does no grease on outer surface of the neatrix pose a risk of squeeks?

Factory bushings aren't greased, and they don't squeak.

If no grease, what's the preferred install lubricant? Soapy water? I've used a light film of syn. grease with good results. Bushing doesn't slip for long and upon removal long after, there's no evidence of residual grease or slippage.

spring plate bushings, another question
 

Forgive what may be a dumb question: does the spring plate translate on the torsion bars (or an intermediate piece) a bit also? By translate, I mean "slide in and out". I've never taken these apart, but just looking at the diagrams, the angle of the inboard lower control arm attachment point suggests to me the plates need to slide in and out a bit.

Cheers,
Nathan

Nathan,

There is no translation on the torsion bar. The spring plates are fixed in place in the axial direction by the bushing supports. The spring plate is sandwiched into the torsion bar housing between two relatively stiff bushings and clamped in place with the outer bushing bracket. Still, there is likely some flex in the bushings and the spring plate during heavy loading.

Nathan,

Good question!

I do not think any of us have thought about or talked about this.

The outer attachment point is square to the torsion bar. The inner attachment point is not. Thus there will be a loading on the attachment points through the suspension arc of travel so we need
"give" somewhere to accommodate this.

My guess it it is not significant and using the stock style rubber bushings at both pivot points allows the needed give we need.

This begs the question, when we put hard bushings at both pivot points and they are not in alignment with each other, how is this being accommodated?

With a 935 style conversion there is a ball joint at the outer point to accommodate this. Additionally, the inner attachment point is typically replaced with a mono ball cartridge or ball joint that allows rotation or flex.

I can only guess that when we put hard attachments at both pivot points, the flat plate of the arm ends up twisting and bowing.

That is my guess. :)

The spring plate is indeed a "spring". By design it flexes to accomodate the change in camber and toe as the suspension moves through its arc.