front suspension bushing installation alternative to liquid soap? Options

[Cvrguy]

The essential question is how the bushings function. Do they regulate suspension movement in shear or are they solely serving a cushioning function? If it is the latter, a high quality non-petroleum based grease should function well while also serving a corrosion resistant role as well. Thoughts?

[Ninja]

The bushings twist!

They should stay locked to both the body mount and the shaft.

They should be tightened/locked at normal ride height and the farther you deflect them the more resistance they add (adds to spring rate).

Grease is a BAD idea.

I've used dish soap or diesel as an assembly lubricant.



The EXCEPTION to this is bushings NOT made out of rubber.

Urethane/Delrin/nylon (normal "performance" bushings) require specific lubricants (usually some type of silicon grease).

It is a real good idea to add grease zerks to the bushing housings as these bushings squeak like hell when they get dry.

I've never installed a set that didn't squeak at some point.


Edit: Phil @Superhawk996 suggests glycerin as another option. I've not used that before, but liquid glycerin is super slippery.
Might be worth trying if you're struggling with the soap.