Corvette_Ed

What can I do to stop my sway bar bushings from squeaking? I installed them about a month ago with C6 Z51 sway bars and used the lube included with the upgrade Pfadt poly bushings but the squeaking that I was so glad to get rid of is back with a vengeance. Simple silicone spray isn't really doing much and it seems to me that it should have been quite a while before I had to deal with this problem again.

The squeaking is driving me nuts.

oh1vette

hey Ed, hopefully you'll get some responses, but try contacting the pfadt guys, few of them are members here...

I just picked up some used inverted 16 way adjustable shocks and those guys were very helpful with several questions I had....

Vetteman Jack

Give Pfadt a call and see what they can suggest. And yes, there should not be any squeaking so soon.

Corvette_Ed

Would they help when the bushings were not purchased from them? They came as a package upgrade deal when I bought the C6 Z51 sway bars from GM Parts House.

onspeed

Use teflon tape on the sway bar. Mine started squeaking after about 3 weeks when I swapped the pfadt. Haven't heard anything since teflon taping though.

WKMCD

I use a really thick and snotty marine grease on my PFADT Track bars. A couple years and about 15k miles later they are still silent.

K-Spaz

I find Neverseize to be a good lube where a salt based grease just doesn't cut it. Not good for high speed joints, but great for this sort of thing. Might also try some of the Moly spray lubes, they really stick, but they're dry too so I'm not sure how long they'd last on those bushings.

oh1vette

I bet they would based on my dealings with them.....I bought used shocks from a member here and they couldn't have been more helpful....probably exchanged at least half a dozen emails....
Here's one of the guys I communicated with:

Blair Sonnen <blair@pfadtracing.com>

Corvette_Ed

Something like plumber's tape?

Steve@RSD

I always use Mobile 1 Synthetic red grease. It never squeaks.

racebum

did you receive any of that sticky snot stuff ala energy suspension? most standard greases will wash off

Corvette_Ed

There were two tubes of the snot stuff and I used up everything in both of them. Silly me, I thought that would prevent squeaking...

robert miller

with that grease also no squeaking to day over 25,k miles and 5 years.. Robert

Corvette_Ed

Is the teflon tape the same stuff as plumber's tape? How much did you use?

racebum

usually does. i've seen guys drill 3/32nd holes around the inside for a grease trap before. keeps it from squeezing out

teflon tape idea could be a good one too if it doesn't shred in a week

Pfadt Racing

It's really strange that you're continuing to hear squeaks with the poly bushings. In our experience the graphite impregnated bushings along with the really tacky marine grade grease we provide with the kits is about the best solution with polyurethane that you can get. I've got customers with years of use and many many trouble free miles going strong with this setup out in the field. Here are a couple things you can try:

1 - Disconnect the sway bar endlinks and take the car for a short drive over roads you can recreate the squeak on. If you've disconnected the endlinks you've taken the sway bars out of the equation... if the noise remains you know it's something else, like the leaf spring pad to control arm interface, that is actually the source of your noise.

2 - Once the endlinks are disconnected try to rotate the bar by hand. If it's difficult to rotate the bar within the bushings with more than just hand force you may need to space the brackets away from the chassis. Using a few washers between the sway bar bracket and the chassis will relieve some of the preload on the bushing and make the bar easier to turn. If for what ever reason the sway bar is significantly preloaded to the point it's squished the grease out from the grease retaining channels that could be part of the issue.

With a little more troubleshooting you should be able to get your issue squared away. Let me know if you need anything else! Again in our experience with these bushings they shouldn't need teflon tape or any other assembly aide. Just proper grease technique into the lube channels cut into the bushing it's self.

chpmnsws6

Back from the dead thread. In the track rat Miata world we always used this stuff with great success http://www.spohn.net/shop/1982-1992-...JEoaAih68P8HAQ

I actually saw it at Harbor Freight once and bought several tubes of it. Keeps poly bushings silent.

Sam Handwich

I have used the yellow teflon tape on the sway bars with my poly bushings. No complaints. But i will keep your suggestion in mind if there is a problem.

leadfoot4

That's good stuff!!


I've been using it for YEARS, on poly bushings, with excellent results.

LoneStarFRC

I've used this for years on brake caliper hardware and for bushings, etc. It contains moly, graphite and Teflon all three. Very water-resistant too:

http://crcindustries.com/auto/?s=SL3301

Many AP stores carry it. Not expensive.