Author Topic: Greasable Bushing install (pictorial) (Read 18731 times)

JimVonBaden · « **on:** February 19, 2011, 07:01:49 PM »

So, because the stock front sway bar bushings tend to squeak if you drive in cold weather, and when exposed to salt from the roads, I thought I should do something about it. While you can get greasable bushings in the right size for the Sly Redline/Solstice GXP, you can't get them with the grease fittings in the caps. So I figured I would do it myself. The following is a tutorial on how.

First you need the right tools and parts. In this case a 1/8" drill bit, a #7 drill bit, Drill, Appropriate tap, loctite (I used red for strength), Zerk fittings with a short thread, and the right bushings. I got mine from Summit Raceing for only $15.99.

First, the originals must come off. You can see where I greased them about a month ago.

Remove the cap with a 13mm socket. Then remove the old rubber bushing at the split.

Punch the cap to keep the drill from roaming. Make sure you are dead center to align with the internal grease groove.

You can see the dimple here.

Drill first with a small drill, it is much easier.

Then the #7 drill.

Align the bottom of the bushing with the metal cap.

Drill the bushing through the cap.

Note the alignment with the hole and the grease groove.

Chamfore the hole so the grease fitting will center itself.

Tap the hole with the 1/4" tap.

Completed threaded hole.

Use a little loctite to ensure the Zerk fitting stays put.

It only takes a drop on the threads.

Install.

Note how it protrudes? No worries, the bushing is plenty thick enough.

Install the bushing and check alignment. I purposely drilled offset to make greasing the nipple on the car easier.

Plenty of clearance.

Install the bushing on the sway bar. Make sure you orient the bushing so the hole is in the right spot with the cap.

Complete the install.

Add grease. Note that I did not add grease to the inside of the bushing before install. You can if you like, but it will be messier.

You can see here that the grease will squeeze out as you pump it through the Zerk fitting.

All done. It took about 45 minutes start to finish, longer to do this tutorial.

There is no squeaking, and it might even handle slightly better.

Hope you found this interesting.

Jim

Kelu · « **Reply #1 on:** February 19, 2011, 07:13:53 PM »

whatta tutorial, looks like we have a pro diy maker

THANK YOU!

DeepBlueGXP · « **Reply #2 on:** February 19, 2011, 09:55:12 PM »

Great job!!

JimVonBaden · « **Reply #3 on:** February 19, 2011, 10:33:57 PM »

Quote from: Kelu on February 19, 2011, 07:13:53 PM

whatta tutorial, looks like we have a pro diy maker

THANK YOU!

Thanks, I've done a few of these on the motorcycle forum, and I was a professional technical trainer for years.

Jim

Gentleman Jack · « **Reply #4 on:** February 19, 2011, 11:56:04 PM »

Sweet!

Dr. Gronk · « **Reply #5 on:** February 20, 2011, 11:37:28 AM »

Very Slick!

Arabas · « **Reply #6 on:** February 20, 2011, 11:55:56 AM »

Great job Jim!!

thanks a lot!!
it seems i am one of those that don;t have this squeak..

JimVonBaden · « **Reply #7 on:** February 20, 2011, 11:57:34 AM »

Quote from: Arabas on February 20, 2011, 11:55:56 AM

Great job Jim!!

thanks a lot!!
it seems i am one of those that don;t have this squeak..

Thanks!

Does it ever get cold there?

Jim

Arabas · « **Reply #8 on:** February 20, 2011, 12:06:01 PM »

Quote from: JimVonBaden on February 20, 2011, 11:57:34 AM

Thanks!

Does it ever get cold there?

Jim

lol, yeap it gets cold but not too much, i mean we get 0 Celsium for 10-15 days a year.
some other guys here have had problems with this squeak.
i guess i got lucky on this one

Kelu · « **Reply #9 on:** February 20, 2011, 12:26:59 PM »

Quote from: JimVonBaden on February 20, 2011, 11:57:34 AM

Thanks!

Does it ever get cold there?

Jim

He can't just drive it on cold, he just keep it in the garage in winter, what to squeak?

P.S. mine didn't squeak this winter either, last winter did squeak pretty strong

JimVonBaden · « **Reply #10 on:** February 20, 2011, 01:24:29 PM »

Quote from: elff on February 20, 2011, 12:40:46 PM

Since mine is squeaking like crazy right now, I am highly interested in this.

When I went to summit racing and put in the part number on your box, the price was $2 more and this is the picture they advertise with

(Image removed from quote.)
Why wouldnt this work?

Yeah, when I ordered mine I was hoping they came with the bracket pre-drilled, but the correct fit ones are just the bushing, no bracket.

