bushings and you buy a set, plus the fact that if one is showing wear, then the others aren't too far behind, you may as well just suck it up and install all that you get...

The front upper control arm bushings simply get a little motion when you try to move them, something I don't like. Takes a bit, but add a ton plus to what I weigh and I am sure the movement is increased. Still a little slop in the steering overall, so I imagine that it has a lot to do with the bushing wear coupled with the caster/camber adjustment, which I didn't do...

[otisdog]

Yea it looks like the upper rears are adjustable - hard to see in the pic. The lowers look to be fixed. If those are the RE uppers then A would be the smaller bushing of which I have 4 I don't need and B would be the smaller Superflex joint. They can be installed either way so I could be backwards. Generally the bushing end goes to frame and the flex joint to axle. The front uppers just have the RE bushings to the frame end.
Jim

[Brody]

If you want to get rid of them, let me know how much you want for them. I'll square with Jeff down the road. If there is any way that they can get over to Chris', also in Auroroa between now and tomorrow AM, he is coming over to my place in the morning for the bumper tweak and front bumper install. Keep me posted please.

Yhanks

[otisdog]

You can just have them. I'll see if I can get them over to Chris today. Can you have him call me again? I don't have his phone #
Jim

[Chris]

Jim, I'll be gone most of the day but you can leave them by the side garage door if you can make it over.

[otisdog]

Jim, I'll be gone most of the day but you can leave them by the side garage door if you can make it over.

Been there. The bushings are in a bag on your porch. Didn't know if you were there but didn't want to take a chance on waking you.
Jim

[Chris]

Thanks Jim!

[Brody]

Thanks guys!

Thanks from Jeff, too! I don't know if he has been on the forum this AM, but when he does, I am sure he will thank you, too!

Front Range if full of good folks! Anyone else happen to notice?

[Beefy]

Holy cow, thanks guys! This was totally unexpected. Very nice people on this forum for sure. That just gives me another reason to get the rig over to Pete's for some more work (like I needed a reason). :lmao:

[Hypoid]

Nice work Jim! This reminds me of doing U-Joints on the curb, with a pair of sockets and small hammer. Sometimes, what you have is just enough. :)

[otisdog]

Nice work Jim! This reminds me of doing U-Joints on the curb, with a pair of sockets and small hammer. Sometimes, what you have is just enough. :)

Yep
Jim

[Brody]

Nice work Jim! This reminds me of doing U-Joints on the curb, with a pair of sockets and small hammer. Sometimes, what you have is just enough.

You forgot to mention the rain. It always rains when you have to do something like that.

I remember living at some apartment complex and doing a lift in a 74 Cherokee I had years ago. I had the truck "stored" on the lot under a tarp, which was OK with the apartment people, but you couldn't work on the rig in the lot. Having no other place to work on it, I worked on it early morning and late at night under the tarp with a headlamp..great fun...Stealth lift install....

[Beefy]

Just thought I'd follow up on this quick. Thanks again so much for passing on those bushings! Unfortunately, they weren't the right ones for my lift. Pete would have more details about it, but we're trying to find the right ones now!

[otisdog]

That's too bad they aren't the right thing - What kind do you need?
jim

[Beefy]

That's too bad they aren't the right thing - What kind do you need?
jim

Not really sure to be honest. I think the ones I needed were larger? Pete is trying to find them and probably has a much better explanation. :lmao:

[Brody]

Jim

The ones you sent will work on one end of the back arms. Because the most wear showing is for the 2" bushings, I didn't take the arms off as I didn't have these yet. We need the front and rear track bar bushings too, as long as we are going to be in bushing land, and the small ones that you sent may work for the rear. Day Star has these as does Quadratec and probably 4 to Go and High Country..Just haven't called around looking for them yet.

All the Johnny joints are pretty happy so far. I welded up a couple of other minor issues that weren't doing anyone any good...