[78w72]

Originally Posted by bhill86

Now that I have these, I’ve not yet installed them but it’s been brought to my attention the poly body bushings may be noisy with squeaks? Can anyone confirm or deny?

Poly body bushings dont or shouldnt squeak, I have them in 3 different 2nd gens for 10-15+ years, WS6 78 & 81 TA's, and a 72 firebird with a full PTFB GT suspension, upper tube A-arms & frame connectors, they are all driven pretty hard on corners and the 72 runs low 11 sec quarter mile so they have been abused pretty good without any problems or squeaks.
Pretty sure poly body bushings call for no grease, I didn't use any on the bushings or hardware, the factory used thread locker on the bolt threads, seems grease would let things move sooner than when dry? but thats up to you, im sure it wont hurt anything.

As mentioned the potential for squeaking is from control arm or sway bar poly suspension parts that move, my 78 has all poly suspension on stock arms & sway bars, poly in the rear leafs too, it only has a minor squeak on the front when you bounce the car pretty good, can't hear it when driving at all. They were quiet for 8-9 years, but at just over 15 they do have a minor squeak, a little silicone spray stops it for awhile. If I remove them to re-grease I will probably just go back to rubber but keep the poly body bushings.

Be careful when undoing the bolts, they can be pretty rusty and many times the caged nut can spin which makes for a lot more work, use penetrating lube where you can and if its still stuck try heat from a propane torch, carefully, that can help with stuck thread locker too.

[bhill86]

Thanks for the replies. I may install dry. If needed I can probably fairly easily lubricate. I’ve sprayed penetrating oil a few times in the last week. I taped a small plastic oil gauge tube to my borescope, located the cage nuts, and attached the spray can to the other end so I was sure to spray where I wanted. Hopefully that’ll help. From what I can see the area doesn’t look very rusty. Thankfully my car was fairly rust free.

[HWYSTR455]

Yeah, I doubt the body bushings will squeak, they don't move around enough like a control arm would.


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[kingbuzzo]

The previous owner opted for poly for the A arms and they squeak like a bastage when I go over a speed hump...I never had that issue with rubbers myself...good luck

[JLMounce]

Originally Posted by kingbuzzo

The previous owner opted for poly for the A arms and they squeak like a bastage when I go over a speed hump...I never had that issue with rubbers myself...good luck

Rubber bushings are physically connected to the bushings shells. They actually twist in the shells, so there's no rubber moving against metal. As a result, they don't squeak. Unless they've torn from their bearing shells, which is a sign they need to be replaced.

Poly bushings are built more like a solid bushing where the poly component is slid into the hearing shells and greased. As the arms articulate the bushing shells may move against the poly bushing, causing squeaking.

[78w72]

In my case & most others, poly A-arm bushings that start to squeak are from the grease drying up, working its way out or not enough being applied at install, not from the bushing shells moving.

kingbuzzo- the OP is using poly body bushings, they dont move & should not squeak if installed & torqued right. For your control arm bushings squeak, you can try spraying some silicone spray around the edge of the poly bushings to help stop the noise or better yet get one of those syringe needles for greasing non zerk suspension components and shoot some grease in there. Another thing that contributes to poly noise is the upper A-arm washers, factory are cupped to help grip the bushing better and that can lock down a poly bushing, go to a hardware store & but flat washers of the right OD & ID size then use some grease when installed, should help with teh noise some.

[kingbuzzo]

Thanks 78 I'll try that...

[HWYSTR455]

Energy Suspension bushing are impregnated with graphite, which helps control squeaking.

Not sure they even include lube anymore, if they do it's just for a matter of confidence.

Cheap bushings are not impregnated, know what you're buying. Because one brand squeaks doesn't mean all squeak. Don't cheap out.

You can sand/polish the frame tabs' face where the bushing rides and lube them if you are concerned. Syn chassis grease is fine for poly bushings if you choose to lube them. Any grease can wash away if you degrease or steam your engine compartment/undercarriage.

