Brass shackle bushings?

I bought a set of Omix Ada HD greasable shackles for my 1975 Cj5. I was surprised to see brass bushings on the bolts when I opened the package. The bolts are much larger than stock, so I don't think any rubber bushings will work. I have no experience with brass bushings and was hoping to get some opinions on them vs rubber and poly. They seem very solid and good quality, which is weird being Omix, but I just worry about the brass deforming and having no "bounce back" like the rubber ones do. Not really concern about the ride, I mean it can't really get any worse, right?

 

I also thought they did a good job on that shackle set......Your right the OD of the Brass bushing replaces the space where the rubber would have been......I like the fact that they are HD greasable and you can pre-load the shackle sides with the threaded end plates , castle nut and cotter pin........Keep plenty of grease in them.
I have a set here but never installed them as I am going to a YJ type Spring. Let us know how you like them!

 

i have them,just got all 4 replaced under warranty the new bushings are better designed than the older ones. keep em greased

 

How do they compare to rubber?

 

a little stiffer if there is such a thing...the trade off is better flex due to the friction reduction on the bolt.

 

Lineally the shackles will move more freely due to lower friction. Better flex? That can be argued as the rubber or poly bushing will allow torsional movement the bronze/brass bushing can't. What this means is the rubber/poly bushing will allow mor torsional twist to the springs and the shackle giving better articulation of the axles.
The poly/rubber bushings will ride slightly better due to te cushioning effect and as they wear will stay quieter longer than bronze/brass bushings. That's why manufacturers moved away from them a very long time ago except in very heavy duty applications. Plus the maintenance aspect. Poly bushings are very easy to change. Bronze, not as easy.

 

Thanks for all the responses. Based on what has been said here and other research, I'm going to return the HD shackles and opt to use rubber or poly bushings. I like the idea of heavy duty, but not at the expense of them wearing out quickly and having to battle them out of the spring eye and mount when it's time to replace.

 

I don't think the factory rubber bushings have much give side to side they have a tiny bit of rubber between the two pieces of steel. My results are better movement at the bolt and less wear yes the movement is linear but no binding. All I know is I replace the rubber at the eye end about every year and a half the bronze ones only once in five. No battle to replace, just as easy if not more than the factory ones.

 

Re the factory rubber bushings, they are called "silent block bearing" or "silent block bushing." This implies that their main positive attribute was they were ... silent. Whether that means no squeaks or no knocking/banging from the joint I do not know. I would guess the latter.

 

As far as durability goes, I would think the brass bushings would develop slop in them. I'm picturing the suspension flexing and the bushing compressing just a little bit each time. The rubber bushings will just bounce back to original shape, but the brass would shrink every time it is compressed.

 

Brass / Bronze or any of these alloys have been doing just that type of job in heavy equipment , machinery , trucks , cars and a host of other items for decades........I doubt there is hardly a vehicle on the road today that does not rely on a bushing to keep a shaft alive..............What do they all have in Common? Lubrication / Grease!.

I think that HD shackle mentioned above is well conceived by having the end plates threaded so that a degree of pre-load can be put on the shackle keeping it in the proper alignment. Will your Jeep suffer some articulation from having a firm , tight shackle?...........Yes it will. Will your handling , steering and braking be more positive with a firm , tight shackle?Yes it will.

How many Jeeps have we all seen that the shackles at rest already lean 10-15 degrees? Even a week after replacing the bushings! No question the memory Polyurethane lubricated bushings are a step up in the right direction.....But only if there kept "Tight" and lubricated in there application............

Not trying to sell these shackles even though they have HD 11/16" shaft & drilled for Lube , but I do believe they have some Merit. If I still had 1.750" springs in my Jeep I would already have them on there.

 

Like I said I got around five years out of the bronze ones only about two out of the rubber ones the slop I got was abuse/neglect had I greased em after the quicksand they would be still in service. Omix replaced em for free just under the five year limit. sells em to me

 

where can i get a set of just the bronze bushings? the set i bought didn't come with those as they might still be in the frame and springs but they are long gone.

 

Oddfire........Maybe call or find a Omix / rugged ridge dealer or catalog............the part # for the shackle set is: 18270.16 ...........not that I'm promoting there products but this part in general I think is pretty good for the narrow 1.750" wide springs.

 

thanks tarry, when i was looking at the picture you posted i seen where mine was missing some parts.

 

Fwiw the bushings aren't available from omix they don't sell em separate the shackles carry a five year warranty they replaced mine for free after I ruined one trying to remove it.