types swaybar bushings? i need help.

Mazda Forum Mazda Classifieds Photo Gallery Member List Search Contact Us Sponsors
Models Mazda News Mazda Recalls TSBs Timeslips Register Login

types swaybar bushings? i need help.

Printable Version

Mazda Forum >> Mazda Vehicles >> Mazda3 >> types swaybar bushings? i need help.

Page: [1]

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

types swaybar bushings? i need help. - 8/24/2008 7:00:51 PM

myMazda3usesjetfuel

Posts: 5
Joined: 6/29/2008
Status: offline

hey,

so i installed front and rear hotchkis swaybars which greatly impoved handling, but the bushings squeak really bad to the point where it is annoying to drive my 2007 Mazda3s HB running at about 190 bhp. yeah, that annoying.

the swaybars came with polyurathane bushings, which i didnt know, squeak after a couple miles.

the sway bars are 29mm and 32mm.

what are the other kinds of bushings that i can buy to fit that wont squeak???

..and does anyone know some trustworthy sites that i can buy them from?

Post #: 1

RE: types swaybar bushings? i need help. - 8/25/2008 3:38:14 AM

virgin1

Posts: 4858
Joined: 3/15/2007
Status: online

Dayum!! That''s some screen name ya'' got there. I''m glad I don''t have to type that in...
As far as your bushing are concerned, most will squeak if not lubricated. Here''s what I did: Went to Home Depot and bought a little "pot" of plumbers silicone grease. It''s just a little gray plastic thing that comes on a carded blister pack and costs around $3.00.
Silicone grease is inert and water/weather proof, non-abrasive and should last a long time. Just try to keep it UNDER the bushings so it doesn''t attract other dirt.
I greased mine 2 years ago and still have no problems.

_____________________________

"There is no tool you can buy that will replace experience." - Josh Mills, C.K.DeLuxe

(in reply to myMazda3usesjetfuel)

Post #: 2

RE: types swaybar bushings? i need help. - 8/25/2008 3:23:44 PM

sstlaure

Posts: 2321
Joined: 11/28/2005
Status: offline

Energy Suspensions makes a good lube that they sell along with their polyurethane bushings. Sounds like dry bushings to me. (Your kit should have come with some kind of lube - Hotchkiss makes good products, so I''d be surprised if they''d miss that.)

_____________________________

2004 Mazda6 Sportwagon

Any statements made are purely my opinion

(in reply to virgin1)

Post #: 3

RE: types swaybar bushings? i need help. - 8/25/2008 4:44:11 PM

wsoape281

Posts: 977
Joined: 3/1/2007
Status: offline

the main thing with lubricants on urethane is that you get something inert and synthetic. if you put something petroleum based on them, it will start to break them down and wear them out.

_____________________________

My name is Wes, and i am a boostaholic

(in reply to sstlaure)

Post #: 4

RE: types swaybar bushings? i need help. - 8/25/2008 7:29:18 PM

myMazda3usesjetfuel

Posts: 5
Joined: 6/29/2008
Status: offline

well, the thing is, hotchkis gave me some lube with them and i put it all on there and installed them. then they squeaked and so i bought a grease gun, attached it to the little grease input, and filled the thing up with grease. the only thing i can think of that would be wrong is that somehow the grease is not getting to the swaybars but thats kinda rediculous because i installed them with a trusted mechanic who knows his performance cars and he would have recognized it if something was wrong with them.

il look into the plumbers silicone.

thanks guys.

_____________________________

-theMboroMazda3-

(in reply to wsoape281)

Post #: 5

RE: types swaybar bushings? i need help. - 8/26/2008 12:54:47 PM

virgin1

Posts: 4858
Joined: 3/15/2007
Status: online

The only other thing I can think of is are the bushing directional? That is, is there a grease hole in the bushing itself that needs to be faced to the Zerk fitting?
Anybody can miss anything any time. I would recheck your mechanics work. I''m not insinuating that he''s not knowledgeable or that he is careless, but shit happens. Things get missed or perhaps his concentration was broken and forgot to look for a greasing hole?
Again, no insult meant to your mechanic. I am very careful, slow and meticulous when I work on cars and even I miss stuff... sometimes very basic stuff.

_____________________________

"There is no tool you can buy that will replace experience." - Josh Mills, C.K.DeLuxe

(in reply to myMazda3usesjetfuel)

Post #: 6

RE: types swaybar bushings? i need help. - 8/26/2008 9:43:57 PM

sstlaure

Posts: 2321
Joined: 11/28/2005
Status: offline

It should be pretty easy to drop that too. So long as your vehicle is sitting level it shouldn''t be under any kind of tension.

Just unbolt the bushings and check them.

_____________________________

2004 Mazda6 Sportwagon

Any statements made are purely my opinion

(in reply to virgin1)

Post #: 7