# LBJ Rubber Boot Dry Rotted, Bushing Bad? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** odyssey, honda\ **Created:** [August 10, 2025, 10:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lbj-rubber-boot-dry-rotted-bushing-bad/201414 "2025-08-10T22:25:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![YoshiMoshi3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8dc957/32.png) [@YoshiMoshi3](https://community.cartalk.com/u/YoshiMoshi3)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2025, 10:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lbj-rubber-boot-dry-rotted-bushing-bad/201414/1 "2025-08-10T22:25:02Z")
2019 Honda Odyssey, 56k miles I noticed that the LBJ on this car, the rubber boot was torn around the circumference of the boot, looked like rubber dry rot. This is both sides. ![1000004253 (1)](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/8/d/8dd69b3589922962d89e581e4fc75a4fb3b60498.jpeg) ![1000004255](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/b/2/b28b6330d49ba8cddc5e03ad4af2265019177e76.jpeg) There is no grease coming out. There is no squeaks when rotating the steering wheel. Upon pressing into the boot it deflects some with some resistance, so I believe there’s still grease within the boot. Should I bother replacing these lower ball joints at this point, or just wait for grease to come out, or symptoms of squeaks when rotating the steering wheel? Additionally, I noticed the horizontal bushing for the LCA, has a giant crack in it. The other side is not too bad, but also has as crack. There is no loud thud when going over bumps. Should I also just keep an eye on this. The first image is the one with a rather large tear/crack in it, the other side is the second picture. ![1000004252 (1)](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/9/d/9df88b41404a64fd710c411b7670cf63598267ab.jpeg) ![1000004254](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/9/d/9d1c6c6bc757a5b19d406d0d1ff9ef7725d45312.jpeg) Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2025, 10:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lbj-rubber-boot-dry-rotted-bushing-bad/201414/2 "2025-08-10T22:31:18Z")
I’d wait until the ball joint(s) started making noise or if it started effecting the steering or tire wear is noticed. Then relace the control arm assemblies. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/f/e/fed4ed4117b4cb7d7458268875e437f886c624f8.jpeg) Tester ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2025, 10:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lbj-rubber-boot-dry-rotted-bushing-bad/201414/3 "2025-08-11T10:54:58Z")
LBJ hasn’t been in office in quite some time 🙂 nobody calls lower ball joints LBJ nobody calls lower control arm LCA at least nobody in any shop I’ve ever worked in ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2025, 11:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lbj-rubber-boot-dry-rotted-bushing-bad/201414/4 "2025-08-11T11:12:51Z")
Yep, I immediately thought of Lyndon😀 ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2025, 11:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lbj-rubber-boot-dry-rotted-bushing-bad/201414/5 "2025-08-11T11:43:52Z")
If that wasn’t one one of the following three: Cracked Worn Broken/dryrotted I would recommend fetching a bottle of ‘Rubber Renue’ 408c variant, and coating those boots/bushings with it. But what’s in those photos is clearly beyond that point of rescue. Renue deoxidizes rubber and actually expands it a tad, and restores some (if not all) compliance. Case in point: On a vintage phono repair video, the rubber-lined idler wheel, which turns against the base of the platter inside the phonograph, was rock hard and starting to display cracks. When playing a record, the wheel would slip against the under-platter, causing the speed of the recording to wooooww and flutter. And forget about 45s or 78s, that wheel could barely maintain enough traction to spin the turntable fast enough for those speeds. After two applications of Rubber Renue, several hours apart, the rubber on that idler wheel was softer and slightly sticky (rubber sticky), and when the blogger reassembled the phonograph, it played records of all speeds and sizes, evenly with no change in pitch. (on to recapping the amplifier board…) The product is also good at refreshing door and other weatherstripping, for automotive and marine applications, and reducing squeaks where dried rubber meets a door panel or trim pieces. ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2025, 8:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lbj-rubber-boot-dry-rotted-bushing-bad/201414/6 "2025-08-11T20:32:37Z")
Just goes to show that Yoshi should stay with the children at ToyotaNation where he belongs. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2025, 9:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lbj-rubber-boot-dry-rotted-bushing-bad/201414/7 "2025-08-11T21:22:20Z")
At least the other recent post by Yoshi is being ignored as it should be. ---
