Can anyone think of a reason why they shouldn't be replaced with Phosphor Bronze or Oilite bushes.
The reason being that I replaced mine a year ago, and theres play in them already. I've re-shimmed them to the highest preload and there's still play in them.
maybe you did it wrong cos your a novice maybe the tightness of the higher preload caused excessive/premature wear? what preload is that grunt 4.5kg? id reduce to half way and see how she goes... but i know nothing
Thing is excessive preload would have fooked the taper roller bearing in the bottom, but am off ter make some out of oilite, was thinking of fitting a bearing in the top but it would take it too far from standard of piece of mind.
Are you sure its lift on your swivel housing? Possible wheel bearing, I know it’s easy to see the lift and the tell tale dripping gives it away.
As said the bottom bearing might be past it. I assume the preload was done with the seal still out?
Deffo top swivel. There's no sideways play an no play at the bottom but too much at the top. I dint do it with the seal off but added an extra cupple of kg to compensate, I'm off to do it with the seal off when it stops raining.
I think the bush assy was set to fail, I think that’s why the later axles had a bearing top and bottom, mind if the preload wasn’t correct it gave some drivers a fright with steering wobble!!!
maybe the tightness of the higher preload caused excessive/premature wear? what preload is that grunt 4.5kg? id reduce to half way and see how she goes... but i know nothing 
