I have an 05 MCS. JCW susp, eng. brakes. Problem: Purchased an R-Speed 22mm rear sway bar in which the Mini dealer instsalled during JCW install...he forgot to include the supplied lube. I returned several days later with obvious squeaks. I believe he had thrown the original lube out, and put dealer lube on instead. It still squeaks, and I can't stand it. Question: Do the bushings require the special lube supplied by R-Speed in order to run without squeaking???

 

Not to take away from your question and I'm sure someone in the know will answer your question...but...

This is what has kept me away from the R-Speed Rear SwayBar. I'm leaning toward the H-Sport or the UUC. Both have zerk fittings and it would seem that that would be worth deciding in their favor.

Now ... will sonebody please answer Bruce's question.

 

white lithium grease is what I use on my swaybar bushings...been using
it on the cars ive modded including a few of my buddy's cars and there
is no noise. :smile:

 

I have the r-speed bar and its GREAT ! I used the lube they supplied and there is no squeaking at all, very smooth and quiet. I have about 3000 miles on th ecar with the bar and 4 track days. Call r-speed and have them send you some and then all you have to do is loosen the brackets and re-lube the bushings and the noise will be gone. Did the dealer install the collars also ?

 

Yes, the Mini dealer installed everything...

 

Drill and tap the mounting bracket for a zerk fitting. With a dremmel, cut a groove (360 degree) around the inside of the bushing. Drill a hole in the bushing where the zerk fitting come through. Now you can lube the sway bar anytime it starts to squeek

 

Energy suspension lube fixed my squeaky swaybar. You can also get aftermarket suspension bushing with the zerk fitting if you don't feel like inserting one yourself.

 

Do they make a rear swaybar that does not require lubing?

 

All swaybars need lubed. Even the stock one will start to squeek eventually. The difference between brands is the amount and ease of lubrication. Randy Webb recommends the H-Sport because it has zerk fittings for an easy re-lube. This is why I got an H-Sport bar and am very happy with it. Zerk fittings have a 90 degree elbow screwed into the metal brace for the bushing. There's a one-way ball valve on the end that a grease gun can hook up to for re-lubrication.

 

Hey All......

Not to hijack this thread, but it seems like the best chance to ask a couple of rear swaybar questions.

1. When you install a rear swaybar, is it necessary to get the car (rear) aligned? Sounds a little odd I know, but I figure I'll ask before I make the jump.

2. Since I have the LSD, will the rear swaybar help with the understeer or will the LSD just go ahead and pull the front end in a straight line anyway?

I appreciate everyones input.

Back on topic. I put aftermarket front and rear swaybars on my Avalanche (Huge difference) and they did not have zerk fittings on them. I will not install swaybars without them again. After a nice snowstorm and subsequent road salting, my truck sounded like it was 20yrs old and full of rust. It squeaked real bad.

Later,
Ray

 

Funny that I mentioned that my swaybar never creaked.. cause it started
creaking earlier in the week...hummm...

I re-greased it last night. I found that the creaking was coming from
the bottom of the bushing and not around the bar or the bracket side,
there was still plenty of white lithum there although I wiped it down
and re-applied.

Honestly, I did not grease the bottom of the bushing when I
installed the swaybar on this car a year or so ago. I think the
hot/humid temps here in Chicago (over 95F) may have contributed
to this noise.

Anyway, the noise is gone again and car feels good.

 

Might be old news but I have the newer H-sport bar and although it's a bit pricey, it's great, no squeaks! Thanks to Webb for recommending them.

 

We'll see you back here in about a year or so (or less).

 

I've heard but we'll see