My new to me 1995 XJ feels very stiff just going over small cracks in the road. I haven't got it off road yet as I have been working out bugs to make it roadworthy. It has red poly bushings in the upper and lower front arms and they look squeezed AF in the mounting. Is this why I'm feeling this jarring even on small bumps?

I'm reading lot's of issues with poly in 4x4 applications. I only plan on a 2-3 lift and 31x10.5 A/T tires. What would be the recommended bushings/arms? Not opposed to upgrading them.

 

What tire pressures are you running?

 

First thing I checked and they were actually a bit low, around 28.

This isn't tires, it's a harsh jolt going slow on road cracks and driveway entrances and such. As I said these red poly bushing are squeezed tight in the mounting brackets. I haven't had a lot of time driving it as I have had some issues. No thermostat, kinked trans line, leaking PS hose, NSS, etc. Now I just found the lower radiator hose is rubbing the PS hose. All this stuff is preventing it from being a DD just yet.

 

Actually 28 in a 31"tire is a **** ton and probly touching less than 70% of tire on the road.

Id chauIk the tread and tune the airptessure to putt the entire tread width down
probly be like 20psi

I run poly all over my jeep. From control arms to motor mounts trans leaf spring and shackle.

Is the inner sleeve in the joints. Normally you cant realy get a bolt to tight to give the bushing the squeezed as **** look. Unless theres no inner sleave.
If there is no inner sleeve this could be the jokt you feel like and inch of slop as bolt bounces back and forth inside poly bushing

For what its worth i also run poly bushings on my cummins control arms also no issues

 

Thanks

The current tires are 235/75/15

Ok, something is going on there then because the bushing has a huge OD that is pushing out on the edges. Maybe upgrading the arms when I take it apart is my best option,

What is your experience with squeaking and keeping them greased. I had that issue a street car years ago and taking them apart to lube the bushings was a PITA.

 

I made my poly joints and made sure they had greese zerkd. Poly needs frequent greasing if used in dusty dry conditions.
on the street every few weeks. In dry düster conditions i grease daily

Can you get a pic of your squished joints.? Phisicaly the bolts shouldn't be able to squeeze to much of inner sleeve is intakt and is in good shape.