Originally posted by 120D4D
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It's an issue for all struts.
All of the dynamic load in the IFS ends up cycling through the bottom strut bush, and we're simply asking the bush materials to cope with Forces beyond their elastic limits.
I've seen every bush material type flogged to bits, had the yellows regularly crumble apart in my hands.
Cycling tests on the new synthetic elastomers suggest they'll last considerably longer, but of course promising bench top cycling tests cannot compare to real off road testing. This is why threads like this are important, real world feedback.
All that can be done is to try and make the bush materials better, more supple for synthetic rubbers, better resistance to torsional forces for urethanes, etc.
No material will ever be perfect acting as a bush in the bottom of a strut.
The synthetic elastomers have already been very beneficial to one Pradopoint members bilsteins which had gone through many bushes in short periods. His problems were so bad he got stuck in Tasmania and couldn't drive his Prado, he had to buy new struts to get home to Queensland. He's on deployment at the moment, but I'm sure he'll come and comment on the thread when he returns. He has done over 10,000km hassle free on the synthetic elastomers so far.
Hope this answers your question!
Best
Mark
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