The suspension of your RV or trailer is a complex system, and keeping it in good condition goes a long way towards safety and top performance. One of the suspension’s most important components is the trailing arm, which ensures that the vehicle’s body pivots in alignment with the suspension. The trailing arm is held together by pins and bushings, pieces of hardware as vital as they are small.
As part of our preventative maintenance services, Vancouver Axle & Frame pays special attention to the trailing arm and all of its hardware. Since 1959, we have successfully serviced and repaired the suspensions of RVs, trailers, and a variety of other vehicles. Our long tradition of excellence and proven reliability makes VanAxle the logical choice to get your vehicle equipped with the best hardware and ready to hit the open road.
How Bushings Work Best
Bushings link together the axle and the body pivot point to ensure an aligned and effective suspension. Holding the trailing arm to the chassis of your RV or trailer, bushings help to smooth and straighten a suspension’s movement.
Highways are rife with opportunities for your vehicle to bump and shake, but bushings absorb these impacts, protecting both your vehicle and eardrums. While they can last for some time, bushings eventually do wear out for a number of reasons, including:
Outdated Bushing Material:
Unfortunately, it’s all too common for bushings to me made of inadequate materials like rubber or plastic, which crack and harden over time. As an upgrade, VanAxle offers bronze and copper bushings.
Leakages:
Bushings do not react well to constant moisture. If your vehicle is leaking coolant or gas onto the bushings, their deterioration will be accelerated.
Ungreased Pins and Equalizers:
Complementary pieces to bushings, pins and equalizers are crucial components to trailing arm suspension. Unlike with bushings, it’s important to keep pins and equalizers well-greased.
Warning Signs of Bad Bushings
Daily wear and tear will cause bushings to break down and ultimately fail over time, degrading your suspension and disrupting your travels. Maintaining and replacing bushings before they become too worn will save your RV or trailer from future repairs and wasted money. To know when it’s time to service your vehicle’s trailing arm bushings, look out for these simple warning signs:
Loose Steering:
Part of the suspension’s job is to evenly distribute weight as the vehicle turns. Worn trailing arm bushings can cause a weight imbalance, resulting in a “loose” feeling when steering.
Excessive Vibration:
Bushings are like pillows for your vehicle’s suspension. When fresh, they offer adequate cushioning to the various metallic joints and pieces, ensuring that they operate smoothly and quietly. Because bushings harden as they wear out, noises are no longer muffled, making for a loud and distracting drive.
Tire Wear:
When trailing arm bushings aren’t operating at full capacity, it’s easy for your vehicle’s suspension to become misaligned, causing an imbalance in weight. This extra weight puts more pressure on tires, creating heat from friction. Left unaddressed, it’s common for tires to wear down or even blow out after time.
Choose Professional Assistance
An RV or trailer is a major investment, and VanAxle is committed to helping you protect it. We understand that maintaining your vehicle’s trailing arm bushings takes time and energy, which is why we’re here to help. See why so many vehicle owners partner with us for all types of maintenance and repair.
Contact us to book your preventative maintenance appointment today >