A-Arm bushing (LUBE????)

OK, I finally received that last part of my order from Summit, all 16 of my bushings. Now I am ready to rock and roll!!!! Just one question, what do I do with all that lube that came with each bushing?

Thanks!

 

Boy, that's a loaded question....................................






Here is the straight answer. Apply the lube to the rotational surfaces of each bushing, inner and outer, especially part that rotates around the bolt or shaft. If you don't do this your car will sound like a box full of rabid mice going down the road.

From another thread,

The ES bushings each come with a little packet of super tacky lube. Spread some lube on the polyurethane guts, and spread some inside the outer shell of the bushing on the A-arm, and then stuff the guts into the shell. You will find that it's tight, but not so tight that you can't "press" it together with just arm power as long as it has been lubed with the goop. In fact, the tightness is exactly the same as the tightness of the guts in the original ES shell. They're the same inner diameter.

If I am not mistaken this "lube" is nothing more than Silicone grease, found at the local hardware in the plumbing section.




The rest of you guys can have fun with this now

 

You only really need the lube when you go to the Dealer Parts department....

 

You mean the Ferrari Dealer Parts Dept......................

 

Remember you need to disassemble the bushing to press it into the a-arm then weld it. Yes you MUST weld it. It is during re-assebly that the lube is used. I also posted the tip of knocking the shine off of the bushing using a scratch pad. This makes it take the grease better and further reduce the chance of squeaking.

 

You don't need to remove the old outer bushing sleeve from the a-arm, just remove the old bushing rubber & inner tube. Then press the ES bushing into the original tube. No cutting welds, no pressing old outer sleeve out, no rewelding!

See:
"An EASIER way to do suspension bushings"
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=49955

 

When I did my suspension last year, I used RED (high strength) Lock Tight. Nothing has moved.

 

Take the ES bushing "guts" out of the shell, lube, and re-install. If you are using the entire ES bushing and pressing it into the A arm, you need to tack weld it, and it's a lot better for the bushing to do that part with the "guts" removed. SO you can tack weld, then lube the guts and put them back in. The easier way to do it is to see the thread that Verell referenced. Either way, you lube the guts (the polyurethane part) and put it back in the "shell". Also, putting some lube on the ends of the bushings will help you get the A arm back into the brackets. What you do with the remaining portion of the lube is up to you!

Spasso-
The lube that comes with the ES bushings is MUCH MUCH stickier than silicone grease. It look like silicone grease, but feels more like half-dried rubber cement. It's designed to STAY PUT.

Birdman

 

That sounds very much like the stuff I have. Very sticky and stiff, off white in color. At first I couldn't see how it lubricated until I applied it some rubber gasket material.

Makes me wonder if there are different grades and viscosities.....................

 

Sam what was the cost of the 16 bushes and where did you get them from?Have you already done the stabilizer bar bushes or is that next?Thanks in advance

 

I found that Summit Racing was the cheapest for everything. I think the bushings were just over $19.00 each. I have don't the sway bars yet since I plan on ungrading those as well. I also order my shocks and springs from Summit. Then since I was in there, hey why not do CV joints as well. Plus a nice epoxy paint job on the a-arms. It is finally coming together.

Good Luck

 

Thanks paesano.Don't forget to post pics!