Mr. Pickles Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 (edited) So I spent Sat. morning at the junkyard. Budget in Auburn, WA, good guys from what I've seen, this was my first time. They only had 2 WD21's, both though pretty clean and nice, it looked like they both arrived due to croaked engines. I was after rear suspension links, as my locker has killed mine over the last 4 years or so. Driving was getting pretty ridiculous, super sloppy, nobody wanted to drive the thing other than me, which is probably a good thing. I went for all 4 - 2 upper, 2 lower, but the lower's just wouldn't budge, no leverage. Plus, I was laying in a puddle in a pull-it yard in January, then it started raining again. So be it. $25 for the 2 plus some random bushings and such, then I pulled the trigger on a random 32" Maxis Bighorn for a spare, mounted for $45. Not exactly a golden pot under the rainbow, but I'll call it a day. I've been driving/wheeling with a *bald* 31" spare for almost 2 years while running 32x11.5/15's, and really needed it, and the rig REALLY need the new links, especially the upper 2, as the vid's will show. After working on some other stuff, then up till 3am with this crap, I must say a good Sat. indeed. :coffee!: Edited January 17, 2011 by Mr. Pickles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Pickles Posted January 17, 2011 Author Share Posted January 17, 2011 (edited) BTW, sorry for the grainy vid and no sound, forgot the good cam at a friend's place... well, like 3 months ago, this in on the almost 10 year old dinosaur. Edited January 17, 2011 by Mr. Pickles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedPath88 Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 REALLY needed is an understatement! Get them all in and good? Did you replace the bushings with new or just swap them on as is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesRich Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 REALLY needed is an understatement! +1 They must have been making some noise too! James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dowser Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 I dated a girl with that much slop before. I ended up trading her in for a better model. Glad to see you got on top of that. That looked like it must have been fun to drive.... if you're into bull riding. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krmiller07 Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 (edited) I dated a girl with that much slop before. I ended up trading her in for a better model. Glad to see you got on top of that. That looked like it must have been fun to drive.... if you're into bull riding. Was she covered in grease too ? LOL i don't know if I'd admit to "dating" anything with that much slop...especially on a public forum ! Edited January 17, 2011 by krmiller07 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Pickles Posted January 18, 2011 Author Share Posted January 18, 2011 REALLY needed is an understatement! Get them all in and good? Did you replace the bushings with new or just swap them on as is? I swapped in the replacement ones direct and saved the ones for rebuild in case I don't get around to the rugged rocks ones. Waiting now for the swaybar kit in the mail. Fun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingman Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 Wow, I hope mine don't get that bad. The rear end is really loosy-goosy now. I can't imagine driving it if the links were as bad as yours! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krmiller07 Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 Since I just received my bushings, I'm wondering how big a deal replacing these is? Did you have to put your rig on a lift so the suspension was at 'rest' or do you just crawl under it and remove and replace the bolts? I'm going to opt for replacing the bushings in the stock trailing arms. I'm guessing these will give me a pretty good fight getting them out due to 20 + years of use and abuse. I'm going to try and press them out using a 30 ton press, but the techs at the local dealer have told me they usually just replace the whole trailing arm.I would imagine this is faster, but not cheaper! Any feedback? Thanks, Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 You might be able to press them out (or pieces of it out) with 30 tons, but more often than not people burn them out with a torch and clean up with a wire wheel... B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamzan Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 Holy crap. Glad I replaced all 4 of mine with the poly ones. It made a pretty big difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Pickles Posted January 19, 2011 Author Share Posted January 19, 2011 yeah it was pretty sloppy but drivable. I rebuilt much of the much front suspension last year so the thing drives like a new rig. I am glad the rear is swapped out now. Just got the swaybar kit today so that will wrap the project for now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesRich Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 Holy crap. Glad I replaced all 4 of mine with the poly ones. It made a pretty big difference. How was it to replace with the poly ones? Don't they make a two piece poly bushing that you just press in from each side? I've heard the poly bushings make the rear tighter than the stock bushings, this could be a good thing as long as they last. James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 When does poly not last as long as rubber, much less longer? Serious question... B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Pickles Posted January 20, 2011 Author Share Posted January 20, 2011 Since I just received my bushings, I'm wondering how big a deal replacing these is? Did you have to put your rig on a lift so the suspension was at 'rest' or do you just crawl under it and remove and replace the bolts? I'm going to opt for replacing the bushings in the stock trailing arms. I'm guessing these will give me a pretty good fight getting them out due to 20 + years of use and abuse. I'm going to try and press them out using a 30 ton press, but the techs at the local dealer have told me they usually just replace the whole trailing arm.I would imagine this is faster, but not cheaper! Any feedback? Thanks, Keith I'm not sure about the job of replacing the bushings, as I just put in the new-to-me (used) arms with existing bushings. I've heard replacing them could be rough. Some people swear by drilling out the old rubber, other say to burn them/press/etc. It doesn't sound easy which ever way you choose, just do it. I checked bushing prices online, usually around $40-50 per bushing, to $50 per arm, depending on the source. Then you have to think about price to press/remove, if you can't do so on your own. Nissan quoted in the $40's per bushing, 2 per arm/link, but well over $200/arm with bushings installed. Sorry, but for that, I'll go with the stop-gap junkyard solution for now, and hope to move up to the RuggedRocks arms if time and price permit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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