Squeaky poly bushings?????
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 639
Likes: 0
From: 1985 L98, Auto. O'FALLON, IL
I installed the full set, used the grease that comes with the kit and have not had any squeaks yet. I even have the red bushings and others on the forum swear by the black that are graphite impregnated. I have heard of some guys using marine grease.
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 218
Likes: 0
From: Gaithersburg Maryland
I know this sounds a little perverse, but I kind of like the squeeks from poly bushings. It lets everyone know you have a performance set up. 
I have two cars with aftermarket poly bushings, one squeeks, the other does not. The quiet one has POLYGRPHITE bushings. The noisy one has POLYEURETHANE bushings. If you want it quiet, be aware of which you are buying. The thing that bothers me the most about these parts is that they can, and will trap moisture between the bushing and the steel shell, or what ever design the suspension part employs, and they will rust. I have decide that if I ever put these parts in a car again, I will drill, and install zerk fittings in some way, so I can lube them just like ball joints.
I have two cars with aftermarket poly bushings, one squeeks, the other does not. The quiet one has POLYGRPHITE bushings. The noisy one has POLYEURETHANE bushings. If you want it quiet, be aware of which you are buying. The thing that bothers me the most about these parts is that they can, and will trap moisture between the bushing and the steel shell, or what ever design the suspension part employs, and they will rust. I have decide that if I ever put these parts in a car again, I will drill, and install zerk fittings in some way, so I can lube them just like ball joints.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
The poly graphite area polyurathane that is impreginated with graphite, hence the black color.
This summer I installed the Energy Suspension sway bar bushings front & rear on my '88 and got a nice increase in flatness when cornering.
This summer I installed the Energy Suspension sway bar bushings front & rear on my '88 and got a nice increase in flatness when cornering.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 13
From: Slidell Louisiana
Originally Posted by joshwilson3
So, what is the difference between POLYGRPHITE bushings and POLYEURETHANE bushings?
What brands and kits do you guys like? Any model numbers?
thanks
What brands and kits do you guys like? Any model numbers?
thanks
What brand did you install and did you copiously coat them in the supplied bushing lube?
Mike
Last edited by aboatguy; Oct 15, 2005 at 05:52 AM.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 416
Likes: 2
From: Westfield MA
I installed the Energy Suspension poly bushings front and rear in April 1995. Five years later, they all squeak badly. I coated all the sleeves with a liberal amount of the supplied grease at installation. I suspect the grease has dried up or has been displaced from the heavy contact area. The inner metal sleeve fits fairly snug inside the poly bushing, so even if you slobber lots of grease on it, most of it gets wiped off leaving just a thin film at installation. The only cure is to disassemble and apply another coat of grease. I have a tube of marine "outdrive" grease that I will try. I'm actually considering replacing all the bushings with the poly/graphite ones. The squeaking isn't noticable at highway speeds, but driving slowly thru a parking lot actually causes people to turn and stare.
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 218
Likes: 0
From: Gaithersburg Maryland
So there you go, that squeek can get you attention. Now they have turned and looked, and know that you have a special suspension. Seriously, the manufacturere will tell you if they are polyeurthane, or polygraphite. I haven;t studied the Corvette design yet, but there is probably a way to get a grease fitting in there to regrease these things. An they will rust without it. I have had that experience. The old rubber parts fit so tightly water cannot penetrate, but the poly parts do not.
Now they have turned and looked, and know that you have a special suspension. Seriously, the manufacturere will tell you if they are polyeurthane, or polygraphite. I haven;t studied the Corvette design yet, but there is probably a way to get a grease fitting in there to regrease these things. An they will rust without it. I have had that experience. The old rubber parts fit so tightly water cannot penetrate, but the poly parts do not.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Originally Posted by aboatguy
The difference is that the black Energy Suspension kit I have on my C4, doesn't squeek!
