Suspension did fail. BMR LCA let go!!!
6/26/06, 07:04 PM
#1
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Suspension did fail. BMR LCA let go!!!
Well after regreasing the bushings in hopes that that would solve the suspension issue I drove to work today and it was down right scarey. I hardly had to give it gas and the rear end was all over the place.
I limped it home and pulled out the passenger side LCA and as I suspected, the bushing was split on the front end allowing the steel sleeve to move back and forth. They have been installed for 3 months and I don't drag race.
I will post pictures after I get all cleaned up, but all of you out there with BMR LCAs if your rear end seems off a bid you better pull them out. I sent an email to BMR today about the suspected issue but now after pulling them out I am sending them a picture to show the failure. I hope they will replace it!
I limped it home and pulled out the passenger side LCA and as I suspected, the bushing was split on the front end allowing the steel sleeve to move back and forth. They have been installed for 3 months and I don't drag race.
I will post pictures after I get all cleaned up, but all of you out there with BMR LCAs if your rear end seems off a bid you better pull them out. I sent an email to BMR today about the suspected issue but now after pulling them out I am sending them a picture to show the failure. I hope they will replace it!
6/27/06, 05:59 PM
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Originally Posted by SonicBlue05
This is why I use Ingalls Engineering arms, FORGED ENDS!
6/30/06, 04:50 PM
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Just curious, what kind of grease did you use when you installed them? Normal petroleum based grease will break down polyurethane bushings. That is why they recommend a silicone based or synthetic grease. I am not sure if that has anything to do with your failure, but I just figured it would be good to know since there are a lot of us out there with those same parts.
7/1/06, 03:50 AM
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I bought a cartridge of silicone grease and a new grease gun from Summit for the reason 2005MineralGT states regarding material incompatibility. I have a BMR panhard rod with polyurethane bushings. Whats interesting is that BMR originally recommended marine grease to me. I then did some research using the Dow Corning material data sheets and a few other sources. But still, 3 months seems too quick.
7/2/06, 03:58 AM
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well I hope that this dosnt happen to me. I just invested my money into LCA's, and Panhard rod from BMR. All with Poly bushings. I did buy it with the grease that they sell with the kits. So hopefully I dont have this problem.
7/2/06, 08:37 AM
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I am going to talk to them again regarding what grease to use. As previously posted, if the marine grease that I was using is non-compatable with the poly bushing material, I better change it!
I am going to go ahead and change the grease nipples to stainless ones while I am at it. I found the little check ball in the end of the nipple let grease squirt back out after you remove the grease gun. I think there was only one that didn't "leak".
I am going to go ahead and change the grease nipples to stainless ones while I am at it. I found the little check ball in the end of the nipple let grease squirt back out after you remove the grease gun. I think there was only one that didn't "leak".
7/3/06, 11:58 AM
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BMR has a good reputation. Id just take it as a bad bushing and if they are sending you new ones then be happy. If you dont trust them ask them to take the old ones and give u a refund or maybe they be willing to completly replace them.
7/3/06, 03:57 PM
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So far so good with mine. I have a feeling this was just a freak failure. I could have been the grease, but that would mean the grease broke down the rubber pretty quick.
I would like to see the new ones if you can take a pic. I've been wondering how they are constructed and how the grease flows through them.
I would like to see the new ones if you can take a pic. I've been wondering how they are constructed and how the grease flows through them.
7/3/06, 04:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Sonic05
So far so good with mine. I have a feeling this was just a freak failure. I could have been the grease, but that would mean the grease broke down the rubber pretty quick.
I would like to see the new ones if you can take a pic. I've been wondering how they are constructed and how the grease flows through them.
I would like to see the new ones if you can take a pic. I've been wondering how they are constructed and how the grease flows through them.
7/6/06, 10:30 AM
#19
After reading this thread I decided to take my LCAs off and check the bushings. Sure enough, 3 out of the 4 bushings were completely destroyed. I guess I have to call BMR too.
7/6/06, 04:27 PM
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Uh oh, lately I've thought the rear of my car sometimes feels loose. I just had the rear of the arms off, so I know they are fine, but what about the other ends? I'm getting worried. How many more people are going to find problems?