Well I went riding yestarday with my buddies they were on a 250x,400ex, & a predator so it was a fast paced bounce around kind of ride. Anyway I kept hearing this clicking sound and couldnt figure out what it was then I found that my top bushing on the right side was gone. Now I just had these replaced about a month ago cause I had the dry rotted ones. iS anyone else havinG problems with these or is it just my luck. I dont have HD Springs and I'm only 160 lbs. so I'm not smashing them. What do you guys think is causing them to go bad. It was the same one that cracked up and split before. to replace them it do I just have to take the bolt and washer out and slide the new one on or is something else I have to do?

 

SILICONE GREASE ON THEM WILL MAKE THEM LAST LONGER,THEY HAVE TO BE TORQUED DOWN CORRECTLY OR THEY FAIL FAST,I SAW ONE LAST WEEK BRAND NEW 08 THEY ALL WERE CRUSHED PROBABLY FROM BEING IMPACTED ON.......

 

I just had them put on by the dealer. Soon as he took it off the lift the top two were crushed down but he said that was normal. All the other ones were expanded except for the top two. Do you think he did something wrong?

 

YEAH I BELEIVE YOU NEED TO SHOW HIM A TORQUE WRENCH,THEY SHOULD BE TORQUED SO THEY DON'T CRUSH.YOU CAN GET AFTERMARKET ONES THAT ARE STRONGER+NOT MUCH MORE.YOU CAN EVEN USE HAND TOOLS BUT YOU HAVE TO STOP WHEN SNUG,NOT GOING UNTIL THEY GET FLAT.............

 

My book calls to be torqued at 17lbs for a 2007 500 where as I believe on my machine the bolt bottoms out anyway, can't tighten any more.

 

Or, you could take a sample to an auto parts store and find something off shock absorbers or older vehicle steering components. They made them for yeeaarrrrs.

 

boy if the bolt bottoms out like randy says they must be some bad rubbers going around.like mongrol says autozone has aftermarket swaybar bushings that are made from neoprene which is stronger than standard rubber.......

 

When I say bottom out I'm not talking about the bushing themselves, just that the bolt will not go in any farther so you can't really overtighten it. Basically won't tighten over approx. 17lbs.

I may also be wrong. One of my lower bushings has turned sideways on me from yesturdays run so I will take out the linkage rod and see if its threaded all the way through which I doubt seeing that its threaded from both ends.

By the way my rubbers were also from an apparent bad batch from 2006. At least that what the parts counter guy told me. Gave me all new ones no problem though.

I'm wondering if aftermarket ones would work. Would they be shaped the same?

 

maybe not but they can be carefully cut to shape don't cut yourself.being neoprene(they are usually orange or blue)+use silicone grease i've had on my truck for years+they still look brand new.

 

Replace all bearings ,ujoints with grease fittings. Our 97 Sportsman still has most of it original bushings but they all have grease fittings so they never go dry .