While I was riding yesterday in Hillsville, my pivot bolt for my rear trailing arm worked itself out. I’m glad this happened on a flat trail. There was minimal damage. Just a dent in my shock from it smashing against the frame and a ripped cv boot when the axle pulled out of the outer cv. I did use loctite on that bolt when I put it in during my build. Yesterday was my third serious ride since my buggy’s completion. After finding my pivot bolt, about 100 yards behind me, we put everything back together. I also checked the pivot bolt on the other side and I was able to tighten it another full turn. My buddy took a paint marker and drew a line across the heads of the bolts and on to the ears so we could tell if they started to back out again. After about an hour more riding, both were backing out on me.
I was thinking on the pooper this morning that I’m going to drill and tap for a grease fitting. But I don’t think it’s going to be that simple. I’d have to be able to push grease through the trailing arm bushing housing, through the urethane bushing, and through the inner bushing sleeve. That would be where any friction was at that would loosen that bolt. I don’t know? Maybe grease isn’t the answer. I was also thinking that there just might be too much of a bind on the bolts. Anybody else ever have this problem? Any thoughts or humble opinions?
I’m running 2 X 3 tubular arms
With this urethane bushing kit
FYI – I used the grease that came with the bushing kit when I installed it. I applied it inside the inner bushing sleeve as well as on the pivot bolt. On the trail yesterday, I used red moly graph grease, marine grade.
