Thread: ACE and radius arm bushes

I'm wondering if I should replace my ACE and front/rear radius arm suspension bushes?

Rubber generally has limited life span and my D2a is a Sep 02 built model which means that it is nearing 15 years old now, combined with the 250,000km it's traveled. From the history that I have of the vehicle and the look of them they seem to be the original bushes still in place.

When I had a look at them they seem ok. Some minor hairline cracks in some of the rubber, but I assume this is normal with old age?

I don't have any big trips or anything coming up, so a failure would be an inconvenience and annoyance, not catastrophic.

Or just drive it until one fails and starts to make a noise and deal with it then?

Ive found that the chassis end of the radius arms dont seem to come apart. They seem to be a good and reliable bush.

The axle end of the radius arm bushes do wear. When they are flogged out the rubber cracks around the bolt bush. Everything holds together and it it is still quiet, just that the bush cracks in half between the inner circle and the outer circle.

For ACE, the chassis bush on the sway bar wears. If you drive (sensibly) and turn from left to right you will hear it clunk with each change in direction. Other than that, to look at you would never know it was worn. You will be able to move the sway bar within the bush though. If the bushes are good, also check the links which do wear and eventually pull apart.