Should my UCA bushings look like this?

[HerT4R]

I recently installed (within the past month) Camburg Moog Ball Joint UCAs on my ride.

Well I was under there today verifying I had applied enough grease to all the zerks (I was beat after a late night install and think I got a little lazy with the grease gun). I noticed that my bushings on the driver side seem to have pushed themselves out a bit and extruded slightly (see pics). Drivers side first front and rear and then passenger for comparison.

The passenger side is fine (last 2 pics) and I did them both the same way.

Is something wrong? Do I need to pull the UCA off and get new bushings for it? Do I need to talk to Camburg?

Please let me know, I'm new to aftermarket UCAs so please be gentle with me.

 

[marshal]

i want to know where you got black camburg's

looks like the bushing was bound and stretched during movement. did you grease the joints after installation?

 

[BigredTEX]

I've got no experience with Camburg, but it appears odd that the bearing surface is angled rather than perpendicular to the bolt.

 

[marshal]

I've got no experience with Camburg, but it appears odd that the bearing surface is angled rather than perpendicular to the bolt.

its not, the bushing is drawn over the bearing surface for some reason

 

[weeeee]

i want to know where you got black camburg's

looks like the bushing was bound and stretched during movement. did you grease the joints after installation?

Camburg UCAs are powdercoated satin black now vs that gloss metallic they used to come in.

I agree, the bushing looks like its binding on itself. You might want to re-install and see if the bushing straightens out. Make sure you add grease to the UCA bolt before re-installing, it looks like it wasn't properly lubed and thus stretched out on the bolt and pinched itself when you torqued it down.

 

[wfo9]

Something is totally jacked up. are they installed on the correct side.....

Are the inserts installed...?

 

[jbjones85]

I would loosen that side up and try to re-seat the bushing and make sure it is properly lubed up before re-tightening.

 

[marshal]

Black?? This is bullshit

 

[wfo9]

Black?? This is bullshit

I think they did change them to black recently.

 

[Engineer]

Black is BS, I want to exchange my grey ones!. However it also looks like there is a design change. I swore on mine the gussets was more centered vs offset. Dug up an old photo and it does indeed appear changed.

and yes that bushing needs some help.

 

[HerT4R]

i want to know where you got black camburg's

looks like the bushing was bound and stretched during movement. did you grease the joints after installation?

Well I got them from wheelers offroad and I actually wanted grey but they said they don't come in grey anymore only black.

Yes, I greased them and IIRC I greased the drivers side UCA zerks first and thought I got lazy on the passenger side. I do remember the drivers side bushings being a PITA to get pushed in all the way before putting them on the truck.

I did grease it until it splooged grease, as instructed by my more experienced wrencher lol. On the passenger side I realized i was tired and hungry and the grease fitting kept popping off the zerks and making a mess and I got frustrated. That's where I thought I got lazy. But the driver side is Fd up.

Camburg UCAs are powdercoated satin black now vs that gloss metallic they used to come in.

I agree, the bushing looks like its binding on itself. You might want to re-install and see if the pushing straightens out. Make sure you add grease to the UCA bolt before re-installing, it looks like it wasn't properly lubed and thus stretched out on the bolt and pinched itself when you torqued it down.

I lubed it per what the instructions stated and with the lube they came with, maybe I didn't put enough... :frusty:

Something is totally jacked up. are they installed on the correct side.....

Are the inserts installed...?

Yes. Inserts (aka the brass looking cylinder piece in between the black bushings where the screw goes through) are installed. That's a good question though. Again, the drivers side was difficult pushing the bushings all the way into the bushing slots on the drivers side. Which made getting the long UCA bolt difficult, but by no means did I have to get physical with it or over exert myself or get a bigger hammer or crowbar on it or anything like that.

I would loosen that side up and try to re-seat the bushing and make sure it is properly lubed up before re-tightening.

I will give this a shot when I can get a chance to take it apart, likely on the upcoming long weekend ahead. I hope I don't have to pull that giant bolt out all the way out again though...

Do you guys think I'm in any danger of it failing? Failing while i commute? Unfortunately I have one more day of work tomorrow then the long weekend starts. 22 miles round trip, mostly highway if it matters.

