The helms manual calls for silicone grease with the arrow pointing at the rubber bushings. Zackly where? Where the center of the bushings contact the bosses they mount in? There's even an arrow pointing at the rear upper arm bushing that's center is a shaft that bolts to the body. ??? I replaced all the bushings last december & just used the grease i had where the bushings get pinched in the bosses but I'd like to know what's right since some stuffs apart again.

 

Any and all contact points. Simple.

 

for the front it only shows on the lower arm pressed-in bushings, is that to allow the arm to rotate at those attach points? The lower arm can rotate around the 2 inboard attach points - is it supposed to? (maybe more dumb questions but I don't wanna assume}

 

The bushing cannot rotate in the lower arm as it moves. Which is why you never tighten rubber bushings with the suspension at droop. You have to tighten them at ride height. The silicone is there to condition the rubber and make it less likely to harden or crack.

It has to be a very specific type of grease that is rubber bushing friendly.

 

Ok, that makes sense. I knew not to put petroleum-based lube on the rubber but are you saying you just lightly coat the exposed rubber w silicone grease?
And now that i pulled the arm out i can see that the outer race is rotating in the arm causing the little noise i was chasing. Is it worthwhile to try staking it since it was such a #%^!&* to change and the bushing itself looks good?