Does anyone have the definitive word on whether to use grease inside/outside/both when fitting the suspension bush crash tubes? If i do need to, what grease do i need to use?

Scoob, there is much controversy about the best lubricant to use on bushes etc. Generally speaking if the unit is rubber/plastic or rubber/plastic based, then 'silicone' is the best medium for lubrication. Do not use standard mineral grease/oil as it will likely corrode the unit.

The washing up liquid approach is potentially a bit dodgy as the detergents and salts are there to 'degrease' and soften water. Degrease and oil based unit? Surely not... I would not recommend it.

Stick with what you know to be right... I use silicone grease on 'O' Rings professionally for 10 years with no perishable results from it. Silicone Grease may be a tad expensive, but at what real cost?

Good Luck!

I don't think there's any controversy about which lubricant to use.
scoobyis2cool, I presume you're talking about polyurethane (PU) bushes? If so, you need to use molybdenum disulphide grease.
Silicone grease is widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries, and doesn'y have the same high pressure additives as black moly grease.
There has been some difference of opinion on whether to use a lubricant at all, but the majority of PU bush manufacturers and people generally in the know, recommend only applying grease to the bore and end faces of the PU bushes.
The bushes are supposed to rotate around the crush tube, which in turn is "crushed" i.e. clamped tight in the suspension bracket.

Syd Bridge:

quote:

---

Some (greases) have a vegetable or synthetic base, hard to differentiate, but makes a big difference

---

Syd and Rorty in agreement.....

Group hug time?....

Some time ago I called Polybush UK to get their take on which lubrication to use. They said, use nothing other than a bit of soap to help insert the bushes. I called Polybush because I mistakenly believed the PU bushes supplied by MK were from them.

I just called MK and they refused to tell me who's bushes they supply, however, they insist that silicone greas is to be used on the inner (crush tube) face.

1. Anyone know whose bushes are suppliedby MK?

2. Any issues that I should be aware of when removing all my crush tubes so that I can get them greased?

3. Before calling polybush I'd already used a lithium based (Castrol LM) grease to grease my front nearside bushes, what can I use to clean this grease off (or should I just leave it)?

4. How big an issue is the choice of lubricant anyway??? What's going to happen if the wrong grease is used?

5. Is there anyone out there that's going to nay say the use of redline CV2 or is this a safe bet?

Russell

quote:

---

Originally posted by MK7
. . . 4. How big an issue is the choice of lubricant anyway??? What's going to happen if the wrong grease is used? . . .
Russell

---

But these aren't bearings are they?

At least they're not supposed to be from my understanding.

i believe that PU bushes are meant to be like compliant bearings, with the crush tube rotating. Only rubber bushes are expecrted to deform...

MK7:

quote:

---

But these aren't bearings are they?

---