The front shock fork bushing is the lower attachment for the shock absorber to the forward lower control arm. In rubber form, it oscillates, flexes, and binds, resulting in less shock absorber efficiency, sluggish response, and higher lateral loads, which lead to earlier shock failure. The spherical upgrade eliminates these issues by providing the perfect attachment point for the shock.
We use only the highest quality motorsport-grade PTFE-lined bearings for best performance and lifespan. We use high strength 7075 aluminum for the bolt sleeves, and 6061 for the bearing cups. Bearings are interference-fit into the cups, so they won’t rattle. Both internal and external retaining rings ensure everything will always stay in place. Please note that lifespan will vary based on the application and driving conditions. Spherical bearings do have moving parts, so they do wear. Our bearing kits are fully rebuildable. Please contact us for rebuild kits.
Rubber bushings act like little springs at each suspension pivot point. They allow suspension geometry to change under load, ruining your alignment and causing unwanted handling characteristics like steering wander, binding, camber, caster, and toe changes, and lack of steering and suspension feedback. Spherical bearings do not bind or flex under load, creating perfect suspension joints.
Spherical bearings are known to produce creaks and pops in the suspension as they age. Though we only use PTFE-lined motorsport grade bearings (the best and most durable you can get), we’ve found the PTFE liner is rarely sufficient to keep the bearing fully lubricated and free-moving over the course of its life. We’ve found after a year or two, some bearings will start to creak right as they start moving or when they switch from moving one direction to the next. As they start to wear they will also become looser over time, eventually making a very small gap between the ball and outer race. This gap can cause a noise similar to if you had a slightly loose bolt or ball joint. When these symptoms start to occur, relubricating them with a synthetic PTFE grease will quiet them down and smooth out their movements very nicely. We recommend doing this at least once per year or every 5 to 10 thousand miles as part of a regular maintenance routine. A thick layer of grease covering the exposed parts of the bearing will also act as a moisture and dust barrier, keeping as much crud out as possible. The more often you can clean and regrease, the more life you’ll get out of them. We’ve found with proper care you can get 20-40,000 miles out of a set of bearings.
With all this said, please understand that these bushings are designed around ultimate performance in motorsport settings. With anything high performance will come more maintenance, and these are no exception. Please consider whether you are willing to sign up for the maintenance before going the spherical route.
Features:
- 7075 Aluminum Bolt Sleeves, 6061 Aluminum bearing cups
- Keeps alignment at all times under load
- Does not bind or flex under load
- Black finish
What's Included:
- JXB Performance Spherical Front Lower Control Arm Shock Fork Bushings