Jim

TomatoSoup · « **Reply #11 on:** February 20, 2011, 02:00:47 PM »

Quote from: elff on February 20, 2011, 12:40:46 PM

Since mine is squeaking like crazy right now, I am highly interested in this.

When I went to summit racing and put in the part number on your box, the price was $2 more and this is the picture they advertise with

(Image removed from quote.)
Why wouldnt this work?

You CAN get those, but they are a different part number (photo is misleading). See my post at:

http://www.kappaperformance.com/forum/index.php/topic,2017.msg73397.html#msg73397

If you read farther down the thread, you'll see that Goat commented that the zerk-inclusive versions have slightly different height dimensions and may pre-load the bar. I did get the zerk versions but haven't put them on yet, so can't confirm. (Mine don't squeak... yet!)

smartin · « **Reply #12 on:** February 22, 2011, 03:45:34 PM »

Nice going, Jim!

That looks like the ones that goat had me buy for the last two mod meets that the guys (morf, elff, CT) changed for me and they also came with special lube. I haven't had a squeak since.

JimVonBaden · « **Reply #13 on:** February 22, 2011, 03:46:18 PM »

Cool, take a couple photos.

At first I was a little concerned about messing up the originals, but then I realized if the hole I put in them didn't work, I could just slap it all back together. The hole wouldn't hurt anything.

Jim

TomatoSoup · « **Reply #14 on:** February 22, 2011, 07:24:18 PM »

Quote from: smartin on February 22, 2011, 03:45:34 PM

[...] came with special lube. I haven't had a squeak since.

Must. Keep. My. Mouth. Shut...

smartin · « **Reply #15 on:** February 22, 2011, 08:43:12 PM »

Quote from: TomatoSoup on February 22, 2011, 07:24:18 PM

Must. Keep. My. Mouth. Shut...

S.P. · « **Reply #16 on:** February 24, 2011, 04:43:50 PM »

JimVonBaden: I think the 13mm wrench size you have listed for removing the bushing cap may be incorrect. I greased my bushings today (using this thread as a reference), and removing the caps was only possible with a 15mm.

JimVonBaden · « **Reply #17 on:** March 04, 2011, 06:39:29 PM »

Quote from: S.P. on February 24, 2011, 04:43:50 PM

JimVonBaden: I think the 13mm wrench size you have listed for removing the bushing cap may be incorrect. I greased my bushings today (using this thread as a reference), and removing the caps was only possible with a 15mm.

Interesting. I verified it at 13mm. Maybe there is a difference between models and years?

Mine is a 2008 Sky Redline.

Jim

S.P. · « **Reply #18 on:** March 04, 2011, 09:15:46 PM »

I see, that must be the case. I have a 2007 NA. My bad.

1LILNDN · « **Reply #19 on:** March 05, 2011, 12:11:38 PM »

I was in Advance Auto on Friday and they carry the Energy Greaseable Bushings ,but didn't check the Price . I'm going to check today

smartin · « **Reply #20 on:** March 11, 2011, 01:29:59 PM »

If Jimmy doesn't know, send a message to goat. I swear he is the bushing man and helped me immensely.

TomatoSoup · « **Reply #21 on:** March 11, 2011, 02:22:31 PM »

elff, I'll point you to this and hope it helps... http://www.kappaperformance.com/forum/index.php/topic,2017.msg73397.html#msg73397

TomatoSoup · « **Reply #22 on:** March 11, 2011, 04:30:33 PM »

Well, don't have a Sky, so may be different, but the stock GXP front sway is 1 5/16" in diameter - at least on mine. the 9.5167 and 4.5193 should both be the same internal diameter at 1 5/16" (a little over 33mm). Hmmm

smartin · « **Reply #23 on:** March 11, 2011, 04:31:03 PM »

I'm not trying to interfere here, but goat had me get some special bushings and lube for the front (FE3) when it was put on at the last mod meet. I had a picture somewhere of what he ordered. I will try to find it if you care to see what I was instructed to use.

JimmyBaja · « **Reply #24 on:** March 11, 2011, 04:32:59 PM »

Now that we got all that straight...
Let me throw another one in there. I was given a GXP rear swaybar & a set of Energy bushings at the meet last year. The bushings were too large for the GXP rear sway bar but just for bordum about a week ago I got the Idea to try them on my stock front swaybar (09 N/A) & they fit perfect. Why I waited a year to try this I couldn't tell you

1-1/16" P/N 9.5162G

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Author Topic: Greasable Bushing install (pictorial) (Read 18731 times)