Idler Arm Failure

i never paid attention to how close mine sneaks up on the header, i know that it never makes contact. maybe your pipe is so close it is cooking the grease or bushings out of it .... i dont know. honestly , this is the first thread i have read about this.

I have also read in description on some of these parts and it says poly bearing and gusher bearing design. Could the part have plastic bearings inside that melt or are just not up to the task?