Ask the Mechanic

Steve Thompson, Contributing Columnist

READER: I have a John Deere 855D Gator that has begun to ride rough and seems to move around on the rear end when starting off forward or reverse. It's like one side of the Gator is twisting from side to side. What is going on here, and is it an expensive fix? It's been a warrior for work around the farm and ranch, and I don't want to ruin the rear end.

STEVE: Yes, this 855D is a tough machine, and that little diesel engine runs forever with minimal repair bills. What is wrong with the Gator is that all the suspension bushings and possibly the shocks on the front and back are worn from constant motion when the Gator is moving. When the bushings that support the front and back get worn, the Gator rests lower to the ground and has rear side-to-side movement because of the torque present when accelerating from a standstill or when going in reverse. The fix is to replace the rubber bushings. That sounds simple, but it takes a little time to replace all 32 of the bushings (eight at each wheel) in the front and rear of the machine (see photo accompanying this article). They fit very snugly in place, so be patient when replacing them. Applying a little silicone grease around and in each bushing really helps. Many times, the grease fittings on each of these bushings are ignored, causing premature wearing. After rebushing, your Gator will ride and drive like new.

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-- Email Steve Thompson care of askthemechaniccolumn@gmail.com, and be sure to include your contact information and phone number.

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