**Author:** ![YoshiMoshi3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8dc957/32.png) [@YoshiMoshi3](https://community.cartalk.com/u/YoshiMoshi3)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 12:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lbj-rubber-boot-dry-rotted-bushing-bad/201414/8 "2025-08-12T00:31:59Z")
I have heard of SLA abbreviated over mcpherson setup for suspension. So if SLA = short-long arm, why not abbreviate other things like LBJ = Lower Ball Joint. LCA = Lower Control Arm, UCA = Upper Control Arm etc. ? My bad, didn’t realize LBJ wasn’t standard. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 1:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lbj-rubber-boot-dry-rotted-bushing-bad/201414/9 "2025-08-12T01:16:58Z")
> [@YoshiMoshi3](#): > > didn’t realize LBJ wasn’t standard. It could be construed as referring to a historical figure. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 1:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lbj-rubber-boot-dry-rotted-bushing-bad/201414/10 "2025-08-12T01:48:00Z")
Nothing wrong with using acronyms when typing, just as an example, type LBJ (lower ball joint) the 1st time, so readers will better know what you are referring to… I do see LCA & UCA being used all the time on another forum I am on that as of this posting, has had 693 current members online in the last 59 minutes, lots of talk about suspension lifts and what nots… They even use AAL (add a leaf) a lot referring to adding leaf’s to the rear leaf spring packs… ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/3/a/3a6bdacf13bf0fabcdb0a7beee6074bbf6322a66.png) ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 1:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lbj-rubber-boot-dry-rotted-bushing-bad/201414/11 "2025-08-12T13:45:27Z")
I associate SLA with Patty Hearst. Somebody had to say it! ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 2:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lbj-rubber-boot-dry-rotted-bushing-bad/201414/12 "2025-08-12T14:43:18Z")
SLA has been used in the automotive world since before my time, just like PSI, MPH and MPG etc, so being in the auto world, I don’t understand why anyone on a vehicle forum would think of some of these as a person… lol It is funny how Tester (seasoned in the auto world) within 5 or 6 minutes of the OP new exactly what was meant and had posted a reply with picture(s)… ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 2:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lbj-rubber-boot-dry-rotted-bushing-bad/201414/13 "2025-08-12T14:52:08Z")
> [@davesmopar](#): > > SLA has been used in the automotive world since before my time, That is not the point. There are lots of non-mechanics on this forum who have some knowledge but not versed in all of the letter abrevations. Same goes for the text speaking crowd . ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 2:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lbj-rubber-boot-dry-rotted-bushing-bad/201414/14 "2025-08-12T14:57:37Z")
That’s what SLA means? New to me. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 3:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lbj-rubber-boot-dry-rotted-bushing-bad/201414/15 "2025-08-12T15:02:39Z")
And there are lots of big words used on here needlessly by the smarter higher educated crowd, I am getting very good at googling those words that I have and will never hear in an automotive shop… I am sure those big words confuse the lower educated new members looking for help also… ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 3:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lbj-rubber-boot-dry-rotted-bushing-bad/201414/16 "2025-08-12T15:08:55Z")
Look ma, I’m using the # big words! 😁 ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 4:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lbj-rubber-boot-dry-rotted-bushing-bad/201414/17 "2025-08-12T16:56:06Z")
> [@TwinTurbo](#): > > Look ma, I’m using the > > # big words! … I’m on my way I’m making it Big time! (sorry, got Peter Gabriel on the brain!) lol ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 7:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lbj-rubber-boot-dry-rotted-bushing-bad/201414/18 "2025-08-12T19:40:47Z")
> [@VOLVO-V70](#): > > > [@davesmopar](#): > > > > SLA has been used in the automotive world since before my time, > > That is not the point. There are lots of non-mechanics on this forum who have some knowledge but not versed in all of the letter abrevations. Seems unfair to exclude anyone from a conversation who doesn’t understand the subject, but the replies are predictable: _Your car is broke, find a mechanic._ ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 8:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lbj-rubber-boot-dry-rotted-bushing-bad/201414/19 "2025-08-12T20:59:54Z")
> [@Nevada\_545](#): > > Your car is broke, I prefer the more technical term “busticated”. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 9:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lbj-rubber-boot-dry-rotted-bushing-bad/201414/20 "2025-08-12T21:08:03Z")
Man, I haven’t heard the term “busticated” in several years 🤣 [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lbj-rubber-boot-dry-rotted-bushing-bad/201414.md?page=2)