Polyurethane Bush Lube

[glemon]

I got some polyurethane bushes for my TR and they did not come with lube, I understand there is a special lube for these, I tried one of the local chain auto parts stores and no luck, anybody know where I can get the stuff, usually looks like sticky white goo.

The guy at the parts store suggested white lithium grease, but the white lithium grease I have has a much different feel than the poly lube I have had in the past.

 

[TR3driver]

Probably what you got before was silicone grease.
https://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=100187900

 

[71MKIV]

We have a good synthetic silicon grease at work that matches your discription, dunno where we get it. All of the usual suspects FLAP, Mcmaster, Grainger, etc.

I have also used a stuff from Dow Corning, called DC4. Which is almost the same stuff, but in a tube, and not as sticky. Dc4 also rejuvinates rubber parts quite nicely. I buy it from the local bearing supply house.

 

[DougF]

Dow Corning products are superior quality and in many cases are will not attack the seals, bushings, etc. They unfortunately are also difficult to source and the price reflects the quality.
If you can't find what you are looking for, I would switch to a dry lube. The tacky greases will provide a bit of a barrier from dirt that can get in and destroy the bushing. Lighter greases like white lithium can eventually allow the dirt to get into the bushing. The dry lube doesn't have the barrier, but it won't attract and collect the dirt.
These are things I learned from our lubrications specialist at work.

 

[glemon]

Thanks, I have a Home Depot down the road, the website says the store carries it, would rather not have to order, want to start putting things back together this weekend, regards, Greg

 

[3798j]

If your town has a full-service bicycle shop, there are great dry teflon (bicycle chain) lubricants that work wonders on poly bushings. No noise, no dirt, good adherence.

 

[glemon]

I got the silicone stuff at home depot, bought them out, they only had two on display, thanks for the tip.

Even got to use it and got some of the suspension back on, yippee.

 

[Don Elliott]

For 45 years or more, the front suspension on my 1958 TR3A produced these horrible squeaks when I was driving - even on fairly smooth paved roads with little waves in the asphalt. It was even worse on rough roads.

In 1990, I put in poly bushes for the first time (80,300 miles from new) and it still squeaked. Everyone told me to spray aerosol silicone lubricant into the ends of all the poly bushings. I did this and it didn't stop the squeaks.

So this past spring, I took it all apart and changed 4 of the poly bushes because they were worn (the other 4 were good) and my neighbour drilled and tapped the inner ends of the wishbones and installed zerk grease fittings. He also has a lathe and he machined a "V" groove all around the inside of all the 8 poly bushes and I drilled through the bushes where the zerks were fitted.

I re-assembled it all and for the first time in 40 years, it rides so quietly, it's like new again. I greased all the 13 original fittings plus the 8 new ones with Amsoil red synthetic grease.

 

[TR3driver]

He also has a lathe and he machined a "V" groove all around the inside of all the 8 poly bushes

FWIW, you can also do this using a hand-held Dremel with a round burr. I cut my grooves into an X shape, so they would also carry grease to both sides.