Oldgamer Posted October 3, 2005 Report Share Posted October 3, 2005 This summer my STS started to sound like old sofa. So this weekend I decided to check what's going on with bushings and went under the car. I didn't find anything "too wrong" for 11 years old car, but what I did is bothering me a bit: I sprayed a bit WD-40 on the bushings. I don't know if this kind of rubber is oil resistant. What do you think? If it is, it will make bushing death happened sooner. Now it completely silent. Like it's already dead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Fenwick Posted October 3, 2005 Report Share Posted October 3, 2005 Aloha Oldgamer, I could not find a can to check for sure, but in the back of my mind, I remember that WD40 was not for rubber. It is first for water displacement, then for lubricant. There are silicone sprays and rubber lubes out there that would be better for your rubber bushings. You are right though, everything works better with a little lubricant. Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OynxSTS Posted October 3, 2005 Report Share Posted October 3, 2005 Even when/where WD40 works... Its effect is very temporary... Silicon grease is more long lasting... Buy the way the bushings on the stabilizer arm will deflect enough to get a whole whack of grease into them if you jack up one wheel at a time and let it dangle at the limit of its travel... or in other words No need to take them a part... Good luck. Easin' down the highway in a new Cadillac, I had a fine fox in front, I had three more in the back ZZTOP, I'm Bad I'm Nationwide Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldgamer Posted October 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2005 That's what I did actually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonA Posted October 3, 2005 Report Share Posted October 3, 2005 On a related question, I notice that the car's entire suspension just feels a little bit "tighter" when it's wet or raining outside. I suppose this is due to the rubber bushings swelling from the moisture? I wonder if there's a spray lubricant that would help to keep those bushings swelled up, even if I had reapply it once a month? That would be a lot cheaper than replacing the whole suspension at this point, and would add to my enjoyment of the car. Jason(2001 STS, White Diamond) "When you turn your car on...does it return the favor?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigCat83 Posted October 4, 2005 Report Share Posted October 4, 2005 I've used white lithium grease for years with good results and no problems, perhaps even chassis grease would work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted October 4, 2005 Report Share Posted October 4, 2005 I've used white lithium grease for years with good results and no problems, perhaps even chassis grease would work. That is what I used when I pulled my rear lower control arms Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick94 Posted October 4, 2005 Report Share Posted October 4, 2005 I just replaced them a few months ago on my '94 STS. It was a fairly easy job. I bought the parts when I replaced the end links of my stab bar, but never got around to finishing the job at that time... I can't remember the exact price, but seems like the bushings themselves were inexpensive (unlike the links!)... seems like $3-4 each was all when I ordered parts from gmotors.com. I replaced them by jacking up the front until both front wheels cleared the ground, set it on jack stands, and then removed the two brackets, each held in place by two bolts. As I remember, the only moderately difficult parts were "feeling" bolt heads from below the car (they are l-o-n-g bolts with a friction fit), and opening the new bushings enough to fit around the bar--the new ones were really, really hard rubber... almost plastic. I decided to go back with them dry because 1) the bar was smooth and shiny inside the bushing, 2) most lubricants attract dirt, 3) the replacement parts that came out on a Technical Service Bulletin several years aren't supposed to squawk in cold weather, and 4) I didn't know what lubricant was safe for the rubber--and I didn't want to do this again. I haven't heard any noise, and the new bushings did seem to "tighten up" the ride just a bit. Now if I just had new struts and shocks... Hope this helps! -Rick94 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danbuc Posted October 4, 2005 Report Share Posted October 4, 2005 WD-40 and rubber bushings DO NOT mix. The reason for this is the fact that WD-40 is a petroleum based product, and will eat away at rubber. White lithium grease as stated earlier, is a much better sloution as it won't degrade the rubber like WD-40 will. Even silicone grease will work well too. Just don't use anything that says "Petroleum Distilates" on the label. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonA Posted October 4, 2005 Report Share Posted October 4, 2005 Thanks guys. You can get white lithium grease in spray form, right? Jason(2001 STS, White Diamond) "When you turn your car on...does it return the favor?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KHE Posted October 4, 2005 Report Share Posted October 4, 2005 Thanks guys. You can get white lithium grease in spray form, right? Yes - Cyclo is one brand and there are many others. Kevin '93 Fleetwood Brougham '05 Deville '04 Deville 2013 Silverado Z71 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldgamer Posted October 4, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2005 Thanks for replay to everybody. For "some reasons" I didn't get response notification in my mail box, I didn't know I have a lot of responses. Sure, I did it for very short period of time, temporarily. I will order new bushings now. I read in a manual, that I suppose to use special tool for removing them. Is that is a necessary? When I checked rear bushings I didn't notice anything unusual. Just a long bolt and nut. Is it really hard to remove? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted October 4, 2005 Report Share Posted October 4, 2005 These are not typical bushings. In the old days you could create a tool with an all thread and press them out. These bushings are not metal cased, they are rubber. I would not even attempt to put these bushings in. I would find a machine shop to do the job or pay someone at the dealer to do it.. Special tools are necessary to remove and install them. At least that was the case with my 91 Seville.. When you order the bushings, you will see what I mean.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldgamer Posted October 4, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2005 That's too bad. I hoped I need just put car on a jacks, support a wheel to reduce a weight on a bushing, pull out the bolt and remove old bushing away. Now I browsing a manual to find correct "name" for this rubber thing to order it on-line. I guess it's "bushing, suspension support forward arm", isn't ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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