Hi Guys
This is the reply that we have had from ECS
The base that holds the fingers together is a bit flimsy, but serves very little function, other than to hold everything together. The large washer that covers that piece does a fine job of supporting it when in place. The fingers don't wear like the base of the mount does, after torquing the bolt and washer down against the base, it can get kind of smashed, which will make it more likely to tear upon removal. These mounts are extremely difficult to remove, and will most likely tear when taken out as they need to be pulled, pried and otherwise yanked to get them free. For this reason we consider them a "one-time use" item. Please inform your customers to avoid removing these to inspect them as they are likely to experience the same problem. There is no real reason to remove these unless they are being replaced (which wouldn't need done for quite some time), the rubber around the insert is softer than the insert itself, so the majority of the stress in the mount is going to be absorbed by the rubber. This isn't like a control arm bushing for example, which is attached only to metal components and therefore absorbs the majority of the stress at that connection.
I apologize if this is a bit long-winded, but I wanted to make sure to be thorough in my response.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Sarah
Hi Sarah, I didn't realise you'd replied here, so I wasn't ignoring you!! I haven't checked my personal emails today either, as I know you'd copied me in. So, I'll check shortly and reply to ECS too.
For everyone else's benefit, my thoughts.
I see their point now on the disc not being of any benefit other than to hold the 'fingers' and, I'll call it the 'thumb', together - that's fine. But, as nobody was aware of this, they can understand why concerns were raised when the cover was removed and it was seen to be all smashed and ripped in situ.
Obviously they called me straight away and asked me what I wanted to do about it, and luckily I had the spare, so asked them to carefully remove it to see the extent of the damage. Then see what everyone else thought of it too? Thankfully they'd had the foresight to use proper poly lube, so it popped out fairly easily, as I'm sure you must have used too to enable you to inspect and replace Joes.
Maybe ECS should provide some proper lithium based lube with the kit too? I know they say to use some "grease" in their fitting guide, but the wrong interpretation of this could be leading to their necessity to "pull, pry and yank" them out, destroying them in the process? It'd be a shame for someone to waste their money on a "one-time use" bush if, for example, they decided to upgrade the dogbone mount a little while later down the line.
My advice for people thinking of one - if you're potentially going to have to destroy it, get the cheapest one you can find and see if you get the desired/claimed effect? The only difference is compound and price, and none of them eliminate wheel hop.
