Suggestions on lower control arm bushing

[Huicho417]

I recently installed the Borgeson quick steer gearbox on my 67 Coronet. In attempting the alignment I kept having issues with setting toe and the car kept pulling to the right.

This morning I found out my passenger side LCA bushing is badly damaged and the pivot shaft has lots of play. The ones on the car are the PST polygraphite type with greasable pivot shafts. I installed them five years ago. What would be the reason they gave out so soon? The only thing I can think of is I have been greasing them with petroleum grease and from what I read they need silicone grease. Would this damage them that bad?

I will be taking the LCA off to replace. Any suggestion on the best option for the bushings?

 

[Kern Dog]

First, I would abandon the poly bushings and return to OEM rubber.
If you retain the poly, I would abide by the instructions to use the specific lubricant they list. It is different.

 

[Gripper]

Prothane brand

 

[j-c-c-62]

Or go Delrin, which has also possible ride downsides, and it like everything else will wear out eventually over miles driven.
I also suspect your grease irritated the urethane.
I wonder if the graphite style even need much greasing in the first place?
Any graphite inserted/mixed into the urethane it would seem have to make the urethane less robust, meaning a shorter life as the graphite really doesn't stick to anything by its nature. Not sure

Maybe you should stiffen the LCA while you have them off, it's the current rage.

Sorry, I couldn't resist. That's an inside? joke.

 

[66 Sat]

Read this LCA Poly Bushing Failure - what to do now?
My poly bushes disintegrated which I think was a result of using the wrong grease.

I put some spare poly bushes back in and so far so good. I've also got rubber ones spare in case I need to do them again.

 

[Huicho417]

Thanks for the input everyone. I have a pair of rubber/steel bushings I got from PST that came with a kit. At the time I did not use them because I wanted to try the poly bushings. Guess I will go with the original design this time. When pressing the rubber bushing into LCA and pivot shaft into the bushing can I use some grease to help in pressing in? Ot does it need to press in dry?

Another component I have found that I need to replace are the lower ball joints. Any manufacturer recommendations?

 

[Kern Dog]

The lower bushings can get a thin smear of oil or grease but it is a press fit so whatever you use will get scraped off.

 

[RemCharger]

I agreed Greg but I don't recall seeing someone press together in that order.

 

[Kern Dog]

I pressed the bushing in, then the shaft afterwards. Is that wrong?

 

[66 Sat]

I pressed the bushing in, then the shaft afterwards. Is that wrong?

I did mine the same way.

 

[copper67sat]

Seems like you could inadvertently push the inner sleeve out of the bushing doing it that way. I pressed the bushing onto the pivot so I could support the inner sleeve and then pressed that assembly into the LCA.

 

[copper67sat]

Seems like you could inadvertently push the inner sleeve out of the bushing doing it that way.

Never mind. Looked at your pics again and it looks like you put something under the LCA to support the bushing while you pressed the pivot in.

 

[Mopar Hunter]

According to PST‘s website, grease is harmless towards polygraphite. Plus PST has a lifetime warranty.

“PST perfected polyurethane with the introduction of POLYGRAPHITE® - a special formula incorporating a low-friction graphite lubricant into the actual bushing material. With POLYGRAPHITE®, you get the near-zero deflection performance of polyurethane with a self-lubricating bushing. As an added benefit, POLYGRAPHITE® is impervious to grease, oil, weather, and other natural elements and will never dry rot.”

 

[old guys rule]

According to PST‘s website, grease is harmless towards polygraphite. Plus PST has a lifetime warranty.

“PST perfected polyurethane with the introduction of POLYGRAPHITE® - a special formula incorporating a low-friction graphite lubricant into the actual bushing material. With POLYGRAPHITE®, you get the near-zero deflection performance of polyurethane with a self-lubricating bushing. As an added benefit, POLYGRAPHITE® is impervious to grease, oil, weather, and other natural elements and will never dry rot.”

Never let chemicals for cleaning out blocks get on your polygraphite. Had to replace my poly engine mounts. They turned to dust.

 

[j-c-c-62]

According to PST‘s website, grease is harmless towards polygraphite. Plus PST has a lifetime warranty.

“PST perfected polyurethane with the introduction of POLYGRAPHITE® - a special formula incorporating a low-friction graphite lubricant into the actual bushing material. With POLYGRAPHITE®, you get the near-zero deflection performance of polyurethane with a self-lubricating bushing. As an added benefit, POLYGRAPHITE® is impervious to grease, oil, weather, and other natural elements and will never dry rot.”

The Impervious claim is above my pay grade.
"will never dry rot" maybe.
But they will "rot" for just being urethane, guaranteed. I have 40+ years of working with the stuff, and its great until it's not.

 

[RemCharger]

I pressed the bushing in, then the shaft afterwards. Is that wrong?

I hate to say wrong, but like post 11 is safer.