squeaky suspension and grease...
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Canyon Country CA
squeaky suspension and grease...
my 98 with 60k is getting a little noisy...
did a search, people recommended using white lithium grease and spraying the bushings and what not...
went to Kragen, the manager said that white lithium grease will solve the noise problem in short term, but in the long run, will dry out the bushings and stuff even more than it is now...this is because WLG contains mineral oil and petronium (or something like that)
instead i got a multi-purpose silicone lubricant from Pyroil.. it says that it works for rubber gaskets, weather stripping.. basically, rubber is ok!
so i used the silicone libricant.. but it is not greasy,.. its more like oil, kinda like WD40...
well, it didnt solve the squeak.. so I was wondering if I should go ahead and use the white lithium grease.. i cant get new bushing and stuff at the moment, so id like a fairly good fix that will last more than just a few months...
also, exactly where do i spray the grease?
the car squeaks when going over speed bumps, or even simply on a bumpy road. not 100% sure if its the bushings or the shocks, but from searching, it came up as bushings...
thanks
did a search, people recommended using white lithium grease and spraying the bushings and what not...
went to Kragen, the manager said that white lithium grease will solve the noise problem in short term, but in the long run, will dry out the bushings and stuff even more than it is now...this is because WLG contains mineral oil and petronium (or something like that)
instead i got a multi-purpose silicone lubricant from Pyroil.. it says that it works for rubber gaskets, weather stripping.. basically, rubber is ok!
so i used the silicone libricant.. but it is not greasy,.. its more like oil, kinda like WD40...
well, it didnt solve the squeak.. so I was wondering if I should go ahead and use the white lithium grease.. i cant get new bushing and stuff at the moment, so id like a fairly good fix that will last more than just a few months...
also, exactly where do i spray the grease?
the car squeaks when going over speed bumps, or even simply on a bumpy road. not 100% sure if its the bushings or the shocks, but from searching, it came up as bushings...
thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 4
From: NW Arkansas
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
check this out
http://www.aaaindustrialsupply.com/i...TS&Category=63
I've used Super Lube for a long long time.
http://www.aaaindustrialsupply.com/i...TS&Category=63
I've used Super Lube for a long long time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
Use dia-electric grease. Grease ALL the metal to rubber surfaces, not just the surfaces that contact the swaybar. This means all the outer surfaces of the swaybar rubber bushing that contact the metal bracket. You have to remove the brackets to grease these.
As a last resort, you can buy poly bushings from Ecklers. They supply grease with them.
As a last resort, you can buy poly bushings from Ecklers. They supply grease with them.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,106
Likes: 1
From: Foresters Falls(near Ottawa) Ont
Use dia-electric grease. Grease ALL the metal to rubber surfaces, not just the surfaces that contact the swaybar. This means all the outer surfaces of the swaybar rubber bushing that contact the metal bracket. You have to remove the brackets to grease these.
As a last resort, you can buy poly bushings from Ecklers. They supply grease with them.
As a last resort, you can buy poly bushings from Ecklers. They supply grease with them.
Except for the poly bushing, they can be noisier than rubber!! Synthetic grease like what is used on brake caliper pins works good too.
RonJ ...
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Canyon Country CA
Use dia-electric grease. Grease ALL the metal to rubber surfaces, not just the surfaces that contact the swaybar. This means all the outer surfaces of the swaybar rubber bushing that contact the metal bracket. You have to remove the brackets to grease these.
As a last resort, you can buy poly bushings from Ecklers. They supply grease with them.
As a last resort, you can buy poly bushings from Ecklers. They supply grease with them.
maybe some pics would help...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,106
Likes: 1
From: Foresters Falls(near Ottawa) Ont
Have both wheels either hanging or holding the car. As long as they are the same, there's no load on the sway bar.
Remove the metal brackets from around the bushing. The bushing is split and will come right off for you. Clean and grease the surface, put the brackets back on and you're in business!
RonJ ...
Remove the metal brackets from around the bushing. The bushing is split and will come right off for you. Clean and grease the surface, put the brackets back on and you're in business!
RonJ ...
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 4
From: NW Arkansas
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Have both wheels either hanging or holding the car. As long as they are the same, there's no load on the sway bar.
