Hey guys, I was just doing a front end check on my '68 as a precursor to checking the alignment. I had some play in the tire/wheel assembly in the 12-6 direction. Bearings checked out good. I looked further and I had play in my upper control arm bushing on the driver side. The front bushing is pretty sound but the rear had some motion relative to the cross shaft as I rock the tire 12-6. The bushing looked good to the arm. Went over to the pass side and same thing.

These are energy suspension polygraphite bushings. I put them in about 9 years ago, but there can't be 4000 miles on them (total front end was done at the time, balljoints, idler, pitman, tie rods etc). The car sat for 3 years after I moved. It's just seen easy cruising. The front end is lowered with Hotchkiss lowering springs. Polygraphite bushings on both upper and lowers. 17" wheels (225/50/17) and a steering gear with IROC internals.

Do any of the suspension guru's have ideas on how these can break down so quickly (relative to use)?

I've thought that maybe the control arm bushing holes may have some misalignment. I have measured 9-5/8" from inside of flange to inside of flange on both sides (2 measurements, one above the cross shaft and one below). I've asked a buddy to measure his to see how that compares.

The bolt was still tight and there was still grease inboard of the washer. It didn't squeak from the front bushings (fairly loud in the rear), but that doesn't mean it might not have still been binding. I made sure to torque everything once settled in at ride height with full weight of the car.

Any ideas?

So there's a bushing that doesn't feel as tight as when it was new..?

Since the material falls somewhere between a plastic and a rubber, I wonder if the bushings have taken a set or slightly migrated?

Sitting for 3 years may have had a damaging affect on all the suspension components. My relatives back East typically put their nice cars up on stands even if it's just for the winter...

I had the same bushings in my car for a year then I noticed the polygraphite was almost a consistency of toothpaste. I replaced with normal rubber bushings.
Maybe yours were from the same batch.