krismoriah Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 I replaced my trunion and springs and noticed that my insulator pads are worn out again. I usually get a year or two out of the bottoms and every time i do a swap out the top pads are hardly worn.. so the question is..can i do urethane bottoms and rubber tops? meaning leave my good rubber tops in and just swap out the bottoms for the urethane?cant find a post where anyone has done this..but would save me some $ if no issues. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/34211-insulator-pad-question/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 Wish I knew but sorry I'm not any help here. Help is coming soon.mike Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/34211-insulator-pad-question/#findComment-226277 Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomastractorsvc Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 I can't think of any problems this would create if they are not worn out. The less wear on the top is caused by the way the suspension moves, so as long as they are still in spec in my opinion you will be fine. The difference in insulator pads is the way they are made, rubber is organic and urethane is synthetic so the hardness and the way they wear can be changed with out losing drivability, typically it is like going from a good to better. Rubber tends to start to deteriorate as soon as it is installed because of ozone, grease, freeze/thaw, dry rot etc....urethane is designed to resist all that stuff with higher load capacity, tear resistance, compression, abrasion, oil and fuel resistance, uv protectant, etc...Rubber is typically cheaper and last a fair amount of time depending on application so that is why it gets used by OEM manufactures Quote Robert"I reject your reality and substitute my own." Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/34211-insulator-pad-question/#findComment-226281 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Challenger Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 Yes. If the top pads are good replace the bottoms with urethane. This is what we normally do unless the customer doesnt want to pay extra money for the urethane. It seems like the black rubber ones have gotten really weak. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/34211-insulator-pad-question/#findComment-226346 Share on other sites More sharing options...
theakerstwo Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 Made in china and I had some of that. Quote glenn akers Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/34211-insulator-pad-question/#findComment-226395 Share on other sites More sharing options...
kscarbel Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 Unless something has changed, they don't sell urethane tops (because it's not necessary at the top). Just buy urethane lowers (10QK388), and urethane trunnion pads (10QK276) unless of course you have bronze bushings.Follow the Mack service bulletin for rubber/urethane trunnion pad installation, including the use of 20wt non-detergent oil, for maximum life. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/34211-insulator-pad-question/#findComment-226410 Share on other sites More sharing options...
krismoriah Posted January 13, 2014 Author Share Posted January 13, 2014 kscarbel,I guess things have changed because they sell the uppers here on this site http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=14_80 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/34211-insulator-pad-question/#findComment-226446 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MACKS Posted January 14, 2014 Share Posted January 14, 2014 Something is not right if your only getting one or two years out of them, or was that before the new springs and trunion work. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/34211-insulator-pad-question/#findComment-226575 Share on other sites More sharing options...
r686st Posted January 14, 2014 Share Posted January 14, 2014 The uppers and lowers are available aftermarket in urethane for the 38k rears. I purchased mine last year and if I remember they were about $100 per spring end. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/34211-insulator-pad-question/#findComment-226579 Share on other sites More sharing options...
kscarbel Posted January 14, 2014 Share Posted January 14, 2014 kscarbel,I guess things have changed because they sell the uppers here on this site http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=14_80That's an aftermarket brand. I assume then that Mack dealers still only sell urethane lowers (10QK388). I've never seen the need for urethane uppers.What size suspension do you have?Do you have rubber or bronze trunnion bushings?Do you have a transverse torque rod? Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/34211-insulator-pad-question/#findComment-226580 Share on other sites More sharing options...
krismoriah Posted January 15, 2014 Author Share Posted January 15, 2014 Yes i ran it 1 year with a worn trunion and another year with worn out trunion, which ended up breaking 5 leaf springs. I replaced with new springs and trunions this winter.44K rears bronze bushings and transverse torque rods. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/34211-insulator-pad-question/#findComment-226806 Share on other sites More sharing options...
superdog405 Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 I wish I knew how some of you get a couple of years out of these pads. We must be off road to much , because i have had every thing replaced at one time, and still need to replace torn pads in six to eight months . Only camelback I have left is with 52k rears and no transverse torque arm, we put the urethane pads in the bottom about 4 months ago . I hope like hell they last longer ! Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/34211-insulator-pad-question/#findComment-231410 Share on other sites More sharing options...
philgaudet82 Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 We have two trucks with 58 000 lbs rear suspension and rigid beams. We work with 40 tons in the dump box all day long, and we dona lot of sharp turns, always on pavement. We use neoprene bushings from Mack and upper rubber bushings oem also. We have to replace them once a yearEnvoyé de mon iPhone à l'aide de Tapatalk Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/34211-insulator-pad-question/#findComment-237281 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art_H Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 With urethane bushings is it really neccessary to use 'edible mutton tallow' or 20 wt non-detergent oil?? I suspect that spec was to preserve the rubber bushing. With an inert urethane bushing, why not use ep2 grease?? Further, why not drill and tap for a grease nipple?Thoughts? Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/34211-insulator-pad-question/#findComment-246828 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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