Should I get another set of bushings (x2 for one side of one UCA) and an insert in case it needs to be replaced? Guess i might as well have it on hand in case it can't be made usable again...

Oh well. I had fun learning, I might as well get proficient at UCA repair and reinstallation.

 

[Jhalko]

Black?? This is bullshit

Black is BS, I want to exchange my grey ones!. However it also looks like there is a design change. I swore on mine the gussets was more centered vs offset. Dug up an old photo and it does indeed appear changed.

and yes that bushing needs some help.

Yep mine are black as well, it looks so bad@$$, you guys are totally not cool with gray!

And no my bushings do not look like that OP...

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Are these Rubber Bushings, Poly, or Delrin?

Did you tighten the UCA main bolt before or after you set the vehicle on the ground?

 

[Antman]

Too much grease- you pushed the bushings out.

Take out the zerks and you may be able to push the bushings back into place and release some of the grease pressure (you can easily thread the zerks back in). If not, you will have to loosen the top UCA bolt to get them squared away.

Same thing happened to me when installing UCA's for 4RnRgrl. Got the install done- all was perfect. Greased the zerks ( I had already greased the bushings during the install) and it pushed 2 of the bushings (poly!) out.

Hopefully you didn't damage them after driving that way. I would inspect them carefully.

My .02.

 

[wfo9]

Too much grease- you pushed the bushings out.

Take out the zerks and you may be able to push the bushings back into place and release some of the grease pressure (you can easily thread the zerks back in). If not, you will have to loosen the top UCA bolt to get them squared away.

Same thing happened to me when installing UCA's for 4RnRgrl. Got the install done- all was perfect. Greased the zerks ( I had already greased the bushings during the install) and it pushed 2 of the bushings (poly!) out.

Hopefully you didn't damage them after driving that way. I would inspect them carefully.

My .02.

Yea, that probably makes sense.

You should never grease them with the bolts tight. They have channels to release the extra grease.. but the main bolt needs to be loose first. Pretty sure the instructions mention this.

 

[HerT4R]

Too much grease- you pushed the bushings out.

Take out the zerks and you may be able to push the bushings back into place and release some of the grease pressure (you can easily thread the zerks back in). If not, you will have to loosen the top UCA bolt to get them squared away.

Same thing happened to me when installing UCA's for 4RnRgrl. Got the install done- all was perfect. Greased the zerks ( I had already greased the bushings during the install) and it pushed 2 of the bushings (poly!) out.

Hopefully you didn't damage them after driving that way. I would inspect them carefully.

My .02.

Wow, you are probably right. First time grease gunner and I got after it too enthusiastically, damn.

Welp, can I loosen the long bolt without removing the entire UCA to try to maneuver the bushings back into place?

Yea, that probably makes sense.

You should never grease them with the bolts tight. They have channels to release the extra grease.. but the main bolt needs to be loose first. Pretty sure the instructions mention this.

See attached. In maintenance and care section. Damn, I really gotta read and understand all the instructions and their implications before beginning... even what I think will not matter for a good while. I can also inform my wrenching friend of the proper way, that might help.

You guys have been very helpful I appreciate it.

 

[Antman]

Wow, you are probably right. First time grease gunner and I got after it too enthusiastically, damn.

Welp, can I loosen the long bolt without removing the entire UCA to try to maneuver the bushings back into place?

Yes, you can.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Didn't even notice they had zerks till Antman mentioned it. lol

 

[HerT4R]

well I am going to do loosen that bolt (and maybe a zerk or two) today and try to maneuver the bushings back into place today after i get off work, i will be sure to take some after photos.

i also spoke with steve at wheelers offroad and he stated the same solution as you guys have. I hope it works, fingers crossed!

thanks again for the help, and if it doesnt work for me this is a lesson learned for me and everyone else. don't overgrease!



please hold for the thread search tags:

UCAs UCA bushing bushings Camburg fail extrude extruded pushed out not seated out of place slipped out grease pressure loosen bolt before grease greasing

 

[Spixelz]

Too much grease! I did the same exact thing with my Icons. Untighten the zerk fitting and allow the excess grease to push out. The bushing should go back in.