:So all the front suspension bushings and spring isolators arrived last week, so i decided to tackle the job yesterday. Removing the control arms was easy. When the springs where out, i removed the upper spring isolators, and all was looking well on the upper spring tower. But when i removed the lower spring isolators, the underlaying spring towers looked like they where laying besides the Titanic for 80 years. Both towers very heavily corroded and big chunks of corroded material could be removed without much force. Now the metal is quite thick, but still it looks like if at least 1/3 of the metal is gone. Both sides are the same. No idea if only moisture trapped between the rubber isolator and the tower has caused this, or that wrong heating process has caused inter cristaline corrosion. Removed all the rust with a wire brush, applied corrosion inhibiter and painted it again this morning. But it is something to look at for others as well, because you wont see anything with the isolators in place. I dont have any spot of corrosion on my jeep, so was quite unpleasantly surprised with this.
I can tell there is some rust in this area of my 2000 laredo as well....my car also has no rust at all underneath anywhere else. I suspect they didn't put quality paint on the parts & the constant contact with the rubber & the constant moisture exposure is what does it.
Are you going to replace the upper control arm bushings?
Mike Sal
I put two coats of rust inhibitor and three coats of paint on them.
Both upper bushings on the axle are shot and one on the left UCA. On the left LCA only the front oval bushing is cracked and i replaced it with a new one. I still have to look at the right LCA bushings.
Yes, just loosen the upper shock nuts and raise the jeep. You will have to loosen the brake hoses from their supports on the lower control arms, otherwise you will stretch the hoses. I just bought a set of new bushings, most probably made in China, eventhough its not written on them.
When I lifted mine they were rusted just like you described. Still had a lot of metal left though. Some vehicles dont even have the buckets, just a flat. The bucket just holds the isolator which some vehicles didnt have either.
I experienced the same problem on my WJ. Interestingly enough mine spent all most of its life in Florida and Georgia and it was the same way. Just the nature of the design from what I can tell.
It's the constant flexing of the rubber that takes the paint off. Not much that can be done to prevent it except maybe using some sort of a lube between the mount and the rubber. And the rubber traps moisture in between. I seem to remember this was a problem on the ZJs as well, wasn't it?
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