ECGS Bushing - Is it a must?

thanks bud i thought not just wanted to make sure

 

Always better to ask now and look slightly dumb than to ask on the side of the highway with your wheel off in the woods And look incredibly dumb

 

I think this means it's time to do the ECGS bushing.
https://youtu.be/Llej7pHawaA

 

How many people replace the seal as well? Reading through this thread it seems like it’s not necessary if you’re careful?

 

Just get it and replace it. If you fuck it up (you will) and dont have one, then your going to be waiting for one to show up.

 

I replaced the seal when I did my 2013 and it leaked. I was heartbroken and paid the dealer huge $$$ to replace it since I didn't have it in my to rip it apart and try and get the seal seated correctly. I had maybe 30,000 miles on the truck at the time. I used the ECGS seal, not an OEM one and I'm not 100% sure I seated it properly, but it leaked and I wept.

I did not replace the seal when I did my 2016 with approximately 18,000 miles on it and I'm at 57,000 miles without a leak. If the truck is new / low mileage and there's no visible damage to the seal I'd be more apt to roll the dice and not replace it, but I might be crazy.

That being said, I've said it before but I feel replacing the bushing should be SOP if you're doing a lift on these trucks. Outside of cost there's absolutely zero downside in my mind. If you don't you run the risk of having to blast apart your work rather than already being in there and just doing it.

 

My 3rd gen has a vibration in a very narrow speed range when applying the gas peddle: 40-43 mph. It's not constant but regular enough to be annoying. Is the a symptom of a needle bearing problem or just a random resonance in my truck? It seems to persist when I switch over to 4WD but tough to confirm since I don't have a lot of straight roads around me.

 

Truck has under 5k miles, if I’m sure the seal is pristine afterwards I won’t replace it. Ordered the seal anyway, honestly $22 is a pretty fair CYA fee

 

If you turn 4hi on and the vibration goes away then it's your bushing.

If that doesn't affect it, it is most likely something else. Could be a random resonance, could have lost a wheel weight, you might be running tires that are wearing a little funky. Who knows

 

I've done a few newer 3rd gens and never needed to replace the seal. Take your time extracting the bushing and it'll be fine.

 

Thinking about doing this when I replace lift because I am replacing the axles anyway. Does anyone have the removal tool in MA?

I will also venmo for a flat rate usps shipping and then pass it along if anyone has one to spare.

 

Alternatively, if anyone wants to do theirs and are near westernmass we can do both trucks at the same time in my garage and split the cost of the new tool/shipping. targetting Dec 15-17

 

Highly recommend it — Works like a charm.

PS: Check your axel seal after 25 miles. If anything is prone to going wrong, it’s getting the seal back. Which usually isn’t an issue, but it happens. Gear oil flinging up on hot engine components smells.. oh so good.. let me tell you.

 

Ha, Im oiling the bottom of the truck when Im done to fight the rust so I will have that smell anyway. I am replacing the seals when I replace the axles. I figure I am there, they are 18 years old, and its $20.

I am just adverse to paying $45 for the puller on the needle bearing. So much cost already with everything else I'm swapping.

 

There is a thread for passing the tool around.

 

Do you have a linke? I did search for that, but only found one in buy/sell that I cant post in.

 

I don't. I searched and can't find it so maybe it was a figment of my imagination.

 

Getting ready to have Bilsteins installed. Should I request this bushing be replaced during the install? Is it cheaper that way? Is anyone willing to share what they paid to have it done, whether it was during their lift or after the fact? Also, is this bushing something that most shops carry or is it more of a special order? Thanks!

 

You have to buy it from ECGS.

I would say it will add 20min-1hr depending on how they replace the shocks. They should be able to get the needle bearing out with the right size puller if they have it. I want to say it’s a 35mm but I used to the tool made by ECGS

It took 5 minutes to pop it out and put the new one in after I pulled the driveshaft.

I think $50 would be super cheap and $150 would be fair. I don’t know what people pay.

 

Nailed it