Squeak in suspension fix

[Cornpatch MO]

!968 Plymouth Satellite ....When I bought this car, I was told that the front suspension had been gone through
Everything appeared that was true . I drove the car for some time when a squeek developed . Just a slight
push down on the fender and it would make the noise . I lubricated everything including the shock absorber shaft
I asked mechanics about it . I finally found the lower control arm shaft bushing had not been replaced evidently
the former owner did not want to do that big job . I did a lot of research on whether rubber or poly bushing .
I finally found a replacement shaft with poly bushing kit that I bought . It has a grease zerk in the end of the shaft .
. And a metal bushing shell My mechanic and I was very impressed with it . No need for a press I put both
sides in . I am convinced that not only sqweek gone , but drives and handles better now . The company I got it
from is : Proforged part number 120-10005 Summit racing. I highly recommend ..............................MO

 

[493 Mike]

!968 Plymouth Satellite ....When I bought this car, I was told that the front suspension had been gone through
Everything appeared that was true . I drove the car for some time when a squeek developed . Just a slight
push down on the fender and it would make the noise . I lubricated everything including the shock absorber shaft
I asked mechanics about it . I finally found the lower control arm shaft bushing had not been replaced evidently
the former owner did not want to do that big job . I did a lot of research on whether rubber or poly bushing .
I finally found a replacement shaft with poly bushing kit that I bought . It has a grease zerk in the end of the shaft .
. And a metal bushing shell My mechanic and I was very impressed with it . No need for a press I put both
sides in . I am convinced that not only sqweek gone , but drives and handles better now . The company I got it
from is : Proforged part number 120-10005 Summit racing. I highly recommend ..............................MO

Good to hear from you MO (Steve?).
Mike from 62 to 65 list

 

[Don Frelier]

Just to be clear,
You did have to remove the old shell from the rubber busing inside the lower control arm correct?
This is the toughest part of the project on these lower arms.

 

[Darter6]

A buddy of mine did a 64 Savoy .Complete rebuild front end. Brought it over asking what could it be ?
He never greased a fitting thinking the parts are new and should have grease. Nope dry as a bone..

 

[matthon]

Those poly bushings slide into the old shell, no need to remove.
Poly bushings require silicone grease.

 

[Cornpatch MO]

Good to hear from you MO (Steve?).
Mike from 62 to 65 list

Thank you old friend ( yes, Steve ) I put a later avatar pic up today . Reading your medical on bottom line, I guess I shouldn't complain of all my issues ! My Plymouth is all done but for getting better upholstery for the back seat . I am rebuilding old Cushman scooters now . I been absent here for a while , but will check in more often ....Merry Christmas to you and yours .............................MO

 

[Cornpatch MO]

Just to be clear,
You did have to remove the old shell from the rubber busing inside the lower control arm correct?
This is the toughest part of the project on these lower arms.

I wasn't there when he took the control arm off . I don't know what he did to remove the old bushing . The kit comes with a new bushing shell Come to think of it, he probably did have to press in the new shell into the control arm . . The new poly bushings just slide onto the new shaft . ..............................MO

 

[Cornpatch MO]

I forgot to mention , there are no instruction included , but they are available on the internet . . There was no mention of using silicone grease , but more than one advised not to use the provided new nuts on the shaft . They said to buy new ones, so I did .

 

[Sixpactogo]

I installed polyurethane bushings in my Charger back in 2015. The ones I used were not the greaseable ones but came with the grease. I used the supplied grease when I put them in. They were fine for a few years but now the right side has been squeaking for the past year. I have been thinking about ditching the Polys and going back to rubber. Maybe I should look into the greaseable shafts and get a tube of the correct grease. Guess I have to mull it over some. I was getting ready to order a pair of the stock rubber bushings.

 

[RR Fan Dan]

I installed polyurethane bushings in my Charger back in 2015. The ones I used were not the greaseable ones but came with the grease. I used the supplied grease when I put them in. They were fine for a few years but now the right side has been squeaking for the past year. I have been thinking about ditching the Polys and going back to rubber. Maybe I should look into the greaseable shafts and get a tube of the correct grease. Guess I have to mull it over some. I was getting ready to order a pair of the stock rubber bushings.

Get the greasable shafts, and the correct grease really matters.

 

[Cornpatch MO]

I installed polyurethane bushings in my Charger back in 2015. The ones I used were not the greaseable ones but came with the grease. I used the supplied grease when I put them in. They were fine for a few years but now the right side has been squeaking for the past year. I have been thinking about ditching the Polys and going back to rubber. Maybe I should look into the greaseable shafts and get a tube of the correct grease. Guess I have to mull it over some. I was getting ready to order a pair of the stock rubber bushings.

I actually had the rubber bushings because I had heard about problems with the polys . When I saw the greasable shafts with a zerk , I decided to try them No regrets and my mechanic was impressed with them . .......................MO

 

[Cornpatch MO]

Get the greasable shafts, and the correct grease really matters.

I can see silicone grease on the non greaseable shafts , but if they can be greased regularly , is silicone really necessary ? No mention of it on the internet from other installers ...................MO

 

[RR Fan Dan]

is silicone really necessary

Yes

 

[Kern Dog]

Back in the early 2000s, it was a popular thing to replace all the rubber bushings with the urethane.
The magazine articles pushed the idea, the ads for them touted more precise suspension, etc.
Yeah, maybe but at what cost? The lower bushing takes the brunt of the suspension forces so that bushing is right in the thick of that.
I fell for the hype. I ended up removing the LCA bushings and went back to rubber because of the vibrations and harshness. Now I did have 1.0 torsion bars and KYB shocks back then, a combination that is known to produce a stiff ride but when I switched back to rubber bushings, while the ride was still firm, it lost that vibration and harshness of before. Now, I wouldn't bother with urethane in the upper or lower control arms, only the strut rods, shocks and sway bar.

 

[RR Fan Dan]

I did have 1.0 torsion bars and KYB shocks back then, a combination that is known to produce a stiff ride but when I switched back to rubber bushings, while the ride was still firm, it lost that vibration and harshness of before

Hmmm. Now you got me thinking. I’m going with the same set up and got energy suspension bushings.

 

[Sixpactogo]

Back in the early 2000s, it was a popular thing to replace all the rubber bushings with the urethane.
The magazine articles pushed the idea, the ads for them touted more precise suspension, etc.
Yeah, maybe but at what cost? The lower bushing takes the brunt of the suspension forces so that bushing is right in the thick of that.
I fell for the hype. I ended up removing the LCA bushings and went back to rubber because of the vibrations and harshness. Now I did have 1.0 torsion bars and KYB shocks back then, a combination that is known to produce a stiff ride but when I switched back to rubber bushings, while the ride was still firm, it lost that vibration and harshness of before. Now, I wouldn't bother with urethane in the upper or lower control arms, only the strut rods, shocks and sway bar.

Thanks KD. Those are the same thoughts I have been having about the harshness and clunkiness going over a railroad track or bumpy road. It seem like the noise is much worse with the poly bushings. I also have a slight vibration but I thought that was from the drive line. Maybe the rubber will help ease that too. I have the stock front sway bar with the Bilsteins but it seems the front suspension is more harsh than it was with the rubber. I greased the poly bushings like they told me but never liked the harshness they provided. Now the squeak on the right side annoys me and I'm guessing the left side will be soon be squeaking as well. I'm with you going back to the factory rubber LCA bushings. I won't wear them out in my lifetime anyway. Thanks again for sharing your experience. It solidifies my decision.

 

[Darter6]

vibrations and harshness.

Same goes for engine and transmission mounts. Polyurethane too buzzy for me anymore.