Help - WTF is going on with my rear control arm bushes? Replace or not??

[geopaj]

NT Pajero...

The front bushes on the rear control arm, when on the vehicle, looked flogged out (lots of movement and bolt nolonger centred in the bush). See first picture.

I therefore pulled out both rear control arms with the intention of replacing the front bushes. To my shock/amazement, once removed the bushes don't actually look too bad - no rips or tears, just what I would describe as a "compression crease" in the rubber where the bushe (I assume) was compressed/squashed. See second and third pictures.

Is there any point replacing the bush?

I was planning on getting a local suspension shop to press out the old bushes and install the new ones on Monday (fyi they only charge $25 pr bush).

[geopaj]

Bushes once rear control arms removed from vehicle

[geopaj]

And another

[geopaj]

And finally, an image from the Whiteline website - just to confirm, yellow bush in the image is the bush I am referring to.

(Don't know why I could only add one picture per post?)

[mmannion]

IMO they are to soft. Change them out for a good set of poly bushes especially if you carry any weight or tow. When on the vehicle you can get a lever in there and move them way to much. You only need to replace those front ones with poly not the ones in the rear of the arm.

[KiwiNTPajero]

related to lift?

[geopaj]

Originally Posted by mmannion

IMO they are to soft. Change them out for a good set of poly bushes especially if you carry any weight or tow. When on the vehicle you can get a lever in there and move them way to much. You only need to replace those front ones with poly not the ones in the rear of the arm.

Thanks for the advice. I was planning on using a poly bush (Whiteline as recommended buy the shop who is going to press them into the arms for me)

Originally Posted by KiwiNTPajero

related to lift?

No idea, but it has had a lift and rear airbags for 100,000km+

[Outlaw]

i just replaced my front that looked like that, but found the rear ones real soft while doing it. how soft are they from factory?

[geopaj]

Originally Posted by Outlaw

i just replaced my front that looked like that, but found the rear ones real soft while doing it. how soft are they from factory?

They are VERY soft. I'd only replace if the rubber is cracked/perished or if the 'centre hole' is nolonger in the centre.

[geopaj]

Well, I took the arms to my local suspension shop. Their advice agreed with the advice on this thread so I had new bushes pressed in (Nolathane).

The arms are back on the vehicle, and I'm back on the road