Fill me in. What are bushings?

[bmlawless]

Hey guys, I hear a lot of talk about worn bushings in the suspension causing handling problems. I am not experiencing any issues right now, but I will be replacing my shocks soon and thought that I could do those at the same time. With 114,000 miles, I would imagine that they are shot.

Here's the problem. A bushing to me is a little piece of brass that acts like a bearing. A great example is automotive door hinges. There is usually a bushing between the hinge pin and the mount. It sounds to me like the bushings referred to hear are some sort of ruber/poly puck.

Apperantly, there are several bushings on our vehicles that wear out and are easy to replace. The ones I have heard of are "trailing arm" and "pan hard." I am not familiar with either of these terms.

So, how many bushings need replacement and what are they called? Where are they? What are they made of? Are they actually easy to replace?

I have done shocks, springs, struts, and minor suspension modifications to vehicles in the past, so I feel comfortable taking this on.

[KoukiS14]

I believe in this case it's just a rubber piece that separates two pieces of metal for the purpose of insulating shock and vibrations. It can also be poly, which won't absorb as well as rubber, but will last longer and will likely improve handling.

[SnowSurfLax]

I believe in this case it's just a rubber piece that separates two pieces of metal for the purpose of insulating shock and vibrations. It can also be poly, which won't absorb as well as rubber, but will last longer and will likely improve handling.

Right-O!

[jimmyzzer]

http://www.4x4parts.com/public...97f68

[Issac]

In light of replacing a few, there are some advantages to going with stock parts with pressed in rubber on some. The burning and cleaning and fitting can sometimes be fun (well not exactly), but is sometimes actually.It is hard work depending on the part.Some factory parts are not that bad and others are outta hand. liquid wrench and brush and heat and torque for rusted.

[KoukiS14]

Right-O!

sweeeeeeet ya know, I've never bothered to so much as look at the ones on my r50, just trying to pull up my past Nissan experience

Can't wait for mine to fail. . ugh. .