Strut bushings on 66 dart SHREDDED

Sorry no pics car is at the shop, but 4 weeks ago I completed a complete front end rebuild, all new rubbers. The strut rod bushins are the K7040 moog, big silver cupped washer sandwiches the big rubber bushing. I just looked under there and both front bushings are completely shredded, the big washer is almost touching the frame.
So what is the deal? I know I faced the washers with cup crunching the rubber, unlike some people I see that put the washer backwards? Is that right? Also these K7040 were in a very old box marked 1990. I paid $10 for the set.

Any ideas? I didn't think rubber ever got old, after all it never fully breaksdown in the land fills or so I'm told.