How do you tell if they are bad. 1990 with 165000 miles. original bushings

 

i just replaced mine.. all of my bushings were fine except the sway bar bushings...chances are they are fine i have a 96 xj with 145k miles on it...

 

grab them with your handle and wiggle it. there shouldnt be much play in it.

what makes you think they are bad, anyways? death wobble?

 

Control arm bushings are a big beefy bushing that hold a lot of weight. If they are worn it should sound like your whole front axle is falling out from under your Jeep anytime you go over the slightest bump. Plus, they should look cracked and nasty with chunk chipping away.

 

they shouldnt look like that

i just replaced all my control arm bushings. they were blown bad. when goin in reverse and applying the brakes, the whole axle would rotate backwards

 

Allright wise one, you got me..... Right, they shoudn't be crack and chipped. That is bad. If they are worn they will look like that, though.

 

yup, 89's got it right. go in reverse and hit/tap the brakes. have someone there to watch the axle. you'll definitely feel it tho, clunking when the axle moves. easiest way to tell.