Bronze Spring Eye Bushing Life

[Scott'n'Wendy]

I installed my Never Fails and was able to keep the thicker straps....Just installed a small screw in the zerk hole of the new greasable bolts.

Looking forward to your feedback on these whenever a future check of your bushings takes place.
I've heard mixed reviews. Specifically the spring eye positions.

 

[18CrewDually]

I saw the same results on our last 5er. Bronze bushings wore right through.
On our new 5er when it comes time for replacement, If I don't go with Morryde Independent, I'm going with Roadmaster Comfort Ride Slipper Spring Systems. It eliminates alot of the flip flop movement since it gets rid of the entire center equalizer decreasing wear. Plenty of install videos on the YouTube to see how easy of an install it is. The large part gets fastened to the existing hanger plus gets bolted on the ends to the frame. The center section has rollers that aloow the springs to independently slide.

Edit: to add, they have kits available that will include shocks as well. I'd definitely go the extra bucks and have shocks too.

 

[18CrewDually]

This guy does alot of the installs. He talks about it in this video and says they recommend sticking with the synthetic bushings for longer life.

 

[Hoopy Frood]

I saw the same results on our last 5er. Bronze bushings wore right through.
On our new 5er when it comes time for replacement, If I don't go with Morryde Independent, I'm going with Roadmaster Comfort Ride Slipper Spring Systems. It eliminates alot of the flip flop movement since it gets rid of the entire center equalizer decreasing wear. Plenty of install videos on the YouTube to see how easy of an install it is. The large part gets fastened to the existing hanger plus gets bolted on the ends to the frame. The center section has rollers that aloow the springs to independently slide.

Edit: to add, they have kits available that will include shocks as well. I'd definitely go the extra bucks and have shocks too.

View attachment 1940220

Depending on who you buy from, they include the shocks. A dealer I spoke to said they won't warranty the parts if you don't install the shocks.

 

[18CrewDually]

Depending on who you buy from, they include the shocks. A dealer I spoke to said they won't warranty the parts if you don't install the shocks.

Correct. Different kits available depending on your budget. The shocks are not free.

 

[huntindog]

Looking forward to your feedback on these whenever a future check of your bushings takes place.
I've heard mixed reviews. Specifically the spring eye positions.

I have already done a long term test. I installed them on my previous coach, a 2010 Palomino Sabre.
I put over 50,000 miles on them before selling it in 2020.
I happened to run into is new owner recently and he was thrilled with it. Said the only thing he had to do on it was new batteries.

I will not be taking it apart just to inspect them. That would defeat the reason I went with them again

 

[ajg617]

Looking forward to your feedback on these whenever a future check of your bushings takes place.
I've heard mixed reviews. Specifically the spring eye positions.

I thought these bushings (nylon???) were no longer available? Same as neverfails or not?

 

[Chaps2018]

Funny this thread popped up today--just finished a 4k mile trip to the UP.

I greased the wet bolts just before leaving and regressed them yesterday. Was shocked how much dirty grease came out of most lube points.

I have been diligent about the 3k mi interval for the 70k miles I have on the trailer. This is my 2nd set of wet bolts/equalizer.

In the back of my mind I was wondering if all that "dirty grease" was bronze bushings in another form.

While I am not quite ready to inspect them, I will change back to never fail if I can get all the grease out of everything.

 

[ajg617]

Funny this thread popped up today--just finished a 4k mile trip to the UP.

In the back of my mind I was wondering if all that "dirty grease" was bronze bushings in another form.

That's what came out of mine - dirty grease on the second time I greased which I assumed was from the dust of travel. Unfortunately, no. You can see the picture of my third set (so to speak) in post #16 of this thread. Since I've been using Lucas Red all along, the only time I never had dirty (or any) grease come out was first time after delivery - no grease at all when built apparently. Also, big clue for me was when the zerks took grease easily and it flowed out opposite end red immediately, I knew I was in trouble. Also key clue were the shiny speckles on the surface grease covering the equalizers. On my fourth set of bushings now and only miles are from Elkhart to home (950ish) and 76 miles for two trips to the dealer for repairs. I'll grease them again when I get the trailer back from the shop and see what comes out.

 

[Scott'n'Wendy]

I thought these bushings (nylon???) were no longer available? Same as neverfails or not?

They are not available as a new part anymore. Might find some NOS. To tell you the truth, Huntindog is the only 5 star positive review I've heard. But if I come across some, I might buy a set anyway.

 

[TimtheToolMan]

They are not available as a new part anymore. Might find some NOS. To tell you the truth, Huntindog is the only 5 star positive review I've heard. But if I come across some, I might buy a set anyway.

Recently purchased and installed these from ebay and as far as I can tell, they are the only true NeverFail available anywhere (some fake adds that have no parts out there). Yes, they work fine with thick shackles. I am skeptical that the Never-Fail kits with thin shackles are legit.

As of today, about $150 with shipping.

The reliable reviews re: NeverFail performance are hard to find but they are out there.

Some users with use NeverFail in the spring end and bronze in other "easier to last" areas to save money and allow one kit to be used between multiple servicings.

Also, there is no need to use the more expensive greaseable bolts with the NeverFail. Trailer shop did work so I can't provide good place to purchase lower cost/good quality shackles and bolts.

 

[Calbar]

@TimtheToolMan are you talking about both spring ends or just the fixed end at the hangers?

