polyurethane rear control arm bushings

[visionary]

does anyone out there have any cures for the 'squeak' after installing polyurethane rear control arm bushings.

i have reduce the squeak completely on the right rear by greasing them with bearing grease but have only reduce the problem on the left rear....

any magic tricks would be appreciated

[shuma02]

hello,

are all of them making noise ? i just ordered some today, i was told they're better than the rubber ones...

anyone else having the noise issue ?

slav.

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by shuma02

hello,

are all of them making noise ? i just ordered some today, i was told they're better than the rubber ones...

anyone else having the noise issue ?

slav.

PU bushings will squeek, especially in cold/cooler weather unless they are well greased EVERY PLACE that they contact metal. I've had some luck with using High Temp Silicone Brake Grease in this application, however I do still get a bit of squeek in colder weather. The remaining noise isn't very loud or annoying on my car, and the increase in performance is worth every squeek that I might occasionally hear.

[shuma02]

thank you for your reply,

living in Los Angeles i'm not too worried about the cold weather squeek :classic:

however i was just wondering, you're the second person that has mentioned the increase in performance, the first person sold it to me.

i don't know much about these things, could explain please how just 4 bushings will affect the ride of my car ? and how does it differ from regular rubber.

thanx,

slav.

[z_boi]

i was told not to use gress but to use silicone lubercant on pu bushings.

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by shuma02

thank you for your reply,

living in Los Angeles i'm not too worried about the cold weather squeek :classic:

however i was just wondering, you're the second person that has mentioned the increase in performance, the first person sold it to me.

i don't know much about these things, could explain please how just 4 bushings will affect the ride of my car ? and how does it differ from regular rubber.

thanx,

slav.

Well, using only 4 bushings, you are not going to ge the full benefit of this upgrade, since the suspension has 10 main bushings (two main front, and eight main ones in the rear) PLUS two tension/compression bushings up front and two differential support bushings in the rear. However, in general terms the reason you get a better handling car is that the PU bushings do not deform and "flex" as much as the stock rubber bushings do. When your suspension reacts to the forces put on it by the steering inputs and the surface of the road, those forces are transmitted to the chassis through these bushings. The rubber bushings will absorb some of these forces. The PU bushings will not deflect and deform as much as the rubber, so more of these forces are transmitted directly and more quickly into the chassis.

To get full benefit of PU bushings, you should install them all, or at least the 4 inner ones for the rear, and the two main ones in the front. You will also maximize the return on your labor investment ( $$$ or work effort) by rebuilding the entire suspension all at once.

It really doesn't make sense to go with PU in the rear and leave old rubber (or even new rubber bushings in the front suspension. If you DO go with PU in the rear only, you'll find that the rear end of the car performs vastly different than the front end. Generally not a good thing to have going on.

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by z_boi

i was told not to use gress but to use silicone lubercant on pu bushings.

You should not use regular grease on these bushings. Silicone grease is what should be used. You could use a silcone lubricant from a spray can, but it will not last as long as a silcone grease.

BTW, Silcone grease IS a Silcone Lubricant

[shuma02]

thanx Bambi killer,

the main rear 4 come with 2 spindle pin bushings in a pack i got from Motorsport Auto, so that would give me 6 in the back, i haven't even started to mess with the front yet, but now i know i'll probably do it soon. thank you for your extensive answer.

slav.

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by shuma02

thanx Bambi killer,

the main rear 4 come with 2 spindle pin bushings in a pack i got from Motorsport Auto, so that would give me 6 in the back, i haven't even started to mess with the front yet, but now i know i'll probably do it soon. thank you for your extensive answer.

slav.

You are welcome

Just as there are two Inner (Main) Bushings for each side of the Rear Suspension, there are two Outter (Spindle pin) Bushings for each side of the Rear Suspension for a total of 8 bushings.

[260DET]

Sorry Carl, but I don't agree that poly rear suspension bushes are superior to the OE originals at all. In fact for that particular application I think that they are inferior, being subject to shear something which poly is not appropriate for.

Where I live they are available but no competition cars use them and we have no problems that can be attributed to rubber bush flex in the rear suspension.

[Bambikiller240]

Drive a Zcar with them installed, and one with rubber bushings and you'll KNOW the difference in handling that they make.

As for shear loads, it's the spindle pins and Inner Transverse link bolts that handle the shear. Just like the rubber bushings, there is no place for the bushings to "shear", since they are surrounded by steel.

PS

1. Everyone is welcome to their own opinion
   
2. I'm not selling anything here, I'm relating personal experience gained over 28 years of owning, driving, modifying and maintaining 240Z's
   [/list=1]

[visionary]

The bearing grease has stopped the squeaking, but, I will try one more time with a silicone lubricant.

concerning the ride and handling, it is true. the handling is much more positive and the ride is improved a thousand percent. I have replaced all of my bushings with poyurethane on the car. one thing that has also improved substantially is the "clunking" from the rear end. i also installed the tension arm kit from motorsport as well and the alignment and positive feel in the steering wheel is very noticable as well.

the car has an 'updated' feel to the ride and handling and is very solid.

sorry about the delay in responding...

keith