M151A2 suspension bushings - are NOS ok or not?

[mike_v]

Although my '74 MUTT is in good shape, the rubber in the suspension bushings is cracked - both front and rear.

I am hesitant to buy NOS (new, old stock - surplus) bushings because of how old the "new" rubber is in the bushing kits offered on eBay and some jeep parts sites.

Anyone go thru the labor, install NOS, then soon afterwards, the "new" rubber fell apart (torn, cracked, got mushy, etc...)?

Are there new production suspension bushings out there?

Because of the age of a lot of these NOS (surplus) parts like rubber brake hoses, wheel cylinders, certain gaskets (like a carb diaphragm), I think I need to find "new production" instead of NOS.

What is the consensus?

[Fil Bonica]

NOS is the only thing I have used or will use.
Once done you should be done.
You cant get any better that that.
Usually can find sets on ebay reasonably.
If you cant let me know.


Fil Bonica

[rickf]

Are the bushings worn or just cracked at the outer edges that stick out? They are not fun to change so if they are tight then I might buy a set of NOS ones to have on hand but I wouldn't change them just for the hell of it.

[mike_v]

Just cracked on the outer edges Rick.

I haven't done a close up inspection to see if the insert is torn from the bushing and the jeep feels tight for the few test miles I have driven it.

I did read your comment from before that bushing change-out is a bear of a job...

If you guys think NOS bushing kits are ok, I'll buy a complete set to change them out later on.

My MO is when I get a "new" vehicle, I go thru it mechanically and buy spare parts.

[rickf]

The NOS bushing don't go bad on the shelf, it is ozone and use that kills them and the M151's never got enough use to do it. One thing you will want to try to find and probably will not is rear shocks. They were unobtanium for the longest time and then all of sudden there were a ton of them and just as fast they were gone again. Someone posted not long ago from England, Ken I think it was,about a guy that found a compatible shock from Monroe that was used on Nissan? Pickup. I asked about extended length since that is a very important measurement but never heard back. I used to have a Monroe chart with all the specs but I don't know where it is now.

[Hambone]

It's not toooo bad if you have a press and an extra hand, push out the inner bushing and chisel out the rubber, take a hacksaw blade, cut through the outer bushing careful not to cut into the a-arm, knock the bushing out with chisel. If you don't have the extra hand, just drill out the rubber and knock the inner bushing out, cut through the outer bushing, you can press them back in with long bolt/all thread and a couple sockets. Change the bolts, they are usually worn also.

[muttguru]

... One thing you will want to try to find and probably will not is rear shocks. They were unobtanium for the longest time and then all of sudden there were a ton of them and just as fast they were gone again. Someone posted not long ago from England, Ken I think it was,about a guy that found a compatible shock from Monroe that was used on Nissan? Pickup. I asked about extended length since that is a very important measurement but never heard back. I used to have a Monroe chart with all the specs but I don't know where it is now.

Hi Rick......

Antony in Greece was the owner who told me about the rear shocks. He said the ones he installed on his A2 were Monroe D8068 which he said were a good fit. You reminded me about the "extended" maximum length of the shocks and I sent him the details of the maximum/minimum length of my original A2 rear shocks so that he could compare with the ones he had installed. He said he would get back to me but maybe he has to take off one of his rear shocks to get the measurements? He hasn't yet responded but I'll let you know when he does.

Meanwhile...if anyone else here has a spec chart for Monroe shocks, can you let us know what the min/max length of Monroe D8068 is/are?

thanks...
Ken

[rickf]

Ken, he really only needs to take off the bottom since the top bolt is so hard to get to on them. He should be able to get pretty close measurements from the bottom mount to the top bolt without taking the top off.

[muttguru]

Ken, he really only needs to take off the bottom since the top bolt is so hard to get to on them. He should be able to get pretty close measurements from the bottom mount to the top bold without taking the top off.

Yes Rick....but if he struggles to remove that top bolt.... I can then fix him up with a tube of copper grease as a "thank you".
Ken

[Mr. Recovery]

Found this with internet search.

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/monroe/7436067

[Mr. Recovery]

This is a cross reference to KYB shock. The Monroe number D8068 doesn't come up on any other search.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/kyb-345056

[mike_v]

Dang, some more "hard to get" parts to consider (rear shocks)

I think I have new springs on this MUTT, tried the "bounce test" on all four corners (too stiff to tell and probably doesn't work on jeeps), rides pretty good for the two short test drives I've done and have NOT dropped the lower shock mount to do the "push and pull" test we used to do on hydraulic shocks and struts...

Hambone - your method is exactly the procedure I used to replace a-arm bushings on the early VW Rabbits. I failed to tell you, Rick and our "buddy" SeaBee62 that I specialize in VW and Audi - very experienced with the air-cooled bugs, ghias, vans, and owned one of the first 1983 Rabbit GTi sold in Chicago... loved that car... , and sniff, sniff... when I sold it...

[Cobra5]

Ok I took Mr Recovery's search results for the shocks that crossed from the Monroe D8068 to the KYB 345056. It took a little searching but this link has the dimensions of the KYB shock. Not sure if this is enough info to make a decision as to if these will fit an A-2.

https://www.shocksurplus.com/products/k ... cks-345056

[Fil Bonica]

Have original NOS A2 shocks.
PM me for price and availibility.

Fil Bonica

[Mr. Recovery]

Ok I took Mr Recovery's search results for the shocks that crossed from the Monroe D8068 to the KYB 345056. It took a little searching but this link has the dimensions of the KYB shock. Not sure if this is enough info to make a decision as to if these will fit an A-2.

https://www.shocksurplus.com/products/k ... cks-345056

Well going through my old photos I'll have to throw some coal on the fire! the numbers we are looking at match the rear 151's and the A-1's. The A-2 shocks appear to be somewhat longer and don't have a hood on the top half.

A-1 shocks.





A-2 shock

.