Thanks,
Rob

 

[ajg617]

@TimtheToolMan are you talking about both spring ends or just the fixed end at the hangers?

Thanks,
Rob

@TimtheToolMan same question. Assuming bronze on the equalizers and neverfails at spring ends as @Calbar asked though I have seen a video where the bronze is left in the front spring eyes?

 

[TimtheToolMan]

@TimtheToolMan same question. Assuming bronze on the equalizers and neverfails at spring ends as @Calbar asked though I have seen a video where the bronze is left in the front spring eyes?

Edited: I do not know. Likely NeverFail (kit has 14) in spring ends ( 8 ) and equalizers would get the bronze ( 6 ). That would mean that there are only four for the next service, so do they buy two kits, which would be good for three+ servicings?

 

[ajg617]

Edited: I do not know. Likely NeverFail (kit has 14) in spring ends ( 8 ) and equalizers would get the bronze ( 6 ). That would mean that there are only four for the next service, so do they buy two kits, which would be good for three+ servicings?

Did you put them in new springs or replace what was left of the bronze bushings? Curious about fitment since my spring eyes were quite enlarged so that new replacement bronze bushings simply fell out if I turned the spring over.

 

[TimtheToolMan]

Did you put them in new springs or replace what was left of the bronze bushings? Curious about fitment since my spring eyes were quite enlarged so that new replacement bronze bushings simply fell out if I turned the spring over.

Used original springs (28,000 miles) and had all original MORryde CRE3000, which were greased every 6000 miles. Good idea to change shackles, even if they look pretty good, to support bolt better--should help a little with bushing wear. If they have seen few miles, one could measure the bores to see if there is measurable wear and consider re-using.

I will be picking up camper today and hope to see the old parts. I own 24' Outdoors RV 8,200 GVWR, which has shocks. I was told that one or more? bushings had cracks/split? and bushings were worn. Semi-trailer shop always changes shackles.

It is hard to believe that heavier RVs do not have larger/longer bolts and thicker than current heavy-duty shackles with larger machined rings (previously discussed) on springs, than a small camper or a totally different design. Added: There are a number of different designs out there than I realized but it likely is a cost issue, for at least OEM.

Added: Since I did not do the work, I did not have a chance to inspect and measure spring rings for roundness, taper and diameter (some brands are better than others). Yesterday, I read about someone using epoxy to help support bushing in springs, but no information on results--but I did not dig more.

 

[TimtheToolMan]

If anyone ever finds out why NeverFail are no longer made and Lippert stopped selling them, I would really like to know. Someone with a good contact at Lippert may be able to find out. I did hear one general statement that they were no better, but the evidence generally does not support this. I'm sure cost is more than bronze and especially more the plastic bushings. It could be that some people grease them, and this reduces life (one person greased and still had good life)...or originally, they had lifetime warranty which would be too costly to support...or someone had a great cost reduction and switched to awful plastic...I believe that Lippert bought out the original designer/manufacturer.

The original designer likely ordered custom run of standard material composite tube and then cut it to length, but ID and OD may or may not have been a special order.

Added: Interesting old comment from etrailer on NeverFail saying that they last twice as long as bronze but they also are only referring to the standard shackle design and not heavy duty. There could have been more people thinking regular shackles are required with NeverFail and I know that they were sold that way. This does not work. Could bad information have killed NeverFail?

 

[TimtheToolMan]

Update after I heard more about actual condition of old shackle bushings after 28k miles.

The trailer shop now says that the bushings were worn through, and bolts contacted spring eyes. They "were removed with an impact and were totally destroyed with pieces on the floor". The new NeverFail took some effort to install (I assume that that meant snug fit, at least in some areas of spring eye).

I ask myself, will this affect how well any bushing type now are supported and I also wonder what the bore shape looks like on the Dexter springs, especially after this use? Unless there is a major problem, it should take many years to find out if they last longer than stock MORryde CRE3000 heavy duty shackle kit, because I average 4-6k miles per year.

 

[Shelby748]

24K trailer miles. First set of bushings failed (disappeared) at 15K miles. Second set disintegrated at 5K (pic below is all that was left of 14 - including the equalizer bushings - greased by dealer, greased by me twice, greased by factory). Fourth set now and only a trip from Elkhart to NH. Guess we'll see on this set since everything below the frame was replaced. This whole business of checking the bushings by seeing if they take grease is so bogus - and that's what dealer and factory did. This pic was less than 1K after factory 'inspected' bushings last April.

View attachment 1109594

i put CRE3000 suspension on my Imagine 3100 RD two years ago with gtease bolts an bronze bushings. They were greased twice each season after about 5000 miles each time. i intend on changing out the bushings this week. When i put the CRE3000 on i had help in a shop. Am going the change by myself in the driveway and remember the spring slipping out of the bracket. Any thoughts on how to keep the spring in the bracket when i replace the bushings?

 

[Flyinfish]

I went through all the comments on this thread and a few things come to mind:
•Are GD RV owners the only ones having these suspension problems? •Are other brand owners having the same issues?
•This suspension system is used on countless other trailer applications…same problems?
•Do people just not know or care?
I have this same suspension on a smaller tandem axle utility trailer I built many years ago. I’ve replaced the nylon bushings 3 times. It has nowhere near the mileage of my GD. Is it the mileage? The constant weight? I’m leaning hard on the Roadmaster slipper spring adapter kit.