A bushing is a tube used to insulate the vibrations between two surfaces sliding against each other. The rubber material used in bushing can be synthetic rubber, polyurethane, or other, which is then used to separate two metal objects from absorbing energy, allowing smooth movements. Hence, making the movement efficient and reducing vibrations and noise through the vehicle's chassis.

The Types Of Bushing Kits

The bushing is of two types:

●Standard Bushing Kit:

The Standard Bushing Kit includes parts such as the torque rod bushing, tower plug for 3.0” hole, spigot cap #2, hardware kit spare (#2 spigot), which are manufactured by Chalmers Suspensions International Inc. and come in their standard size 22128. All of the above four parts are available in a set of eight and sixteen.

●Oversize Bushing Kit

The Oversize Bushing Kit comes in size 22129. The parts include torque rod bushing, tower plug, spigot cap #2, hardware kit spare (#2 spigot); all manufactured by Chalmers Suspensions International Inc. These four mentioned parts are available in a set of four, eight, and sixteen.

The Importance Of A Bushing

The main function of a torque rod bushing is to minimize the shock and vibrations transmitted from the road surface to the chassis of the truck or vehicle. They are attached to the torque rods from both ends, which then fix the rear axle in their place and deliver the driving torque to withstand the forces from various directions.

The Spigot Cap is a part of torque rod joints in Chalmer. They provide a small amount of end compression to the rubber bushing and deliver end retention to the joints. The Spigot Cap can be easily broken or cracked; thus, it is recommended to inspect it daily visually.

The Parts

The Hardware Kit spare comes in four Hardware 382 bolts and four Hardware 379 nuts. It is never recommended to use a second-hand or re-used piece of this hardware.

The tower plug can be sensitive to dust or moisture, and it is recommended to install it with a bead of silicone to keep out the moisture.

The Thin Line Between Bushing And Bearing

The terms bushing and bearing could mean the same, but there is a slight difference between both. The bearing allows relative motion between two components, and bushing allows for relative motion, with sliding. Here, the bushing is a specific component under the general term bearing.

The advantage of bushing is that it cuts away the noise and vibration. Most importantly, they require little to no lubrication. It is also crucial to understand the disadvantages of bushing. Rubber bushing can degenerate or worsen quickly in extreme heat, cold conditions, and the presence of oil like motor oil, mineral oil. In a vehicle's suspension system, the flexibility of rubber bushing is the most concerning part.

When To Be On Guard?

Braking and cornering on high-load conditions of the vehicle may result in camber, toe-in, or toe-out of the wheel, adversely affecting the vehicle's handling. A worn-out bushing should be given a closer look when the component snaps, as it can cause serious damage to the vehicle.

It is necessary to be aware of worn-out bushing as they affect other vehicle performance. For instance, existing wear and constant pressure on the joint may cause premature wear of the tire, which results in costly repair and replacement of the tire. You can pose a threat to yourself and the road users when you drive around with a worn-out bushing suspension.

Especially for this purpose, a popular aftermarket performance upgrade is given on reputed vehicles for wearing out standard rubber bushing. On such vehicles, the replacement of the suspension rubber is made with polyurethane or other rigid materials.

Related Issues

There are several other related issues. The majority of this is the poor quality of parts/materials used for replacement and repair. The reason is to save money by buying second-hand or counterfeit parts. When the question is about vehicle efficiency and maintenance, cheap second-hand/counterfeit parts are never recommended.

We are a good fit for purchasing genuine OEM parts. It simply means direct sourcing from the manufacturer; hence, no defective parts with the best competitive pricing. Our products, Standard Bushing Kit Set and Truck Oversize Bushing Kit Set in the USA and North America, are at your service.