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Bush Grease!
bigandy - 4/4/05 at 04:25 PM

Afternoon all.

I'm trying to find out about greasing bushes, and having no luck with the search function. Does anyone see a problem with giving the inside of the crush tube on a suspension bush a coating of grease/copper grease to prevent it siezing up if I ever need to remove it in the future?

I'm not talking about lubrication to help the bush rotate, as the crush tube is clamped in the suspension bracket. I just don't want to find the bolt siezed solid in a year or so's time when I strip it down for an inspection.

Cheers
Andy


JoelP - 4/4/05 at 04:34 PM

i was advised to use molybdenum disulphide grease for bushes. as for preventing it siezing, that should do the trick too i suppose. Shouldnt be too hard to get out anyway i think. Its always stiff, but a hammer would tap it out no probs.


JonBowden - 4/4/05 at 04:35 PM

No, I think this is an excelent idea - I have done this with all bushes that I have ever replaced.
One small point, make sure you don't get oil or grease on rubber bushers as this will degrade the rubber.


JamJah - 7/4/05 at 11:20 AM

Surely if you pay a little bit more and get stainless bolts, then there wont be a problem as both bust inner tube and bolt wont rust. Unless I have the wrong end of the stick and you mean the bush case and bush...?


David Jenkins - 7/4/05 at 11:24 AM

Except that stainless bolts are not usually recommended for anywhere there are high stresses - a rated high-tensile bolt is favourite.

I put a smear of copper grease on my suspension bolts.

rgds,

David


James - 7/4/05 at 11:33 AM

You suicidal JamJah?

Stainless bolts are significantly more brittle that 8.8. Use stainless at your peril!

Cheers,
James

[Edited on 7/4/05 by James]


flak monkey - 7/4/05 at 11:34 AM

quote:
Originally posted by JamJah
Surely if you pay a little bit more and get stainless bolts, then there wont be a problem as both bust inner tube and bolt wont rust. Unless I have the wrong end of the stick and you mean the bush case and bush...?


Dont use stainless bolts for the suspension pivots!...

They are no where near as strong as high tensile steel bolts. Though high tensile SS bolts are available, they are very expensive, and still not as strong as 8.8 grade steel.

David


James - 7/4/05 at 11:35 AM

Beat ya to it!

You can get zinc coated 8.8 I believe- presumbly this would be a way round to stop them rusting?

James

[Edited on 7/4/05 by James]


bigandy - 7/4/05 at 11:59 AM

I'm using zinc plated bolts (grade 8.8 in M12 format) and although they aren't supposed to corrode, I've found that they sometimes do. Especially if they are in a place where water can get trapped easily (like a suspension bush).

I can't see any problem with smearing the bolt with a light coating of copper grease though, so that's the way forward!

Cheers
Andy


NS Dev - 7/4/05 at 12:03 PM

No problem at all!

You are quite right, after a while in place, even passivated zinc plating on bolts inside bush sleeves tends to rust away, so you are quite right, a bit of copper or nickel grease will do no harm at all.


JamJah - 7/4/05 at 05:35 PM

The person who advised me to use them, will now be shot!
Well have a line up at Newlands... that gives you a clue! He'll be the one with any bolts on for the way home!!