Thread: Can trailing arm bushes be worn but appear good?

what is your tyre size? Sometimes a wider tyre can "tramline" although you said the same setup worked b4. Yes rubber bushes can degrade over time, although generally not that much. It diverting quickly sounds as if a bush is the culprit on the front arms, it gets settled in 1 position, you adjust the steering to suit, then it hits a bump or track depression in the road which alters the position in the bush and off it goes b4 you can correct it. Also It could be in the rear trailing arm bushes. This behaviour is also known as "axle steer" where the angle of the solid axle suddenly changes and thereby the direction of travel. Get a big screw driver/ podgy bar and lever the bushes, if you get any great movement they are had it.
Cheers Scott

It's on 265/70r16s. It was fine on these previously, although I know wider tyres can cause tramlining. I'm starting to think it is rear axle steering,especially with the camper on the back. I can induce a rear clunk at times. I'll have a good look tomorrow. I'm guessing the tubes and bolts in the bushes could be a suspect too.

Any chance it might need an adjustable panhard after installing the lift? I recently did this to mine to realign the front end axle with the rear after a 2 inch lift

Bronson

Originally Posted by bronson

Any chance it might need an adjustable panhard after installing the lift? I recently did this to mine to realign the front end axle with the rear after a 2 inch lift

Bronson

It was working completely fine with the current setup a few months ago. I'm thinking bushes as it went bad after some high articulation stuff in a hilly area. Checked the price of LR bushes and they are around $60 each. 12 bushes is up around the $700 mark. I might go for some Allmakes variety if need be. My brother changed the trailing arm bushes in his Patrol last week. Some looked good but ended up being too soft. He had wandering issues which have now totally gone.

it can happen but there is usually a telltale if you know what to look for.

have you checked more obvious things first like the tyre pressure and brakes?

Originally Posted by coops71

It was working completely fine with the current setup a few months ago. I'm thinking bushes as it went bad after some high articulation stuff in a hilly area. Checked the price of LR bushes and they are around $60 each. 12 bushes is up around the $700 mark. I might go for some Allmakes variety if need be. My brother changed the trailing arm bushes in his Patrol last week. Some looked good but ended up being too soft. He had wandering issues which have now totally gone.

May be you should research the super pro bushes, a much better bush and can be had a hell of a lot cheaper than $700 from the UK.

If your D2 is tramlining, check upper and lower ball joints, and steering tie rod ends. ALSO, the wheel alignment needs to be 0 to 2mm total toe OUT.

JC

Originally Posted by justinc

If your D2 is tramlining, check upper and lower ball joints, and steering tie rod ends. ALSO, the wheel alignment needs to be 0 to 2mm total toe OUT.

JC

Been there and done that. Just checked trailing arm bushes and found the front passenger chassis end bush can be flexed along the bolt about 20mm using a pry bar. I can make the passenger front wheel move a touch by doing this. Is this normal?