Remove the metal brackets from around the bushing. The bushing is split and will come right off for you. Clean and grease the surface, put the brackets back on and you're in business!
RonJ ...
Remove the metal brackets from around the bushing. The bushing is split and will come right off for you. Clean and grease the surface, put the brackets back on and you're in business!
RonJ ...
the brackets are held in place by a bolt at the top and the nut of the lower control arm bolt at the bottom. be sure and torque the nut to 70 lb ft when reinstalling. the links at the end of the bar do not have to be removed to grease the bushings. 30 minute job, that includes raising the car.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
I tried lubricating the sway bar bushings once, but the noise became a lot worse. I just went ahead and replaced them and quiet immediately following. They are cheap, so when they wear out and start making noise, replace them.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 23,900
Likes: 218
From: Foxtrot Delta Tango
While a lot of the time it is the swaybar bushings...there are other bushings involved in the suspension. my squeaks were from the A-arm bushings....more labor intensive than the swaybar bushings....
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 333
Likes: 3
From: Sacramento California
My 1999 coupe has started doing the same thing, squeaking when I go over speed bumps. Back in the late 80's and early to mid 90's most guys (those that had polyurethane bushings especially) were using marine type grease because it wouldn't wash off if you drove the car in the rain. I can't remember which company, but one of the lubricant companies (Bel-Ray etc.)made a grease that was so sticky that you didn't want to get it on your hands because it would take days for it to come off!
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Canyon Country CA
Have both wheels either hanging or holding the car. As long as they are the same, there's no load on the sway bar.
Remove the metal brackets from around the bushing. The bushing is split and will come right off for you. Clean and grease the surface, put the brackets back on and you're in business!
RonJ ...
Remove the metal brackets from around the bushing. The bushing is split and will come right off for you. Clean and grease the surface, put the brackets back on and you're in business!
RonJ ...
and both wheels hanging, as in the air, or both wheels holding, as in sitting on level ground?
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 3
From: Mesa Arizona
I've never had any squeeks. But I can sure tell when my sway bar bushings lube dries out, especially the rear.
I've used White Lithium, it dries out like glue after 6 months.
I've used Silicone grease (di-electric), it dries out like glue after 6 months.
I've used Mobile 1 synthethic (pink stuff) and it too dries out very quickly.
Hey it's warmer out here but I don't have to do this on our other cars.
I've gotten used to lubing the sway bar bushings often but I too would like to find a lube that doesn't dry out. I wonder what GM uses???
I'm in my mid fifties and have never had to lube a sway bar ever. Ever since I installed the Z sways on my coupe, I get plenty of exercise greasing bushings!
I've used White Lithium, it dries out like glue after 6 months.
I've used Silicone grease (di-electric), it dries out like glue after 6 months.
I've used Mobile 1 synthethic (pink stuff) and it too dries out very quickly.
Hey it's warmer out here but I don't have to do this on our other cars.
I've gotten used to lubing the sway bar bushings often but I too would like to find a lube that doesn't dry out. I wonder what GM uses???
I'm in my mid fifties and have never had to lube a sway bar ever. Ever since I installed the Z sways on my coupe, I get plenty of exercise greasing bushings!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,106
Likes: 1
From: Foresters Falls(near Ottawa) Ont
As long as both wheels are doing the same, as in the air or sitting on the level ground, the bar is not loaded.
Don't jack up one rear corner to work on the bar, if the wheels are at different levels, the bar is loaded!!!
RonJ ...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,857
Likes: 2
From: pawleys island sc
if you're going to take them apart go ahead and change them out. either way make SURE you check the specs and RETORQUE properly. sorry I don't remember the specs off hand, just do a search.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 4
From: Slidell La
I have been having squeeks in the car for 3 years now. It is not the sway bar. I have been through the drill of grease, poly, factory, nuts. It isn't the sway bar. shocks? springs end pads possibly. But it sounds like a log wagon and I am not lubing the rubber bushings. My 2000 Ford truck is quieter and the bushings have twice the wear. I have (over 60) never had to lube sway bar bushings. If they are the cause after 4 sets there is something missing in solving these problems. I really believe it is the shocks / springs not sway bars.