86 front poly squeek like crazy
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 320
Likes: 3
86 front poly squeek like crazy
I have new poly bushings in the control arms, but am learning that poly is great for compression, but not rotational movement. I lube the hell out of those puppies. Anyone know where I can get the stock bushings? or of some other material that is not high maintenance. Not looking for the dul-a-lum. I live in Arizona and it can get hot. Maybe that has something to do with it?
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,660
Likes: 22
its poly.
nobody talked to you about the squeeking? ya sure?
the easy way out is to fit a grease zerk in the bushings and use a good hi-dollar syn-grease OR silicone grease if you can find it. Thats will stop the noise and give you the solid feel of poly bushings. The black rubber is around but hard to find sets.
nobody talked to you about the squeeking? ya sure?
the easy way out is to fit a grease zerk in the bushings and use a good hi-dollar syn-grease OR silicone grease if you can find it. Thats will stop the noise and give you the solid feel of poly bushings. The black rubber is around but hard to find sets.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 878
Likes: 2
Chevy dealer. Every vendor out there sells the same poly crap. Learned my lesson on poly bushings a long time ago. Waste of time on the street,harsh riding,noisy grease fitting or not.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,660
Likes: 22
I think the poly stuff goes hand n hand with the TB airfoil and some other misc after-market BS that got sold to the avg car guy by the outrageous performance claims on the box. Never seen a box that said even in tiny print....beware the awful noises and squeeks that make your car sound like its falling apart
If THEY say it will make our car better, go faster or handle better....somebody WILL buy it. Everytime. Thats called Marketing and taking advantage of the irrational thought process of someone thats in love with his car...!
If THEY say it will make our car better, go faster or handle better....somebody WILL buy it. Everytime. Thats called Marketing and taking advantage of the irrational thought process of someone thats in love with his car...!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 878
Likes: 2
I think the poly stuff goes hand n hand with the TB airfoil and some other misc after-market BS that got sold to the avg car guy by the outrageous performance claims on the box. Never seen a box that said even in tiny print....beware the awful noises and squeeks that make your car sound like its falling apart
If THEY say it will make our car better, go faster or handle better....somebody WILL buy it. Everytime. Thats called Marketing and taking advantage of the irrational thought process of someone thats in love with his car...!
If THEY say it will make our car better, go faster or handle better....somebody WILL buy it. Everytime. Thats called Marketing and taking advantage of the irrational thought process of someone thats in love with his car...!
Pro
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 613
Likes: 3
In the meantime i just had most of my rear bushings done, they installed delrin bushings which are supposed to be squeak free, only time will tell.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
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From: Bangkok, Thailand
Pro
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 613
Likes: 3
Another option though pricey ! these use rubber bushings or duro rubber ( what ever that is ).
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...,d.eWU&cad=rja
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...,d.eWU&cad=rja
Last edited by GQ-ROD; Apr 9, 2013 at 09:05 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 13
From: Slidell Louisiana
Follow the link for your best bet at factory bushings
http://www.corvetterecycling.com/category_s/90.htm
However, my front end has had polys for 8 years now with zero squeeks and I haven't touched them since the install/
I suggest you regrease them...
Mike
Last edited by aboatguy; Apr 9, 2013 at 09:30 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 15
From: Wallingford Vermont
I rate poly bushings right down there with "brake upgrades" installing C5 C6 brakes on a C4 is a complete WASTE of money. C4 brakes will throw my ugly face through the windshield. Put a good set or rotors and pads on it and go. Stopping is stopping unless you're auto crossing the car.
And for the OP: this is a Zerk fitting. It gets fed silicone grease once a year, haven't heard a squeak yet.
Last edited by DanZ51; Apr 10, 2013 at 12:17 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 15
From: Wallingford Vermont
Yup, I did the Zerk install when I did the bushings. I also put a small groove in the bushing (with a Dremel) to allow the grease to distribute around the outside (of the bushing). Make sure the zerk is in a spot that it doesn't rub on anything and you can get a grease gun on it. Sorry, I didn't take any pictures at the time.
Last edited by DanZ51; Apr 10, 2013 at 10:13 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 878
Likes: 2
Care to measure brake distances? How about after the third successive hard stop? I know there's a hell of a difference between 11" brakes that my '86 came with, compared to the 13" C5 brakes that it now sports.
And for the OP: this is a Zerk fitting. It gets fed silicone grease once a year, haven't heard a squeak yet.
And for the OP: this is a Zerk fitting. It gets fed silicone grease once a year, haven't heard a squeak yet.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,960
Likes: 707
From: WI
Yup, I did the Zerk install when I did the bushings. I also put a small groove in the bushing (with a Dremel) to allow the grease to distribute around the outside (of the bushing). Make sure the zerk is in a spot that it doesn't rub on anything and you can get a grease gun on it. Sorry, I didn't take any pictures at the time.
Sometimes there is a squeak from incorrect installation of the bushing being to long. If the bushing is longer than the inside metal sleeve the bushing will be squeezed causing the squeak. Here is a diagram:
When I built mine I was tempted to get creative. Instead of grinding a channel for the grease it might be possible to make it better. Heating something knurled and pressing it into the bushing to make a cross hatch pattern would be pretty cool.
The stock brakes with good quality pads worked great on mine car but not on a road course. People upgrade all the time for looks though.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 279
Likes: 2
From: Las Vegas Nevada
I had to tear my old rubber bushings out with a variety of methods to replace them with my polys. I imagine it would be near impossible to get rubber back in there without damaging it.
Check auction sites or anything related to Corvettes, but watch the price skyrocket.
There's a local shop near me that sells Corvette parts.
You can give him a call and see if he ships...
(925) 449-2176
Ask for Carter.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,704
Likes: 8
A friend of mine,he has a machine shop,bought a long rod of industrial rubber from an industrial supplier .He has removed old bushing and he has machined out from the rod all the new bushings.this kind of rubber is hard enough to give better handling without sacrifying confort and obviously no noises.He told me it was an hard work since he has to give a good interference but not too much becouse of the metal bushing.Once he had the first bushing to work fine,then was simply lathe work.
Last edited by tunedport85inject; Apr 11, 2013 at 03:25 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 15
From: Wallingford Vermont
This is backwards for poly, the outside of the bushing does not rotate and does not need lube. The bushing rotates on the inside metal sleeve and that is where lube is needed. Also the inside metal sleeve does not rotate, the control arm and bushing rotates about it. To lube remove the metal sleeve and drill a hole through the bushing then make a channel and replace the tube.
Trying to jar my memory I did stumble across an interesting article off the Miata board. http://clubroadster.net/vb_forum/86-...-bushings.html
Oh and as far as brake upgrades go: Oh yaas, 11" brakes are greeaat, that's why the Chevy upgraded to 12" brakes in '88, then 13" in '95. Because Corvette owners want big brakes to look cool.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,960
Likes: 707
From: WI
I added zerks to all my suspension when I found that even the expensive bushing grease didn't last long. My car sees a lot of drag/road track use though so YMMV. I don't think I uploaded any control arm pics since C4 tech isn't that active any more. I looked and found a sway bar bushing pic:
Found one:
The bottom is more involved. A hole needs to be drilled in the flange metal to access the zerk. Speaking of zerks, anyone know of inexpensive covers? All I ever find are ten bucks for ten covers kind of deals. Very pricey for the small bit of plastic.
Found one:
The bottom is more involved. A hole needs to be drilled in the flange metal to access the zerk. Speaking of zerks, anyone know of inexpensive covers? All I ever find are ten bucks for ten covers kind of deals. Very pricey for the small bit of plastic.