Hi Glen,

I also have a couple years' experience with a bushing from the blue bag with the dreaded Scan Tech name. Last weekend I grabbed the driveshaft to shake it as a habit while putting on its second cat-back system. The area is dry and the shaking didn't result in any movement.

With your noted curiosity and research skills, perhaps you could purchase two kits, one from the dealer. You could then provide the rest of us with definitive comparisons in appearance and price, returning the part that does not make sense to use.

Also, from experience, I would underline what Mark has to say about not using the new gasket if you can help it. Removing that old gasket is a job that will make you think fondly of the fire ants in the woods. It should stick to the transmission and separate fairly well from the tailpiece.

As to the longevity of a bushing, I think the condition of fluid, u-joints, motor mounts, and driveshaft support and alignment may all affect the stresses thereon. In my case, the only variables changed were transmission fluid and a re-grease of the first u-joint.
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Art Benstein near Baltimore