Should front Sway Bar Bushings be Greased?

[Tidybuoy]

I'm just wondering if the front sway bar bushings should be greased. I recently replaced the bushings and the only lube I used was dish soap. I'm wondering if these should have been greased.

Thanks.......Vern

[manbridge 74]

Been awhile but I believe factory manual specified glycerin. Doubt if it's necessary but it likely would help perserve them where I live(dry).

[KTL]

Glycerin doesn't effect rubber so that would indeed be a good choice. Or use a synthetic grease. It has to be synthetic. Petroleum based grease will soften the rubber and make it sticky.

I think greasing the rubber bushings for the sways is a good idea. There's a lot of stiction that occurs between the sway bar and the bushings. Any little bit of reduced friction is going to let the suspension react better.

[Chuck Moreland]

No grease.

The rubber bushing deforms to allow the swaybar to rotate, stretching like a rubber band and snapping back. This is the best way because it tries to return to the same position always.

Grease it, allow it to slip, and the static position is constantly changing based on the direction of approach.

[bkreigsr]

Chuck, if we don't grease, won't the static position change anyway when the car is jacked up and the suspension on full drop - like for a front insert or rear shock swap for instance?
Bill K

[McLaren-TAG]

Originally Posted by Chuck Moreland

No grease.

The rubber bushing deforms to allow the swaybar to rotate, stretching like a rubber band and snapping back. This is the best way because it tries to return to the same position always.

Grease it, allow it to slip, and the static position is constantly changing based on the direction of approach.

So your answer is specific to rubber bushings? Or does it apply to poly bushings as well?

[chuckr]

I spray down all my suspension rubber with this.

[Tidybuoy]

Chuck Moorland,

I recently replaced all my torsion bar bushings with Elephant Racing Rubber - and they are working beautifully.

Your answer to not grease the swaybar bushings makes sense and follows the same principals as the torsion bar bushings.

My Question: Does/has Elephant Racing ever considered selling a sway bar bushing that is not split in the middle (i.e., one piece rubber that slips over the swaybar?) It seems that the split type leave a lot of room for deformation of the rubber bushing. Just wondering.

Vern

[KTL]

I understand the reasoning for the bushing not to be greased from a behavior standpoint. But from an installation standpoint, w/out removing the A-arm? Good luck. That's some of the hardest wrestling i've ever done under the car.

The lube tends to get displaced relatively soon anyway. So I suspect the behavior returns to normal after not too long.

[E Sully]

When I installed the rubber A -arm and swaybar bushings I boiled them in water and then used dish soap to get them on. Still a little bit of wrestling, and gloves to handle the hot rubber, but went fairly smoothly.