Grunting Poly Bushes

[pertwoodpie]

Couple of weeks ago replaced all bushes on front end of our traveller with Poly ones now they creak, grunt and make many noises, nothing is loose and any worn metal parts were replaced!
Tried squirting WD40 into them but alas still noises!

HELP!

Many thanks

Marcus

[philthehill]

Remove them, smoother them in grease and refit. Problem cured.
You can fit grease nipples to the eye bolts as I have done and anywhere else you think would benefit.
Some say use white grease, some say red grease but I find that ordinary LM grease is suitable for use on poly bushes.

[pertwoodpie]

Thanks worth considering but the problem with doing this is that they turn into bearings!

Marcus

[philthehill]

Yes they do turn into a type of bearings (sic) but they will be supple bearings and not squeak or groan and that is the difference.
Over the years I have run all types of suspension bushes - original rubber (totally useless), various grades of poly bush and hard plastic (from Minor Mania) on my Minor including hard plastic bushes in the eye bolts and so long as they are greased (red grease for original spec rubber bushes) all will be OK.
Fitted in to the eyes of my rear springs are a mixture of hard plastic and poly bushes as I find that the combination used suits my needs perfectly.

[bmcecosse]

To save the dismantling again - use 'spray grease' - often available in Poundland/world for a small can - and it works well for inaccessible parts. I assume you only tightened everything up when the weight of the car was on the suspension.... ?

[alexmcguffie]

http://www.polybush.co.uk/instructions

[philthehill]

Alex
Fitting instructions yes but no maintenance instructions!
Therefore I presume that Poly Bush do not expect maintenance to be carried out only replacement at end of bush life.
Though I do note that they say remove all traces of grease as it will reduce Poly Bush life I have found that putting
grease on a Poly Bush (using the generic term) has never had any adverse effects (only benefits) on the poly bushes fitted by myself and I believe that there are some on this forum who advocate using white/red/other grease upon installation.
bmc is correct in saying that the suspension nuts/bolts should only be finally tightened when the suspension is in its normal at rest position i.e. car on its wheels.
Phil

[alexmcguffie]

Hi Phil,
I have only ever used 'self drying' lubricants with bushes (washing up liquid, Hellerman oil etc). I'd imagine they presume that grease, over time, will attract dirt and grit.

[bmcecosse]

The fact that the bushes are 'grunting' indicates that they are holding tight to the metal parts - and then 'letting go' - making the noise as they do so. I've had poly on Minor and Mini for many years and always with some grease. Any dirt attracted doesn't seem to do any harm.

[philthehill]

Alex & bmc
Many thanks for your observations.
It is like the old chestnut 'Do you grease/oil leaf springs'. But we wont go there.
I have always greased my suspension bushes even when the Minor was on the road and I have to say like bmc it never did them any harm and I never experienced rapid or excessive wear of the pin or bush - mainly the opposite.
I will leave it up to the person doing the job to weigh up the pros and cons and act accordingly.
Happy motoring
Phil