Guide Rod Causing Failures...

[Moe C.]

1350 rounds down my XD without a single failure. Since I've bought a Don's guide rod (20# spring) for my XD-9 I've put another 350 rounds of my usual ammo through it. Within those 350 rounds I've had 3 failures. Two FTE's and one FTF. Now I've noticed that the bushing has three relatively deep dents spaced almost evenly apart. They would had to of come from the end of the recoil spring getting smashed onto the bushing. One time after a range visit I noticed the bushing wasn't sitting flush. There are a couple more tiny dings and a scratch that follows the shape of the bushing.

The bushing is obviously coming loose and rotating when the slide goes back after a round is fired. Then it gets slammed back into place when the slide returns to battery. From the marks on the bushing it seems that the it has done this more than three times, but only three times has it come out enough to cause the failures. When I first installed the bushing I thought it was odd the it would just fall out without the rod and spring. From my experience I gather the bushing should stay firmly in place. Has anyone else had this issue before?


~Moe

[cwm355]

Both the bushing and the spring can be put in backwards. Soulds like you have it for the service model. My shooting partner has one for his too. I only use the guide rod for the Tactical and if I put the spring in backwards it almost looks like the spring is going to come out the guide rode hold. Switched it around and it works great. I use a 16# spring on mine. I hear most guys say the 21 or 22# works good to control recoil.

[Don]

The bushing is not an interference fit so it can fall out, but is pretty tight from most feedback. Since yours has not always sat flush at install yours it tight.
When the slide comes back, the spring tension is increasing and so the bushing does not come loose, it gets held more firm.
Some dings can be normal, there is not a lot of room in there for the spring coils, and if the bushing is not seated as deep as normal it may make a ding on the first round or so. You should see the bushing be flush with the front of the slide, if not try dry cycling by hand a few times to see if that seats it.
If it was hammering all of the time you would see lots of dings, since you see a few I suspect just the seating of it. Mine get dings and I think of this as normal, only a problem it a continual impact with every round.
Run a drop of oil on the rod and bushing interface for best wear results.
The FTE and FTF may be too heavy a spring or light ammo or a light grip, any of those can manifest those problems.

[rogerxd45]

i have to actually push my bushing out. ive tried tapping the slide without barrel or guide rod in it and the bushing didnt budge

[Moe C.]

Originally Posted by Don

The bushing is not an interference fit so it can fall out, but is pretty tight from most feedback. Since yours has not always sat flush at install yours it tight.
When the slide comes back, the spring tension is increasing and so the bushing does not come loose, it gets held more firm.
Some dings can be normal, there is not a lot of room in there for the spring coils, and if the bushing is not seated as deep as normal it may make a ding on the first round or so. You should see the bushing be flush with the front of the slide, if not try dry cycling by hand a few times to see if that seats it.
If it was hammering all of the time you would see lots of dings, since you see a few I suspect just the seating of it. Mine get dings and I think of this as normal, only a problem it a continual impact with every round.
Run a drop of oil on the rod and bushing interface for best wear results.
The FTE and FTF may be too heavy a spring or light ammo or a light grip, any of those can manifest those problems.

Thank you for your response Don. I should have been more clear regarding the time I found that the bushing was not sitting flush. Before the range visit everything was installed properly and the bushing was indeed flush. It was only when I got home and ready to clean the gun that I noticed the bushing had somehow worked its way out of its functioning position. Indeed this wasn't a figment of my imagination, nor was I mistaken. I am very interested in hearing how this could happen. I am overly careful and thorough to the extent of being anal. As far as my grip goes, I have a firm thumbs forward grip. I know without a doubt I don't limp wrist. My other gun is a Keltec PF-9. A firm grip is a must with the PF-9 and I have no failures to speak of. When I shoot the XD my grip is the same. I use a 20# spring, but I do find it interesting that I have the same amount of dings in the bushing that I have had failures.