Front A arm bushing question Options

[rick 918-S]

I am installing new front bushings on the A arms for the 6. I watched several videos on the subject. There was one that even showed a guy wrapping plumbers Teflon tape around the arm and bushings as means of providing a squeak resistant surface. My confusion is the use of grease/Teflon and grease on the outer surface of the bushings. I would think you would want resistance on the outer surface and movement on the inner surface. What is the theory (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[TheRuttmeister]

You don't want to use grease on rubber bushings. You risk the grease damaging the rubber. Depending on which rubber and which grease, the life of the rubber can be greatly reduced.

Poly bushings were developed for racing which doesn't care about squeaky suspension.

With metal bushings you usually want the bushing fitted on one side (ID or OD), but that's mostly for reasons that don't apply here.

In theory lubrication on the OD of the bushings will last longer as the OD is under less stress per unit area. With Poly bushings I'd just put graphite or some other dry lubricant on them, inside and out. Teflon spray would work. Teflon tape is just going to get torn up, its a sealant, not a lubricant.

[Superhawk996]

You don't want to use grease on rubber bushings. You risk the grease damaging the rubber. Depending on which rubber and which grease, the life of the rubber can be greatly reduced.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) X10

Use KY jelly, Astroglide, or even dish soap. Never use grease. Those water based lubricants dry out and let the rubber grip the mating parts.

Rubber bushings are not meant to rotate. They should grip both the A-arm and the bushing housing tightly. Grease on those surfaces will allow rotation and will tear up and wear out the bushing in very short order.