You know the expression 'if it's not broken, don't fix it.” Well, it doesn't hold true 100% of the time. Below are bars from two v-ring comms, one that didn't break (but dangerously close) and one that did. In the first photo, the bar width under the brushes started at 3/4 inch wide and is now only 1/8 inch. In the 2nd photo, you can see where the bar wore so thin it broke right at the dovetail. While getting the most life out a comm is optimal running the bars this low can result in any number of failures. As you very well know, routine field maintenance and inspections are critically important.