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Add grease fittings to poly UCA/LCA bushings?

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Melrose RS

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I've got my front end apart doing the disc brake swap and I can see why my poly bushings have been squeaking and riding so harshly. There is no lube left in them. I could barely move the control arms by hand until I loosened the bolts.

I am thinking about experimenting with tapping the shells for grease fittings.
I can't see why they wouldn't have had fittings in the first place. Cost, maybe.

Anybody try this? Good idea, bad idea? I need compatible grease for poly right?

Thanks,
Tom
 
Discussion starter · #2 ·
Well, I've answered one of my own questions already. That being why didn't they put grease fittings on them from the start...I have "polygraphite" bushings from P-S-T that are supposedly impregnated with graphite so they never need lubrication. Ha ha. Bought these about 20 yrs ago. Didn't remember that part.
http://www.p-s-t.com/s.nl/it.A/id.88/.f?sc=12
 
#3 ·
Yeah, graphite impregnated doesn't mean no squeaks. I've always taken a hacksaw and added some small grooves to the bushings inside and out to help hold extra grease. I like Valvoline red synthetic grease for stuff like this as it doesn't wash away.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
yellow69RS said:
Another reason for no fitting in the shell is the thickness of the shell. the greease fitting would gall a groove in the bushing .

Jeff
Click to expand...
I've looked at bushings that have fittings and I think the solution is to cut a groove in the bushing deeper and wider than the depth/width that the fitting protrudes through. That's my plan, anyway.:)
 
#6 ·
I really hate to be a wet blanket but what about the inner sleeve as well. I really don't know how the Del a lum's get lubed everywhere or if they even do. I thnk the bushings need grease between the inner sleeve and bushing as well as the outer shell and bushing. If you get this fully sorted let me know so I can copy you.

Jeff
 
#7 ·
yellow69RS said:
I really hate to be a wet blanket but what about the inner sleeve as well. I really don't know how the Del a lum's get lubed everywhere or if they even do. I thnk the bushings need grease between the inner sleeve and bushing as well as the outer shell and bushing. If you get this fully sorted let me know so I can copy you.

Jeff
Click to expand...
I just installed the del-a-lums in my LCAs. they do indeed get lubed between the steel center sleeve and the delrin part and between the delrin part and the shell.
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
yellow69RS said:
I really hate to be a wet blanket but what about the inner sleeve as well. I really don't know how the Del a lum's get lubed everywhere or if they even do. I thnk the bushings need grease between the inner sleeve and bushing as well as the outer shell and bushing. If you get this fully sorted let me know so I can copy you.

Jeff
Click to expand...
No problem. I appreciate the help thinking this through. I did conclude after looking at the lowers apart that the bushing should slide against the sleeve also. So I'll drill a couple holes through the bushing itself so grease can reach all the way in to the sleeve surface.
Image
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
BPOS said:
I just installed the del-a-lums in my LCAs. they do indeed get lubed between the steel center sleeve and the delrin part and between the delrin part and the shell.
Click to expand...
Thanks, Al. Do the delrin parts have any sort of horizontal reliefs cut in them to hold the grease? If so, can you describe them?
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
Discussion starter · #14 ·
Tonight I pushed the upper control arm bushings out by hand. Luckily they came right apart and show no damage. I can see from the wear on the end washers that the bushings were binding against the washers. This was probably the major cause of my squeaking and tight ride characteristics. When I bolt these back together I'll add a washer in there and grease so the bushing can turn like it is intended to.
Image


I also realized that the UCA shells are not wide enough at any point to mount a grease fitting that would be functional and accessible so I am just going to have to grease these up and put them back together as they are. There is only 3/8" of shell accessible.
Image
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
I wrapped up this project over the weekend and took some photos.

First I drilled through the bushing shells and bushings. Make sure you put the hole at a point where it will be accessible when reassembled.

Then with a single edged razor blade I cut a groove around the poly bushing itself. This took about 10 minutes each. I am sure there are more precise ways- such as chucking it in a lathe- but this is quick and dirty. Just make sure the groove is wider and deeper than the grease fitting's protrusion through the shell.
Image


Then I drilled a couple more holes through the bushing to ensure that grease makes it to the center sleeve.

I tapped the shell with a 1/4-28 tap and greased up the bushing, pushed it all back together then tightened up the grease fitting.
Image



Now I can see the sleeves turn freely within the bushing and the bushing can turn within the shell, so I predict a 100% improvement over what I had before- sqeaky, binding bushings. Luckily, I did not need a bushing press on any of these. With a hammer and a couple deep well sockets they came apart and went back together pretty easily. :cool:
 
Discussion starter · #18 ·
Well just greasing and reassembling these polygraphite bushings made a dramatic improvement in ride quality. I used to think it was the springs or shocks causing the stiff ride. But now using the same springs and shocks i can see it was the LCA bushings binding. I suspect a lot other people may have this problem and not be aware of it. I havent actually applied a grease gun to the bushings yet because i dont own one but plan to grab one next time im at Harbor Freight. Overall, a 100% improvement.


Sent from my iPhone using Autoguide
 
#19 ·
Harbor Freight air grease gun is perfect for home garage use. I've had one for several years and hit all the zerks on our vehicles yearly. Sure beats being on your back and trying to pump the darn handle a gazillion times.
 
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rj68RS
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