C4boy

Anyone know what the correct bushing lube is for polyurethane bushings? Is there an SAE spec for it? I'm looking for something I can pick up locally as a first preference. All I see is people either recommending the wrong grease or just "marine grease".

Also, I'm guessing I have to pull the sway bar and end links apart to re-grease these. Any better tips?

Aardwolf

You can order Prothane or Energy suspension grease but it's expensive. I've been using Redline synthetic grease that's in my gun on everything. I've found it doesn't last as long but has less stiction. I found with how I use the car that no matter what grease I use it won't stay greased very long. I added zerks to all my suspension parts. I did not like poly in the end links, I found they took a dent pretty quickly. Search my threads for pix.

DanZ51

Although I have zero road miles since my poly conversion, I also installed zerk fittings to all the suspension bushings. I also notched the bushings slightly to accept and spread the grease. Right now I have a mini grease gun filled with silicone grease. It looked like what comes with the install of most poly bushings. Hummer H1 (HMMWV) use silicone in big packets or caulk gun tubes for use in their runflat tires.

C4boy

Yeah, I don't like these poly bushings one bit. The front end is creaking like a **** and the bushings are less than a year old. I used all the grease that came in the Energy suspension kit, too. I don't remember if the bushings were channeled for grease or I'd consider zerks. But then I'd have to find the correct grease in a tube.

Charleston2012

A greenish Blue marine grease works really well. We call it tourmaline (spelling).

leesvet

Any silicone grease will do, or graphite. DO NOT use petroleum based grease products on polyurethane as it softens the poly and finally causes it to wear. Like diesel fuel does to a windshield wiper blade...so does petro lubes will do to poly.

Those folks that don;t use zerks can use a wet silicone spray but it has to be applied often since its so thin..

Aardwolf

Creaking could be poor fitment too. The bushings should not be larger than the sleeve. I started a thread about it. Pic:

Aardwolf

It is impervious to petroleum.

C4boy

This is the same incorrect BS that gets parroted all over the internet and what I'm trying to avoid.


I will check the spacing, but I'm pretty certain the problem is the lube. When I installed the bushings I measured the sleeve spacing, which wasn't disturbed, and torqued to FSM specs... How long did that illustration take?!

leesvet

If you're so certain that its BS, Then WHY ASK the F'n QUESTION?

HUH?

C4boy

I thought I was pretty clear in my original question that I am looking to find the correct lube or the SAE specification for it. And not respones telling me to use the same crap I fix a door lock with.

So, I asked the F'n question in hopes of getting the right f'n answer.

mako41

There are several manufacturers that make a grease to be used with poly suspension bushings. It's not an internet myth that you shouldn't use a petroleum based grease on poly bushing. Every poly bushing manufacturer warns against using petroleum grease as it breaks down the poly over time.

Yes, a silicone based synthetic waterproof grease is the correct way to lube poly suspension bushings.

Energy suspension makes one w/ teflon;
http://www.energysuspensionparts.com...shing-Lube.asp

Spohn also makes one; http://www.alloutracing.com/store/sp...-tube-902.html

Hotchkis also make one; https://www.upscaleautomotive.com/p-...ease-14oz.aspx

Here's another; http://www.polybushings.com/pages/bushinglube.html

RUU

FWIW, step 5. in the VB&P All C-4s Poly Replacement Bushings document states;
No mention of using non-petroleum grease.

Charleston2012

I use Bel Ray tourmaline marine grease. If my bushings wear out due to it eating ans softening the bushings, then the ride will be nicer, J/K

C4boy

Bingo... I didn't think to look at Energy Suspension's website. Thanks for the links. The closest I could find locally was the stuff on the Spohn/All Out Racing link, which I'm pretty sure is Super Lube Synthetic Grease. It looks and sounds just like the ES prelube, but isn't as tacky. It was $9 a tube at a local hardware store. I'm pretty sure that's what Hotchkis is selling too - Super Lube w/o the label.

Jacki&GeneZ16

Is Ace Hardware's Super Lube Synthetic Grease going to be better in a cool area?

Does all Energy Suspension bushings have graphite impregnated in the polyurethane?

Hope adding to this year old post is useful... THE STORY...

I COULD NOT TAKE THE SQUEAKING ANYMORE!!!! My radio is not loud enough and my "No-Master" exhaust (cat-back w/mufflers deleted) isn't loud enough either to cancel my suspension squeaks. I am ready to "redo" my polyurethane bushings, after 30K mi and usually 6 to 8 autocrosses/yr.

First time through (2006) with 148K mi on my 87 Vette I replaced the original front and rear suspension bushings and swaybar bushings with PROTHANE and I used their GREASE packets. HOWEVER, IT SQUEAKED and irritated me, from the get go!!!

I thought I mounted and grease everything right. Possibly I did not lubricate liberally enough - I'm cheap, I did not buy additional Prothane grease (What do you think, a bad move?). Another variable is Anchorage Alaska area's cooler summer morning temperatures (often in the 50Fs, late Apr through Sep), compared to the Lower 48. Typically, after about 100 mi the squeaking would stop, I thought the Prothane lub could be too sticky.

After about 2 months of use I cleaned Prothane's grease out of most of the bushings and substituted MERCURY's Marine Lubricant 2-4-C with Teflon (marine mechanics call it Monkey snot); I assume is it is primarily silicon (comments?). For the good though, THIS CANCELLED MOST SQUEAKING!! And I had a couple years of squeak free driving.

Now (2012), the squeaking has increased to nearly an UNBEARABLE amount during 2011. So I am now taking apart my suspension cleaning and so I can re-grease.

Observation: HEY AFTER 30K mi these Prothane bushings are in GREAT SHAPE!!!!

So as I'm preparing for the next 178K mi on my 87 Vette. I want to try something different, maybe a grease that will last longer than 30 K mi without squeaking.

As I get further into my clean & re-grease project I see I'll need to destroy the upper control arm bushings, cut & drill them out. So I bought a new front set of ENERGY SUSPENSION's bushings. I read theirs had graphite in them, so I am replacing the front Prothane with ES's. They arrived yesterday and I am a little disappointed the Energy Suspension box doesn't mention the graphite, did I buy a cheaper ES line from Summit Racing? (Or are all ES bushing include graphite, comments?)

Now as I procrastinate (hey, we've had a near record winter snow 60 year record and I bet the roads will not be good for another 4 weeks). So I'm reading this thread and other excellent CF threads. I am ready to drive 15 mi in my Chevy truck to buy a tube of Ace's Super Lube Synthetic Grease. (DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE BETTER FOR MY REMOVING MY SQUEAKING CONDITIONS FOR A LONGER TIME?)

PLRX

Dont feel any different. I do have the "expensive" grease and it doesnt stay there forever.

mcm95403

This is the awesome lube for poly bushings:

http://www.polybushings.com/pages/bushinglube.html