Tom Shigeta

The bushing doesn't support the tbar, only the a-arm. The tbar is only held in place by the front end of the a-arm, and the cap. When the bushings are new, the tbar is centered in the a-arm. As the bushing compresses enough with age, the a-arm shifts up so that the bottom of the a-arm tube, where the tbar goes into, can rub on the tbar. Putting the extra metal on the cap moves the tbar up some to compensate for the compressing of the bushing.

Clark Griswald

Tom, your right. Brain fart for me.

The bushing positions the A arm relative to the cross member.