I just noticed these useless mechanics I used in the past have used grease when inserting new front lower curved control arm bushes (the large ones). From what I know, no lubricant is suppose to be used, especially not grease.

Would this require removing the bushes and cleaning the grease out? Or is it ok to leave the bushes in with the grease?

 

The bush outer housing is steel, so I would not think the presence of a small amount of grease would cause this to move in the aluminium arm, as it will be an interference fit. The bush rubber itself is pretty compliant to rotational movement, so it will be this that moves rather than the bush in the arm. However, wait and see what others say, as I'm not an expert.

 

Hi JagsteRJX,

I've rebuilt several Jag suspensions and have never pressed out a factory bushing and found traces of grease or any other lubricant. That's sufficient evidence for me to conclude the manufacturer does not believe in the use of grease. But as Fraser says, the grease probably won't cause a problem due to the interference fit.

If the bushings had been put in a freezer for 30 minutes before pressing them in the grease would not have been necessary.

The one exception I know of where a lubricant is used is when pressing bushings with a rubber outer surface, such as the large subframe bushes in some Jaguars. In that case, the recommended lubricant is soapy water.

Cheers,

Don

 

Yeah, when I changed the FRH air strut I replaced the bush. I placed the bush in the freezer before, it went in using just a G clamp with no problems.

Hopefully, I don't get any issues with the bush moving.

The old story, if you want the job done properly you gotta do it yourself!!

 

Even better is to warm up the aluminium arm with a kettle of boiling water. Aluminium expansion coefficient is double that of steel, so cold bush and warm arm = easy replacement job !