Hi, this is for my '88 Camry but I guess it can be applied to all cars. I just ordered a pair of horseshoe-shaped (U-shaped) bushings that hold the stabilizer bar to the hollow pans under the front of the car and wondering what kind of lube to get for it before putting them on.

A member on a Toyota forum said, "Actually, grease would be a bad idea. Any lube that's petroleum-based will eat away at the polyurethane. I use stuff called JIFFY LOO, available at Canadian Tire. I use it in the rubber window tracks as well, it keeps them from binding. It won't harm the bushings, but it will ensure that you never get that squeaking sound again (not for a long time, anyways)".

I live in Seattle so I cant find none of that Jiffy Loo stuff and I went to an auto parts store to which the employees didn't know what to reccommend. I'm replacing these in hopes of getting rid of a nasty squeak every time I brake and if this doesn't solve it, I'll do control arm bushings next. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.

 

You need silicon grease

 

Any specific brand?

 

They should all be the same. Energy Suspension supplies the silicon grease with their bushings. I bought my grease from Napa.

 

BlueIntegra, is this okay?


The silicone I saw was for headgasket. There was also these cylinders of grease but I didnt know which one to go with

 

Is it lithium grease (white)? The silicon grease should come in tubes. It's also called silicon lubricant.

 

I didnt open it yet cuz I might have to return it. Crap, it says "Contains: Petroleum Oil (Grease)."

 

I wouln't recommend silicone "grease". It's far too viscus to stay in place.
Best lube I've used was from here.
http://www.polybushings.com/

 

The Napa silicone lubricant is very sticky and stays in place.

 

stay away from ALL those grease products and buy some PTFE (Teflon tape) from Home Depot. It's only $1 and you dont have to worry about all the mess associated with applying the grease to the bushings. Just wrap some PTFE tape around the sway bar where the urethane bushing will go around the sway bar.

I've had mine on for 3 months and no squeeking with a much cleaner install.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ES2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">stay away from ALL those grease products and buy some PTFE (Teflon tape) from Home Depot. It's only $1 and you dont have to worry about all the mess associated with applying the grease to the bushings. Just wrap some PTFE tape around the sway bar where the urethane bushing will go around the sway bar.

I've had mine on for 3 months and no squeeking with a much cleaner install.</TD></TR></TABLE>

The teflon tape I used for the bushings on my Comptech rear swaybar only lasted a year or so. Then again, I can't complain since I can probably go replace it in under 30 miunutes without even jacking up the car.

 

i usually use the multipurpose grease by vavoline thats posted up there. never had any problems.

 

Hmm ES, you live in Cali man I think temps would make a difference since I live in Seattle haha. I got this at Napa instead: it doesnt say anything about suspension though but it does say it contains silicone.


BTW, My stabilizer is way bigger than that hole, is it supposed to be like that?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NuRon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hmm ES, you live in Cali man I think temps would make a difference since I live in Seattle haha. I got this at Napa instead: it doesnt say anything about suspension though but it does say it contains silicone.


BTW, My stabilizer is way bigger than that hole, is it supposed to be like that?


</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's the same stuff I use, which is basically the same stuff used for ES products.

Did you get the correct bushings?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dvp &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I wouln't recommend silicone "grease". It's far too viscus to stay in place.
Best lube I've used was from here.
http://www.polybushings.com/ </TD></TR></TABLE>

does this stuff work as well ? have you had any squeaking at all?

i think i will pick some up anyways and give it a shot with the ES Master Kit i just got.

 

That bushing looks like it's made out of stock rubber. You don't really need to lube stock rubber because it is soft enough that it will twist with the bar. Poly is much harder, so the bar squeeks as it spins against the surface of the bushing. Poly needs lube so the bar can spin smooth & quiet...

The hole in the bushing should be as big as the sway-bar. Either they gave you the wrong bushing, or your car doesn't have stock sized sway-bar. Get the right one...