Torque rod bushings

Topic: Torque rod bushings (Read 2663 times) previous topic - next topic

Torque rod bushings

August 19, 2016, 04:29:12 pm

Started removing torque rods to check bushings,well worn and in need of replacement.Checked prices and went with
Foretravel parts.My coach has 5 rods at 4 per rod and price was under $100.You need a 1 1/2 inch socket and wrench and a good
impact.Will get parts next week in meantime will be repainting rods.

Re: Torque rod bushings

Reply #1 – August 19, 2016, 05:24:42 pm

Quote from: John44 – August 19, 2016, 04:29:12 pm

Started removing torque rods to check bushings,well worn and in need of replacement.Checked prices and went with
Foretravel parts.My coach has 5 rods at 4 per rod and price was under $100.You need a 1 1/2 inch socket and wrench and a good
impact.Will get parts next week in meantime will be repainting rods.

Not sure which exact parts you are replacing?

What got you to check?

Mike grimes when I asked him said he had not sold a lot of suspension parts.

Re: Torque rod bushings

Reply #2 – August 19, 2016, 06:28:39 pm

In case anyone else is (like me) wondering what a "torque rod" is, here is a thread that clears up the mystery:

Trailing Arm Service (aka: Torque Tubes)

Re: Torque rod bushings

Reply #3 – August 19, 2016, 06:38:06 pm

Quote from: John44 – August 19, 2016, 04:29:12 pm

Started removing torque rods to check bushings,well worn and in need of replacement.

What is the mileage on your coach? This has not been a commonly discussed subject on the Forum. Thanks for bringing it up!

Knowledge Is Power!

Re: Torque rod bushings

Reply #4 – August 19, 2016, 06:42:28 pm

217k ,I would say the rubber is cracked/hard from time but wallowed out from the mileage.

Re: Torque rod bushings

Reply #5 – August 19, 2016, 06:47:19 pm

Excuse me, but is this "torque rod" deal just on the 40 footers, or is it something I need to be concerned with?

Re: Torque rod bushings

Reply #6 – August 19, 2016, 06:51:39 pm

Quote from: mike leary – August 19, 2016, 06:47:19 pm

...is it something I need to be concerned with?

No. If you'll read through the thread I linked above, you'll see why.

Re: Torque rod bushings

Reply #7 – August 19, 2016, 07:32:17 pm

@John44,

Bob asked (above) what prompted you to check the bushings. Was it a steering/tracking problem? Were you able to twist the rods, by hand or with a pipe wrench, as described by Kenhat in the thread I linked above?

After disassembly, did you find any wear on the other parts, such as the sleeve or the bolt at the end of each rod? It looks like the sleeve rotates around the bolt as the rod moves. I would imagine this bolt starts out with some grease on it, but after 200K miles how much is left?

Great. One more thing to add to my "Take A Look At It When I Get A ROUND TUIT" list.

Re: Torque rod bushings

Reply #8 – August 19, 2016, 08:12:18 pm

I think very few people actually wear the bushings out. But good to know they are inexpensive to replace!

Re: Torque rod bushings

Reply #9 – August 19, 2016, 08:35:36 pm

I remember asking at the unihome introduction in October 1987 about the bushing setup.

I remember Triana handing me a pinkish/red polyurethane bushing and end washers and a bolt.

I thought the bolt had a zirc fitting on it?

No center sleeve that I remember.

Units 4528 and up were changed from whatever was before.

May have had multiple changes before and after?

Re: Torque rod bushings

Reply #10 – August 19, 2016, 09:08:36 pm

Only have one apart so far,the nuts and bolts are reusable,the sleeve I cleaned up on the wire wheel.On my worst one I had a
few thousanths play when I wiggled it by hand.Also where the round end of the rod made contact with the bracket you could
see rust so I knew it was moving and metal on metal was rubbing.The nut and bolt is the same style as the shocks so the nut is
boo-koo tight til the last fine thread.

Re: Torque rod bushings

Reply #11 – August 19, 2016, 09:26:24 pm

I would tend to not reuse the nut.

Re: Torque rod bushings

Reply #12 – August 19, 2016, 09:58:50 pm

Quote from: John44 – August 19, 2016, 04:29:12 pm

My coach has 5 rods at 4 per rod and price was under $100.

So you are just doing one end of the coach? I just crawled under the front of ours, and there are 5 rods there, plus (I assume, but I didn't look) another 5 at the rear end, so 10 rods total. 4 bushings per rod = 40 bushings ($200?) to redo both front and rear.

I think I'll wait on that project until I see or feel some sign of trouble or wear in those components. So far, I've never had any complaints about the steering, tracking, handling, or ride on our coach.

