What causes bushings to wear like this

[RoadEyePie]

My RV was built Feb. 2019. It's 2 years old. What could cause the bushings to wear like this in 2 years.

[bhammond1980]

I design and build machines for a living. If you could send better pictures and describe the use I will take a stab at it.

[wingnut60]

Those are the spring shackle bushings on his trailer.

[jacwjames]

This almost looks like a broke weld on a shaft. What is this part from.

[TXiceman]

If that is the spring hangers or shackles, the problem is lack of proper design. They should have greaseable bolts or wet bolts.

Ken

[RoadEyePie]

Sorry, That is my Equaflex equalizer. The bushing did have a wet bolt, which I greased last Dec. 2019 before drive from VA to AZ and back. It is the bolt / bushing at the top of the equalizer that attaches to the hanger bracket.

[bhammond1980]

Originally Posted by RoadEyePie

Attachment 319991

My RV was built Feb. 2019. It's 2 years old. What could cause the bushings to wear like this in 2 years.

Looks like the bushing is bronze. Bronze is a great bushing material. Assuming a correct design failures can happen from a few possible causes.
1. Overloading, the bronze bushing fails before the hardened shaft.
2. Lack of lubrication, will wear the load zone prematurely.
3. Excessive dirt, if the fit between the pin and bushing allow sand or dirt in the bearing will embed the grit and wear the shaft and bushing.
4. Wrong finish on the pivot pin, too rough and it wears the bushing. Too smooth, no place for grease.
5. Misalignment, this can change the load on the bushing significantly.
Hope this helps. Feel free to ask anything else.

[Garyp4951]

Looks like your getting some side flex in the spring hanger, or they are not lined up exactly. The MorRyde Xfactor brace would help this situation, but the best thing for FW's like yours is the MorRyde IS suspension.

[JDT]

Are you at MORRyde having the IS installed? Hard to tell from the background in your picture but it does remind me of when we were there a few years ago having it installed on our previous fifth wheel.

[RoadEyePie]

Originally Posted by JDT

Are you at MORRyde having the IS installed? Hard to tell from the background in your picture but it does remind me of when we were there a few years ago having it installed on our previous fifth wheel.

No, RV is in the local truck shop. Was having heavier shackles put on, and bearings packed. They found the worn bushing.

[RoadEyePie]

Originally Posted by JDT

Are you at MORRyde having the IS installed? Hard to tell from the background in your picture but it does remind me of when we were there a few years ago having it installed on our previous fifth wheel.

No, RV is in the local truck shop. Was having heavier shackles put on, and bearings packed. They found the worn bushing I do have an appointment with MorRyde in July.

[Tightwadted]

Question- food for thought; that looks like the outboard side of the equalizer, is the inboard side worn as well? Do you have x factor installed? what is the condition of the bushings in the spring eye/shackle positions? Is this the only bushing showing this wear pattern in the whole setup? just some points to ponder to isolate the problem

[hamm2018]

Originally Posted by RoadEyePie

Sorry, That is my Equaflex equalizer. The bushing did have a wet bolt, which I greased last Dec. 2019 before drive from VA to AZ and back. It is the bolt / bushing at the top of the equalizer that attaches to the hanger bracket.


Attachment 319998

Taking a guess but with the wet bolt kit installed was the bolt installed at the correct position? During the install, with the wet bolt installed at the correct position did the installer make sure the bolt did not turn and go into the wrong position?
If I remember the wet bolt needs to be installed at a specific position, I think 3 or 9 o'clock position, for it to allow the grease to come out without any resistance.
(See note on page 4)

https://www.morryde.com/wp-content/u...structions.pdf

[RoadEyePie]

Originally Posted by Tightwadted

Question- food for thought; that looks like the outboard side of the equalizer, is the inboard side worn as well? Do you have x factor installed? what is the condition of the bushings in the spring eye/shackle positions? Is this the only bushing showing this wear pattern in the whole setup? just some points to ponder to isolate the problem

Not real sure because RV is at the shop and only have phone conversations and some pictures to understand where the wearing is located. I believe the wear is only on the driver side and yes the rear spring at the fixed hanger bracket was worn as well. Do not have x factor. Do have an appointment for MorRyde IS installation in July.