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A bushing assembly pivotally connects the beams of an auxiliary lift axle/suspension system to a hanger and to an axle seat. The bushing assembly includes a pair of bushings, a metal sleeve, a pin with a threaded end, a pair of washers, and a threaded nut. The pair of bushings are disposed into an o

A bushing assembly pivotally connects the beams of an auxiliary lift axle/suspension system to a hanger and to an axle seat. The bushing assembly includes a pair of bushings, a metal sleeve, a pin with a threaded end, a pair of washers, and a threaded nut. The pair of bushings are disposed into an opening formed near an end of the beam. Each one of the pair of bushings includes a cylindrical wall comprising an inner end, an outer end, a central opening extending from the inner end to the outer end, an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a flange. The interior surface of the bushings includes at least one groove formed therein for preventing lubricant from escaping the bushing assembly during operation of the lift axle/suspension system while a sealing feature prevents contaminants from migrating into the bushing assembly.

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1. A bushing for a bushing assembly of a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system, said bushing comprising: a cylindrical sidewall including: an inner end;an outer end;a central opening extending from said inner end to said outer endan exterior surface;an interior surface including at least one gro

1. A bushing for a bushing assembly of a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system, said bushing comprising: a cylindrical sidewall including: an inner end;an outer end;a central opening extending from said inner end to said outer endan exterior surface;an interior surface including at least one groove formed in said interior surface of the bushing, said at least one groove comprising a generally V-shaped groove, said interior surface of the bushing comprising a sealing section integrally formed on the interior surface adjacent the outer end, said generally V-shaped groove extending axially from the inner end to said sealing section and being arranged radially along a circumference of the interior surface of the bushing; anda flange extending radially from the outer end of said cylindrical sidewall. 2. The bushing for a bushing assembly of a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system of claim 1, said at least one groove comprising a plurality of V-shaped grooves, wherein each one of said plurality of V-shaped grooves are generally equally spaced from one another at an angle of from about 36 degrees to about 120 degrees relative to a central axis. 3. The bushing for a bushing assembly of a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system of claim 1, said interior surface of the bushing comprising a lip formed on the interior surface adjacent said flange, wherein said lip forms a scraper seal between the bushing and a metal sleeve inserted into said bushing assembly. 4. The bushing for a bushing assembly of a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system of claim 1, wherein said cylindrical sidewall includes a filleted portion extending from the interior surface to the inner end of said bushing. 5. The bushing for a bushing assembly of a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system of claim 1, wherein said cylindrical sidewall includes an chamfered portion extending from the exterior surface to the inner end of the bushing. 6. The bushing for a bushing assembly of a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system of claim 1, wherein said flange is generally flat. 7. The bushing for a bushing assembly for a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system of claim 1, wherein said interior surface includes 3 to 10 said grooves. 8. The bushing for a bushing assembly of a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system of claim 1, wherein said at least one groove has a generally semi-circular cross-section. 9. The bushing for a bushing assembly of a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system of claim 1, wherein said at least one groove includes a generally polygonal cross-section. 10. The bushing for a bushing assembly of a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system of claim 1, wherein said at least one groove has a depth of from about 0.5 millimeters to about 3 millimeters. 11. The bushing for a bushing assembly of a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system of claim 1, wherein said at least one groove has a depth of about 1.01 millimeters. 12. The bushing for a bushing assembly of a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system of claim 1, wherein said at least one groove includes a width of from about 2 millimeters to about 5 millimeters. 13. The bushing for a bushing assembly of a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system of claim 1, wherein said at least one groove includes a width of about 3 millimeters. 14. The bushing for a bushing assembly of a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system of claim 1, said bushing including a durometer of from about 88 Shore A to about 96 Shore A. 15. The bushing for a bushing assembly of a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system of claim 1, said bushing including a durometer of from about 89 Shore A to about 91 Shore A. 16. A bushing for a bushing assembly of a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system, said bushing comprising: a cylindrical sidewall including: an inner end;an outer end;a central opening extending from said inner end to said outer endan exterior surface;an interior surface including at least one groove formed in said interior surface of the bushing; anda flange extending radially from the outer end of said cylindrical sidewall, said interior surface of the bushing including a lip formed on the interior surface adjacent said flange, said lip forming a scraper seal between the bushing and a metal sleeve inserted into said bushing assembly, said at least one groove comprising at least a pair of non-continuous grooves and at least a pair of continuous grooves, said pair of non-continuous grooves being parallel to one another and being radially spaced along the interior surface, extending between said inner end and the lip, said pair of continuous grooves being parallel to one another and being axially spaced along the interior surface, extending between said inner end and the lip, and being generally perpendicular to said pair of non-continuous grooves. 17. A bushing for a bushing assembly of a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system, said bushing comprising: a cylindrical sidewall including: an inner end;an outer end;a central opening extending from said inner end to said outer endan exterior surface;an interior surface including at least one groove formed in said interior surface of the bushing; anda flange extending radially from the outer end of said cylindrical sidewall, said interior surface of the bushing including a lip formed on the interior surface adjacent said flange, said lip forming a scraper seal between the bushing and a metal sleeve inserted into said bushing assembly, said at least one groove comprising at least a pair of spiral grooves and at least a pair of counter spiral grooves formed on the interior surface, said pair of spiral grooves being parallel to one another and extending an entire length of said interior surface between said inner end and the lip, said pair of counter spiral grooves being parallel to one another and extending said entire length of the interior surface between said inner end and the lip and being directionally opposed to said pair of spiral grooves. 18. The bushing for a bushing assembly of a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system of claim 17, said pair of spiral grooves and the pair of counter spiral grooves interacting with one another and creating a channeled cross-hatch pattern over said interior surface.