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Ditching polyurethane SB bushings

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Old Sep 18, 2024 | 06:47 PM
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Ditching polyurethane SB bushings

I put a Hotchkis19MM rear sway bar on my 2005 MCSC when it was just a toddler. Two years ago as part of chasing suspension noises I replaced the SB bushings with an inexpsnive polyurethane set from Amazon. All good until last month when passenger side started to creak like crazy. Today I shot a bunch of grease in there but it didn't help. Think I'll go back to rubber.
 
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Old Sep 19, 2024 | 04:01 AM
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I’ve had great success keeping those bushings quiet by wrapping the bar with a few rounds of Teflon plumbers tape before installing the bushing. The grease just doesn’t seem to last long enough.
 
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Old Sep 19, 2024 | 05:30 AM
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I put one on mine many many years ago and it came with poly bushings. I've never had to grease them and I've never heard a noise from them.
I believe they sell replacement poly bushings specifically for this swaybar- why not use those?
 
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Old Sep 19, 2024 | 10:57 AM
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I'd paired my rear 22mm Alta sway bar with Powerflex bushings when I installed it three years ago.
Even though I feel (although necessary) any kind of grease or lubricant is inherently a magnet for dirt; so far I haven't heard any squeaks, noise or any describable wear since the installation.
I will probably never revert back to rubber.

The teflon tape sounds like an interesting experiment.
 
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Old Sep 20, 2024 | 08:46 PM
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Update: Turns out my noise isn't from the SB bushings. I disconnected the end links (so the bar wouldn't move) and jacked the suspension and the noise was still there. It's coming from the trailing arm bracket/bushing (few inches from the SB bushing). Spraying with silicone removed the noise for about 30 minutes of driving. Then it started to come back.
 
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Old Feb 24, 2025 | 04:30 PM
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Originally Posted by MassMini
Update: Turns out my noise isn't from the SB bushings. I disconnected the end links (so the bar wouldn't move) and jacked the suspension and the noise was still there. It's coming from the trailing arm bracket/bushing (few inches from the SB bushing). Spraying with silicone removed the noise for about 30 minutes of driving. Then it started to come back.
Any updates?
 
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Old Feb 24, 2025 | 04:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Here2Go
I'd paired my rear 22mm Alta sway bar with Powerflex bushings when I installed it three years ago.
Even though I feel (although necessary) any kind of grease or lubricant is inherently a magnet for dirt; so far I haven't heard any squeaks, noise or any describable wear since the installation.
I will probably never revert back to rubber.

The teflon tape sounds like an interesting experiment.
these??? Awesome stuff and Would so love to have but will need to save up

https://www.outmotoring.com/powerfle...NI-Cooper.html
 
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