After installing my second set of rubber RE bushings only about a month ago there are already signs of wear and a rounding out of the hole.

Wondering what people do about this? just keep replacing them???

I am considering just cutting off that end of the arm and replacing with a Johnny Joint, any thoughts on that???

Just looking for a good solution.

I've replaced all of mine once in the life of my lift, several years so I must have had better luck then most. My next step is to cut the end off, weld in a bung and run a JJ since that would make them adjustable and mine are currently fixed.

They warranteed my first set, saying Daystar had a bad run of bushings.... but they're already tearing again within 6 months. I guess they're supposed to be "user servicible parts" like oil filters, and regularly replaced.

NO more RE bushings for me EVER . their idea of a fix is just buy more. I wheel hard with lots of flex and their bushings fail FAST. your on the right track. I have cut off several sets of RE bushings and tig on some JJ's. Problem fixed , not patched.

Yup, I replaced my rear RE swaybar bushings 3 times in one month. I was wheeling each weekend, but these were just coming apart. I finally called RE and they said the bushing manufacturer had used the wrong materials and that they were shipping the good ones now. I got a new set and finally, 3 months later they are still ok. The shop you are buying them from probably does not know about the problem.

anyone know the inside dia. of the RE tubes so i can go get some adapters without cutting up a control arm first???

Replaced all four Lower bushing on my RE adjustable arms a day before a wheeling trip 2 weeks ago. We got back two days later and i found that both rear lowers are blown. Ive had it with this crap.

I think ill be getting some JJ's to weld on as well.

Installed a set of RE rear links, within a month the rear bushings had blown out.
We replaced them with something off the shelf at a local parts house, been about 6 months and they're still fine.

RE super ride bushing are the sux.

my jeep seems to eat the rear lowers at an alarming rate, sometimes in three weeks depending how much wheeling.

Anyone have any info on what size JJ to get, or any writeups of anything similar? Ive searched pirate, but that place is a needle in a hay stack.

More than Likely the tubing is 1.75" .120 wall

It's interesting to read this.

The thought keeps coming into my mind, "If this many people have problems with the RE bushings, why doesn't RE do anything about it?"

Maybe we should mail bomb them.

HEY KATE AND EVERYONE... I assume you are talking about the funky shaped rubber bushings that have the odd shaped sleeve inside? Kate (or anyone) how did you all get just an "off the shelf" bushing to fit very well? the RE bushings are sort of hour glass shaped.

I need to replace mine. They have been on the rig for four years. They showed signs of cracking fairly soon after the install. But I never experienced any issues as a result of that. The rig is a DD, so I guess I am just lucky. But so far so good, cracks and all.

I thought that I read somewhere on here that probably three years ago (guessing) RE changed the bushing compound to combat this problem. If so, IDK what "compound" mine are or if I would nessecarily like what I get as a replacement.

I believe Kate is referring to a set of swaybar links she got from RE. They use a standard shock bushing, IIRC, which you can get at most parts stores. The superflex joints used in the control arms are RE only parts, and due to design would be hard to replace with something else with a higher durometer rating... All in all, RE bushings bring truckloads of suck. I replaced my rear arms with custom arms utilizing Johnny Joints. Gained a couple inches worth of flex, and haven't had a bit of trouble out of 'em.

Joey

The thought keeps coming into my mind, "If this many people have problems with the RE bushings, why doesn't RE do anything about it?"

Maybe we should mail bomb them.[/quote]






X2 glad im not the only one having probs.

I sent my email, now who else wishes to join me?

Are you following me?

Yes, the Squatch man is right, that's exactly waht I was referring to.

I'll do it right now!

*edit*
Done!

k.

My "new" lower hourglass bushings blew out and now i get a shudder from a dead stop. The bushing are causing the pinion to jump when a load is applied.

Have you gotten on the phone with them?
Mercy! I'd be all about some kind of cranky if that were me.
(and being an old broad - I do cranky REAL well!)

K.

WOW, that was fast!

I just sent my message to them and already got a response.

Here's my note, and the reply.
Now if you'll just excuse me, while I go pick my jaw up off the floor.

K.
-----------------------------------------------------------

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 2:33 PM
To: Eric Ennis
Subject: Internet Question

Hi Folks,
Awhile back I bought a couple of RE rear swaybar links for my 06 Rubi.
Within the course of a month, one off road trip and not too many highway
miles, the bushings broke up and blew out of them. I contacted Dave at
Northridge asking what to do and he was going to take care of it for me.
Unfortunately I was on my way to go wheelin the next weekend and ended
up buying shock bushings from a local parts house to replace them. The
"off the shelf" bushings have held up just fine.

I have noticed on several of the off road boards I participate in that
folks repeatedly complain that the RE bushings are not any good and that
they go bad frequently and do not last for what would be considered a
reasonable amount of time.

My point? You might want to look into quality control on the bushings
for your control arms and links. If this many people are having
problems, there is clearly an issue.

Just my .02

Thanks for your consideration.

Kate
--------------
his reply follows:
-------------

The bushings for the links come from Daystar. Daystar had a huge
production run of polyurethane go bad on them for this particular part.
The defect affected the whole off road industry. Superlift, Skyjacker,
Rubicon Express, Rancho and several other big MFG's were caught up in
the debacle.

Please have Dave call us so we can get you the good bushings you
deserve.

Eric Ennis
Rubicon Express Sales
916-473-4602 Direct Line
866-261-8323 Direct Fax
www.rubiconexpress.com


---------

So there you have it folks! They're trying, I guess you don't know, if you don't ask. :shrug:

So my question is did you order the old style flat bushings or the new hourglass ones that do not need a press after the first time?

THANKS KATE!!

Im going to email them myself. will keep the thread updated.

And my email to them:

Hello,
I ordered four rubber replacement superflex bushings from David at northridge4x4. After recently replacing the lower rubber bushings in my RE short arm adjustables (05 Rubicon SWB), I drove on the streets for one day, then went on a two day offroading trip.
After i returned home i noticed that both rear bushings were already blown out before i even unloaded it off the trailer. Now, i dont expect a rubber bushing to last forever, but i do expect them to last longer than three days and one wheeling trip under only moderate offroad conditions. Because of them prematurely failing, i now have a shudder from a dead stop while accelerating. This is caused by the bushings being blown out and consequently allowing the rear pinion to jump up under a load and is absolutely annoying, to say the least.
I have read that there was an issue with the manufacturer of the bushings and sub par performance has resulted. I am not for sure if this is what happened in my case, but i feel it may be. I can send pictures of the exact bushings if so needed.
I have read on several Jeep forums that your bushings are constantly failing, no matter what vehicle or configuration they are used in. I really have enjoyed your products, and speak highly of them. however, at this point i would advise anyone against the superflex equipped arms.
What can be done to correct this? I know its not much money, but i feel that i have purchased a quality product from a superior manufacturer, but to some extent i been shorted.

Thank you,
Robert Williams
TORC executive event director
www.torc4x4.org

I got a response to my email as well.

FIRST is what I sent followed by their response:

Their response: