[DeTomaso] Suspension bushings squeaking

[Mike Drew]

Mike,

Did you use polyurethane bushings? Stock bushings never seem to squeak so I’m assuming you switched to poly (which is a mistake IMHO, but if you’re already there, it’s not so egregious that you have to switch back).

If you used poly bushings, they need to be thoroughly lubricated. People routinely lube the inside and outside of the bushings and completely forget that it’s the flat ends of the bushings where much of the squeak comes from. 

I use this stuff:

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_7651351

Normally when you buy poly bushings for other applications, they include a laughably small tube of this stuff. This is a lifetime supply. 

You can easily handle this job yourself without needing to dismantle or disturb anything overmuch.  First, jack up the car (or at least the corner you are working on).  Start with one corner and remove the wheel.  Then support the suspension on a jack, and remove both bolts for one A-arm and pry it out of the mounts. Pop the bushings out of the A-arm, clean everything, lube the inside, outside, and ends of the bushings, reinstall them in the A-arms, wrestle the A-arms back into position, and install the nuts and bolts.

Then repeat seven more times.

The nuts don’t need to be crazy tight, as they are self-locking Nylock nuts. Overtightening just leads to more squeaking. Follow the torque specs in the shop manual.

Your sway bars could also be making noise if you have poly bushings so they also deserve attention. There, only the inside of the bushings needs lube because the bushings are held secure in clamps. Having said that, there’s no harm in lubing the outside as you will have plenty of extra lube on hand. 

Once everything is assembled you can wipe off any excess lube. If young can see it, it’s not doing anything so it might as well get cleaned off. 

Good luck!

Mike

Sent from my iPad

> On Mar 14, 2021, at 16:55, Mike Grillot <msjaan at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> 
> I have some 15 yo squeaky bushings on my ‘74 Pantera’s suspension which have been making music since replaced. Does anyone have any miracles which could eliminate the squeak or should I replace them.
> If I replace them, which are the best and where should I get them?
> Thanks in advance!!!!!
> 
> Sent from my iPhone. 
> Please excuse all spelling, grammatical, and punctuational errors.
> Sincerely Yours,
> Michael Grillot
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 
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-------------- next part --------------
   Mike,

   Did you use polyurethane bushings? Stock bushings never seem to squeak
   so I'm assuming you switched to poly (which is a mistake IMHO, but if
   you're already there, it's not so egregious that you have to switch
   back).

   If you used poly bushings, they need to be thoroughly lubricated.
   People routinely lube the inside and outside of the bushings and
   completely forget that it's the flat ends of the bushings where much of
   the squeak comes from.

   I use this stuff:

   [1]https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_7651351

   Normally when you buy poly bushings for other applications, they
   include a laughably small tube of this stuff. This is a lifetime
   supply.

   You can easily handle this job yourself without needing to dismantle or
   disturb anything overmuch.  First, jack up the car (or at least the
   corner you are working on).  Start with one corner and remove the
   wheel.  Then support the suspension on a jack, and remove both bolts
   for one A-arm and pry it out of the mounts. Pop the bushings out of the
   A-arm, clean everything, lube the inside, outside, and ends of the
   bushings, reinstall them in the A-arms, wrestle the A-arms back into
   position, and install the nuts and bolts.

   Then repeat seven more times.

   The nuts don't need to be crazy tight, as they are self-locking Nylock
   nuts. Overtightening just leads to more squeaking. Follow the torque
   specs in the shop manual.

   Your sway bars could also be making noise if you have poly bushings so
   they also deserve attention. There, only the inside of the bushings
   needs lube because the bushings are held secure in clamps. Having said
   that, there's no harm in lubing the outside as you will have plenty of
   extra lube on hand.

   Once everything is assembled you can wipe off any excess lube. If young
   can see it, it's not doing anything so it might as well get cleaned
   off.

   Good luck!

   Mike
   Sent from my iPad

     On Mar 14, 2021, at 16:55, Mike Grillot <msjaan at sbcglobal.net>
     wrote:

   I have some 15 yo squeaky bushings on my `74 Pantera's suspension which
   have been making music since replaced. Does anyone have any miracles
   which could eliminate the squeak or should I replace them.
   If I replace them, which are the best and where should I get them?
   Thanks in advance!!!!!
   Sent from my iPhone.
   Please excuse all spelling, grammatical, and punctuational errors.
   Sincerely Yours,
   Michael Grillot
   _______________________________________________
   Detomaso Email List is not managed by POCA
   Posted emails must not exceed 1.5 Megabytes
   DeTomaso mailing list
   DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com
   http://server.detomasolist.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso
   To manage your subscription (change email address, unsubscribe, etc.)
   use the links above.
   Members who post to this list grant license to the list to forward any
   message posted here to all past, current, or future members of the
   list. They also grant the list owner permission to maintain an archive
   or approve the archiving of list messages.

References

   1. https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_7651351