MB Bushing Problem

[=Resurected280=]

Hey Everyone,

I have a question that I have not found an answer to through the search function that is driving me crazy at the moment. I installed urethane mustashe bar bushings in my car (the 280Z in my signature) to replace the mushy and very old rubber ones this summer. The bushings however have sqeaked, creaked and groaned very loudly since I did this (I did use the silicone lube that came with them) and today I took the bushings out again and regreased them with ALOT of bushing lube and they still make tons of noise. I did this two more times today with no sucess at making the noise go away.

My question is does anyone know of any tips or tricks in putting these in or applying the lube to them? Also does anyone know how much of a difference these bushings actually make? If this noise does not go away I'm changing them back to stock. (yes the noise is that loud)

Thanks =)

[hls30.com]

Did ypu grease all surfaces of the bushing? There should be silicone grease inside and outside the bushing.. I grease the bushing and what ever it touches(outer walls and inner hardware).

Will

[=Resurected280=]

Yes, I did grease all the surfaces of the bushing, I also put extra inbetween the two halves of the bushings hoping maybe this would help.

One other thing though, each time I took the bushings out to grease them again the outer surface of the bushing that contacts the MB itself had almost no silicone left on it (I think it all pushed out when I tightened them, I used factory specs here). I dont know whether its supposed to do this or not but I thought it was kind of odd.

[=Enigma=]

Are you sure it is actually these bushings that are causing the squeaking? Did you replace any others with poly?

[=Resurected280=]

I did replace other bushing with the MB bushings, but they were all in the front end, the MB bushings are the only ones I replaced in the back of the car. These are bushings from MSA btw.

[jmortensen]

The Mustache bar bushings don't really move at all. I'd expect a control arm bushing to squeak, but not a mustache bar bushing, especially if the bolts were tight enough.

Could it be a swaybar bushing or something else?

[hls30.com]

I think the firmness of the urethane inthe MB has made the flex move, and your noises are coming from the new flex. If you get under the car(pull one side up on a curb) and have someone rock, it in addition to getting sand and road grit in your eyes, you will probably find the the noisy joint.

Will

[=Resurected280=]

Ahhhhhhh, jmortensen, that just made me think of something, I did replace the swaybar and end-link bushings with urethane while I was back there also (I did not do the control arm bushings though). Would this be a more likely culprit?

[beandip]

BINGO . I installed a set of Urethane M B bushings with zero lube and have no squeak at all . Do look to the sway bar set especially where it connects to the body.

[=Resurected280=]

ok, thanks guys, I'll try something with the sway bar tomorrow and report back with what I find, that does sound like a more likely source than the MB, so we'll see =)

[=Resurected280=]

Ok, I completely disconnected the rear sway bar from the body this afternoon and had no sqeaks. So I lubed up the sway bar bushings, reinstalled them and now its quiet as can be :stupid: so, ya, go figure. Thanks again everyone. =)

[=Enigma=]

I'm not sure this qualifies for a POD award but you're now a runner-up. Glad you got it figured out. Nothing more embarassing that driving around in a squeaky rig.