Moog Front End Link Bushing Upgrade

[swshawaii]

 

[swshawaii]

After blowing out 3 sets of the soft, undersized Moog thermoplastic rubber bushings, this will be a long term replacement.

The blue K7275 bushings are not available separately, and the 3/8" ID Energy Suspension replacement bushings are too small for the Moog bolts.

The 7/16" bolt is sized for the ES 9.8103 bushings. Unfortunately the 7/8" nipple is 3/16" too large for the stock front sway bar eyelets and LCA.

I reduced the ES bushings to 11/16" by "turning" them with a flat file. The ES 9.8103 bushings are a larger 1 1/4" OD, and also taller for added durability.

They are listed in the ES catalog as "full size truck" replacements, where the others are listed for cars and mini trucks. Available in polygraphite black or red.



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[EddieS'04]

Steve,,excellent job. Hopefully they will hold up for you.

Did you put a bolt in them and turn them in a drill press?

The grafite will stop any sqeeks. Are they ploy grafite?

The last time I used the ES reds.Was on my lowered T-bird.

They split and crumbled on me. I found poly grafites and solved the problem.

Do they make them for the oem 2wd main frame bushing? If so do you know the part #.?

Thanks..:supercool:

 

[swshawaii]

Thanks Eddie. You are indeed very insightful and sharp.

I used a 7/16" bolt with a combination of washers in my clamped electric drill.

Tried "shaving" them with a chisel but a metal bastard file worked best.

They are ES 9.8103G (4 pack) I bought from Amazon for $8 each.

May be psychological, but swear the ride and handling is improved.



EDIT- Replaced mine long ago with the ES 9.5164G (1 1/8") greasable bracket/bushings.

Check the ES 4.5121G front and rear bushing only kit for $22 from Amazon.

 

[EddieS'04]

May be psychological, but swear the ride and handling is improved.

Mods of this type arent psychological. It is some thing you actualy feel. When you put the vehicle through its paces.



If I ever have problems with the moog bushings. Im going to do what you did. I have a 6" & 10" bastard file and drill press.

 

[Rodger Tellefson]

Steve,



I did the same this with the black ES bushings, only I drilled all 8 of 'em out w/o a drill press. Took some time holding 'em by hand, but the work great.



Next I am going to replace the main sway bar bushings that bolt to the frame with the black ES bushings.



I also plan on replacing the lower control arm bushings with the black ES bushings which I am expecting to be a direct fit from all indications. The same part # is used on RockAuto.com for the Explorer/Sport/SportTrac/Ranger for the lower control arm bushings. Yes, I did do a print out and checked. That is the main reason I am going with ES even though ES does not show anything for the ST, ES does show the same part # for the Explorer & Ranger for the lower control arm bushings.



:banana::driving:

 

[swshawaii]

Rodger, the poly ES bushings are definitely an upgrade to the "marshmallow" Moog crap.

I tried drilling the smaller ES bushings, but found it difficult and ruined two of them. (Oblong)

Read after, to freeze high durometer poly before trying to machine. Too late, damage done.

That's how I wound up using the larger ones. A fortunate mistake for me, I'm very happy.

 

[Rodger Tellefson]

It took a while the drill 'em out because we used several different drill sizes until we got to the correct size.

:banana:

 

[kcirtap]

swshawaii did you use the same washers from the moog kit?