Do MOOG (blue) "thermoplastic" bushings ever "bulge" when torqued down??

[fixizin]

Do MOOG (blue) "thermoplastic" bushings ever "bulge" when torqued down??

Just installed the most excellent Moog K7275 repl. end links on my 29mm front sway bar ('cause the OEM bushings finally disintegrated). Moog uses a beefy 7/16" bolt for the stems, vs. the 3/8" OEM, and the 4 bushings per link are made of the BLUE Moog/RAMCOA (thermoplastic? urethane?) compound.

Hat tip to Rock Auto for supplying the whole link for less than the bushings alone go for elsewhere.

Replaced the pair of sway bar bushings too (Moog K80080... blue, same stuff?)


ANYWAY... my question is, the installation sheet for the end links says to torque the nut until the bushings just barely bulge from the compression, then back off a 1/4 turn. They show a grainy photo by way of illustration, but the photo seems to show old-style neoprene bushings doing the bulging, eh wot?

I've cranked down pretty hard, gone out and driven some "slalom" S-curves, then tightened some more... still no BULGE... KEEP GOING??? Don't want to crunch the metal sleeves over the bolt. Show me the Jedi wisdom...

thanks in advance

 

[rangerbum]

I've never had any of their products bulge with the exception of the sway bar link bushings that were put in my moms explorer by Les Schuab. Those idiots used the impact and flattened them like pancakes.

 

[brinker88]

If you torqued them to spec, they shouldnt bulge TOO awfully bad.

 

[fixizin]

That's just it, there is no NUMERICAL torque spec., only visual... OK, when it stops raining, I'll keep wrenching... was that 5/8" on the bolt-head and 11/16" on the nut?... err duh other way 'round? LOVE the metric/English mix on Duh Ranger... not.

I've never had any of their products bulge with the exception of the sway bar link bushings that were put in my moms explorer by Les Schuab. Those idiots used the impact and flattened them like pancakes.

LULZ... I'm guessing that's the name of a Ford Stealership... there's just some guy's names that are destined to be car dealers... new or used...

But that's good info... at least I know they'll bulge under something less than a 30T hydraulic press.

 

[TheTwanksta]

Just installed these on my 06, heres what mine look like.

 

[Hooligan2c]

I used the same ones on my truck and got the slight bulge. I didn't use torque specs that were provided, because I have the superlift end links, but it has been holding up well.

 

[fixizin]

Twanksta, excellent pix!... but what kind of wild (white?) material are you using for the sway bar bushing??

Anyway, got my slight bulge (so to speak)... but after just 3 weeks, the cupped washer/retainers on my Moog links are already half-RUSTED! Crap, now I gotta drop 'em, wire wheel 'em, paint 'em...

 

[shane96ranger]

my slight bulge (so to speak)...

 

[swshawaii]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2791778&postcount=10