greg454

I just got my rebuilt trailing arms back from Van Steel and am going to install them tonight, but my books dont say anything about lubricating the bushings upon install. Do they need it?

Thanks,
Greg

hotrodrik

I used some anti-sieze compound on the bolt and inside the bushing to keep it from rusting up again

NHvette

Definitely use anti-seize or grease in the inside of teh steel sleeve.
Slather the bolt. Rust is evil. Grease is good.

Are they rubber or poly? Poly bushings should be greased, but rubber
should not - and cannot - since they are staked on.

greg454

Thanks for the good advise guys. They are rubber, so I guess a little grease or anti-sieze inside the tube and I should be good to go.

Greg.

72LS1Vette

Why not send an email to Van Steel and ask them? They are the experts.

Rick B.

greg454

Because i'm sure they are closed right now, and I want to get this done tonight. I already have the left one in. Hopefully will have the other side soon.

Greg

Veet 66

It is also my understanding that if the bushings are the same as the original Do not tighten the bolts until you have put the car down and has weight on them. If they are poly the bolts can be tightened up while the car is up in the air.

Van Steel

Greg,
Just like the others stated, you should only use anti-sieze on the pivot bolt. We put a little bit of grease on the rubber bushing shell when we install them. If you don't see it on yours it's probably because we wipe most of the grease off after it's in.

Ace77

Hitchhiking on, not highjacking, this thread...

Can somebody please provide more specific product info on "anti sieze" compound. I've looked around the local auto-parts places and can't find something specifically labelled that way. Need it for exhaust manifold bolts too, if it's even the same stuff?

Thanks,
Jim

Veet 66

All part stores carry it. It is used also when putting steel bolts such as exhaust or intake into aluminum heads.

greg454

Thanks for all the replies. I put anti-sieze lubricant on the bolt shafts and installed both trailing arms last night. Tonights project is to assemble the rest of the rear end.

To anyone else looking to have trailing arms rebuilt, have Van Steel do them. They came back fast and the work was excellent.

Ace77. I used permatex anti-sieze lubricant part#133A. Bought it at the local checker auto parts store.

Greg

AGVI

Canadian Tire will defintely have it with the car stuff...

Ace77

Thanks, Greg, at least I have a target.


AGVI, Did not see anything labelled "anti-sieze" at CT in either Aurora or Newmarket, at least not with the tubes of RTV and sealants, where I would expect it.

norvalwilhelm

I am not sure about the use of anti seize on the bushings. Anti seize was made for bolted parts. You will find that antiseize used on brake parts like slider pins will seize in short order. You can not use anti seize on thinks that slide, only threads or surfaces squeezed together.

I believe in anti seize but not the through bolt. I use grease on brake sliders GM has a special thin grease.
I learned the hard way about anti sieze. It took about 2 months for my wifes brakes to totally sieze in the summer with anti seize.

Twin_Turbo

I always use GM white grease. Vaseline would work also. Just liberally smear that stuff on there, I even used it on my solid bushings:

norvalwilhelm

I too use white grease on the cross shaft bushings. This is not a place for antiseize.

Philvet

http://www.jetlubecanada.com/AS.html

Ace77

Norval,

Just to clarify, are you saying no anti-sieze on the trailing arm bolt shaft? Because there is rotation with the bushing sleeve?
I guess I will just grease it up real well to keep the water away.

Only use on bolts that are torqued in place/only in places where there is no movement between the parts? Like on the NUT for the trailing arm bolt...

greg454

I dont know if there is more than 1 type of anti-seize, but the stuff I used is called an anti-seize lubricant. The label does state: anti-seize is not a high speed lubricant. It should not be used on high-speed ball bearings, rollerbearings or in gearboxes.

It should be just fine for my trailing arm through bolts. I wonder if the brake issues might have something to do with heat?

Greg

norvalwilhelm

Guys I am not that familiar with anti seize. I use 2 types in the shop. The silver anti seize by locktite and a large pail of copper anti sieze agian by locktite. They are both for putting on fasteners. From the other post I see there are lots of different types.
I believe in using some lubircant/anti seize of some kind on every single bolt/screw.
I use grease on things I want to rotate, loctite on things I want to prevent from comming loose and anti seize on anything I want to just tighten and remove later.
I have white grease for lubing a arm bushings and trailing arm through bolts.
I can't say if these other anti seize are good for the through bolt or not.
I do know that anti seize, my kind will seize in weeks if put on brakes with sliding pins.
My post above is only based on my limited knowledge.