You can also remove the sleeve and lube them before install if you are concerned about squeaking.

Solid bushing do not squeak, and are not much more noisy or vibration transferring.

This is all 101 suspension stuff, anyone who has done this for any amount of time should know the ins & outs. Don't listen to the whining internet keyboard warriors that regurgitate crap they've read for years (with no personal experience).

Same people who complain about squeaks from poly usually have loud cars anyway, and wouldn't hear the squeaks while driving. Just because when you lean on the fender and you hear a little squeak doesn't mean it's going to be something you hear while driving.

78w72 - True on the cupped washers, but if you're still using factory A-arms, you might as well use OE bushings.


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[78w72]

Energy suspension poly bushings definitely still come with the thick tree sap type grease, even if they are graphite impregnated, I just had some sent to me under warranty a year ago... they have actually started putting grooves in the bushing recently to hold more grease since there was/is a potential to squeak if/when the grease dries out or gets pushed out, its not just for confidence, its part of the function of the bushings to be fully lubed.

Even with some graphite in the bushings they still can squeak if not lubed properly... thats what the ones in my 78 have started doing after 10+ years, they were the original style energy suspension bushings that didnt have the fairly new grooves in them for grease retention.

Yes, I mentioned mine only squeak a little when bouncing the front end, when driving, & my car isnt that loud with full exhaust & tips, I dont hear it so it doesnt really bother me, the suspension still operates nice & the car handles great on corners. I built this car 15 years ago & didnt know or care about other bushing options & wanted to firm up the suspension a little bit with slightly lowered front springs, so I used poly on stock arms like lots of others do/did... its not a race car at all, just a lower mile #'s matching resto-mod & tubular A-arms are not wanted or needed.... I used those on my PTFB suspension 72 firebird.

[bhill86]

Weird, my energy suspension didn’t come with any lube at all

[78w72]

Originally Posted by bhill86

Weird, my energy suspension didn’t come with any lube at all

For the body bushings? Those dont use grease because they dont move... sorry for the confusion, I meant for the control arm bushings with metal sleeves, those use a super tacky silicone type grease and now the bushings have grooves in them to hold more grease than the originals without grooves.

[bhill86]

Originally Posted by 78w72

For the body bushings? Those dont use grease because they dont move... sorry for the confusion, I meant for the control arm bushings with metal sleeves, those use a super tacky silicone type grease and now the bushings have grooves in them to hold more grease than the originals without grooves.

Ah, my mistake. Long day and I was skimming lol

[HWYSTR455]

It's been so long since I've used poly so was not sure, and now I use sound deadening and heat barrier stuff, so 'vibrations' or 'harshness' is non-existent for me.

I probably still have a bunch of tubes of the lube somewhere, but since moving, I still haven't unpacked everything.

Some poly bushings even have zerk fittings for lube, but can't recall who makes those. I know some sway bar poly bushings have them. Those are grooved to my knowledge.

You can smooth a sway bar right where the bushing rides and lube it, even if they don't have a groove, works fine if it's too much 'squeaking'.


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[kingbuzzo]

Whining internet keyboard warrior checking in...she squeaks like a cheap motel bed but only going over speed humps...thankful for my radio so it is not concerning and want to upgrade at some point

Can't go to wrong with the solids...I used the moogs for my subframe on my old car and no issues...good luck!

[HWYSTR455]

Originally Posted by kingbuzzo

Whining internet keyboard warrior checking in...she squeaks like a cheap motel bed but only going over speed humps...thankful for my radio so it is not concerning and want to upgrade at some point

Can't go to wrong with the solids...I used the moogs for my subframe on my old car and no issues...good luck!

Heheh! Ok, maybe I went a little overboard with that comment!

So your squeaks are control arm, sway bar, or body bushings?


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[kingbuzzo]

No worries...I'm just a computer guy by trade/always learning

This car the control arms but it isn't noticeable during regular driving - especially with my radio blaring...lol