Re: Torque rod bushings

Reply #13 – August 20, 2016, 11:12:03 am

Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie – August 19, 2016, 09:58:50 pm

4 bushings per rod

It must be 1 bushing set (sold in pairs) per rod?
If you google "Hutch RBT201" the first hit shows one bushing for $7.59; about half the price that Ken reported.
RBT201 HUTCH TORQ ROD BUSHING - Best Deal Springs Inc.
Now in this post Trailing Arm Service (aka: Torque Tubes) Caflashbob posted a Foretravel parts diagram that shows to flanged bushings per end. So FT changed the bushing design at some point. If you look at the second page which lists the parts in a table the right hand column shows "start unit"; which we refer to as build number. When I was at Country Coach they tracked changes the same way - not by model year like we think.

Re: Torque rod bushings

Reply #14 – August 20, 2016, 11:24:58 am

Quote from: JohnFitz – August 20, 2016, 11:12:03 am

Caflashbob posted a Foretravel parts diagram that shows two flanged bushings per end.

I assume that is what is fitted to the rods in our coach. I can see what looks like a rubber "flange" at each end of the tubular rod end. The rubber "flange" appears to provide a separator between the rod end and the mounting bracket. It looks like my rods would have the exact setup shown in Bob's diagram. But this is just supposition, since I've never had one apart.

Re: Torque rod bushings

Reply #15 – August 20, 2016, 12:07:30 pm

The parts from Foretravel are the 2 part bushings,they are beefier on the sides,all the ones I looked at on line were one piece.
I think the 2 part ones will be easier to install then the one piece.

Re: Torque rod bushings

Reply #16 – August 20, 2016, 12:10:40 pm

Chuck,
The unit start for the flange bearings is 4528, which is after your coach. So I would assume you have the Hutch RBT201 bushing.
But notice the arm itself dates back to 3575, so I would think you could use either since the arms (and fasteners for that matter) didn't change.
I too see on my 1991 (3861) the same washers between the arms and mounts but that might be just another part used with a RBT201.
I checked my torque rods and they seem pretty tight- that washer doesn't seem to let them move much.

Re: Torque rod bushings

Reply #17 – August 20, 2016, 01:25:51 pm

My coach did not have the washers.

Re: Torque rod bushings

Reply #18 – August 20, 2016, 05:23:16 pm

Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie – August 20, 2016, 11:24:58 am

I assume that is what is fitted to the rods in our coach. I can see what looks like a rubber "flange" at each end of the tubular rod end. The rubber "flange" appears to provide a separator between the rod end and the mounting bracket. It looks like my rods would have the exact setup shown in Bob's diagram. But this is just supposition, since I've never had one apart.

Well, I was totally wrong in what I assumed. I went out and took a closer look this morning. The black thing at each end of the tubular rod end, that I thought was part of the bushing, is actually just a flat washer or spacer. It is made of plastic of some kind - not metal. I can freely rotate this washer on several of the rod ends. SO, it appears John(Fitz) is correct, and the OEM bushings in my torque rods are in fact a single piece, like the Hutch RBT201 linked above. See photos:

Re: Torque rod bushings

Reply #19 – August 20, 2016, 05:49:51 pm

Chuck,what I have in mine is exactly what those diagrams show,where you have the washer I have the end of the bushing.Thats
why I did not order the bushings on line as you need something on the end.Maybe you can get the diagram of your system
from foretravel.I did look at the specs on the one piece on line and they did not jive with the spacer piece.

Re: Torque rod bushings

Reply #20 – August 20, 2016, 06:28:45 pm

According to the PDF picture I posted the bushing has what appears to be the washer as part of its bushing

Re: Torque rod bushings

Reply #21 – August 22, 2016, 09:57:45 am

Update on bushings,got the 3 lower rear rods off,only one had play I could check while grabbing rod (a few thousanths play).
On all 3 the rubber bushings were well worn and were wallowed out.

In 10k miles of trips I did not notice any vibration or problem,will find out when I get all bushings in if coach rides any better.

Re: Torque rod bushings

Reply #22 – August 30, 2016, 08:59:25 pm

Update on bushings,tried installing the torque rod from the top of the differential to the frame.Got one bolt in but the other side
is about a half inch short.All 3 rods are the same length and part number.I marked the rods to put the same one back in same
spot.

Will try and jack one side of rear axle up tomorrow and see what happens,also will check with Foretravel tech services.Maybe
will raise/lower one side of coach to get it to line up.Any ideas.

Re: Torque rod bushings

Reply #23 – August 30, 2016, 09:26:23 pm

Was the rod in a bind when you removed it, or did the bolts come out easily? It sounds like something might have shifted slightly when you removed the rod. I have one of those cheap Harbor Freight hydraulic ram kits with the various cylinders that can be used to push or move stuff. Something like that would be very handy in your situation where you need to "adjust" the position of parts to get bolt holes to line up.

Portable Hydraulic Body Puller Kit

Re: Torque rod bushings

Reply #24 – August 30, 2016, 09:40:51 pm

I may have figured out the problem,coach is in driveway and one side is lower than the other,so I think that is why its in a bind.
Will go at it in morning.Thanks

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