Is there a good substitute for the impossible to find and incredibly expensive Prothane grease used on sway bar bushings?
I've thought about using brake grease or anti-seize, but I've always worried about them breaking down the bushing material.
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April 20, 2010 3:36 p.m. Woody SuperDork
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April 20, 2010 4:00 p.m. mkiisupra New Reader
In reply to Woody:
I have used disk brake wheel bearing grease on a couple of bars. I replaced a bar a few weeks ago, took off stock one that I had regreased a few years back. Looked good, no deterioration, best part, no squeaks. Put new bar/bushings (urethane, not rubber) with same grease, no issues
Eric G
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April 20, 2010 4:02 p.m. oldeskewltoy New Reader
go to hardware store... and ask for a small tub of plumbers grease
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April 20, 2010 4:05 p.m. speedblind Reader
I use a tub of Mobil1 synthetic grease that I've had forever. Cost about five bucks from Autozone-type places. Never had a problem with it.
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April 20, 2010 4:35 p.m. Keith SuperDork
I'm thinking Syl-glide (brake lube) would be pretty good at it. That's what I'm going to try next time I'm doing a set of bushings.
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April 20, 2010 4:48 p.m. Junkyard_Dog HalfDork
I've used dielectric grease with good results. I swear its the same stuff that came with the energy suspension urethane bushings I put in a Jeep.
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April 20, 2010 5:33 p.m. procainestart Dork
I have used anti-seize on poly bushings for years without problems.
I have read that boat trailer bearing grease (light blue stuff) works well, too.
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April 20, 2010 5:37 p.m. Sparetire New Reader
Plain CV joint grease has worked for me. It doesnt break down CV boots, so it should'nt have trouble with poly bushings.
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April 20, 2010 5:39 p.m. 44Dwarf HalfDork
KY Jelly..
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April 20, 2010 6:15 p.m. iceracer Dork
I use Amsoil synthetic grease. Works pretty well.
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April 20, 2010 9:17 p.m. slowcamaro New Reader
superlube
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April 20, 2010 10:29 p.m. Flogger00 New Reader
In reply to slowcamaro:
marine grease
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April 21, 2010 8:41 a.m. modernbeat HalfDork
Bel-Ray brand moly assembly lube.
And I've tried every one of the previous suggestions with the exception of using glycerin instead of KY. Second best is silicone plumber's grease.
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April 21, 2010 12:07 p.m. Woody SuperDork
Can you buy silicone plumber's grease at Home Depot?
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April 21, 2010 12:15 p.m. Ian F Dork
Good question. I have some seriously squeaky bushings on the TDI right now...
I've been looking for a replacement for the effective, but sticky-as-hell, aqua-green stuff that comes with IPD's Volvo sway-bar kits.
The Powerflex LCA bushings I've installed in a number of MINI's comes with what I swear is copper anti-sieze...
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April 21, 2010 12:59 p.m. carguy123 SuperDork
Wow! It looks as if just about everything has and can be used on the bushings.
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April 21, 2010 1:40 p.m. motomoron Reader
I've used Amsoil grease forever. There's a tub in the shop and another in the garage - cars, bikes, machine parts, bicycles, RC planes, urethane bushings, whatever.
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April 21, 2010 9:03 p.m. Hal HalfDork
Woody wrote:
Can you buy silicone plumber's grease at Home Depot?
Yep, also Lowes and any other hardware or plumbing store. Looks just like the picture oldeskewltoy posted.
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April 21, 2010 11:13 p.m. slowcamaro New Reader
Ian F wrote:
Good question. I have some seriously squeaky bushings on the TDI right now...
I've been looking for a replacement for the effective, but sticky-as-hell, aqua-green stuff that comes with IPD's Volvo sway-bar kits.
The Powerflex LCA bushings I've installed in a number of MINI's comes with what I swear is copper anti-sieze...
perhaps "green grease". locally available to me from advance auto and tractor supply
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April 23, 2010 5:50 a.m. foxtrapper SuperDork
I squirt them down with silicone spray every oil change. If it's a first time, or things have been neglected for a while, I use a penetrating oil with teflon or such. Seems to work well enough on sway bar bushings.
