Spring shackle bushings

[Weekendcamper]

I have a 2010 Wildcat FW 27RL, does anyone know if the spring shackle bushings are plastic/neoprene or brass on FR products? I have been told most tt and fw spring bushings are plastic/neoprene and should be upgraded to brass. Can anyone shed some light on this issue?

Thanks

[lindy]

I don't have the leaf spring suspension but the issue is that most factory shackle bolts do not have grease fittings in them so the bolt and bushing stay dry and eventually wear each other out by movement. I know a lot of owners upgrade to what's called a wet bolt system that allows them to grease the shackle bolts and bushing preventing wear and failure of the shackles.

[Weekendcamper]

Thanks! I appreciate the feedback

[VinceU]

Originally Posted by Weekendcamper

Thanks! I appreciate the feedback

I suspect the bushings are a high density, self lubricating polymer. IE expensive plastic but can handle much more psi than "plastic or neoprene". They don't rust or seize. Even greased fittings can rust and freeze if conditions aren't right.

[MillerTime]

I have always seen the poly bushings, and recently went through the susp. On a equipment trailer that the shackles and bolts were grooved pretty bad. The bushings were wore through on about half and getting thin on the rest. If I remember correctly they were 2-4 of them for a buck. Bolts are about $5 each.

I have only seen greasable equalizer bolts and really see no need to have any if them greasable. I replaced everything on susp except springs on double axle 10k trailer for about $130-150. Not to bad for a trailer that had been hauling dealer trades for 10+ years and other junk for about the same.

[Weekendcamper]

Thanks again for the good information makes the decision process much easier

[jonnys_walkers]

When I replaced my suspension with an Eqa-Flex suspension I found nylon bushings. They were flattened with less than 500 miles on them. This was caused just from sitting in the dealers lot.
I like the greaseable bushings, but that is my preference.

[johnleann]

Just changed mine out tonight on our 2010 Wildwood. They were white plastic but I changed them to the Mobile Outfitters grey polymer bushings. They are supposed to be self lubricating but I used lots of spray silicone on the parts when reinstalling them. The bolts were rusty some, cleaned them with sand paper and steelwool. Some of the bushings that I removed were not in good shape. Caught it just in time.