springer Posted July 6, 2010 Report Share Posted July 6, 2010 Here is a fix I used on my rear sway bar to lube the bushings and tone-down that nasty rear sway bar squeak. That squeak was getting to me and from my experience with other urethane sway bar bushings, I knew that it wasn't normal for that much noise. One lubricant I've come to use regularly on the Harleys is anti-seize lubricant, which is used on bolts that you want to get loose again later. I noticed that when I got it on my hands, it was hard to get it off - very sticky stuff. I figured that if I tried some on the bushings, maybe it might cure the dreaded rear end squeak and keep the bushings lubricated longer than regular grease. It's now been over two months since the bushings were lubed, and the sway bar has been squeak-free. There are three bushings on each side of the sway bar. One at the end of each sway bar near the bottom of the shocks, and two bushings on each frame bracket connecting to the sway bar. I lubed all six bushings. Also, there are grease zerts on the bushings located below the shocks. There are holes in the bushings for the grease to reach the inner sway bar if you want to try and grease these two bushings with a grease gun. Frankly, the bushings fit very tight and I doubt a grease gun would do much good, but I did drill out the grease holes in these two bushings, making them larger, in case I try the grease gun someday. To grease the bushings, you need to remove the rear tires to access the bushing bracket under the shocks. Also, the frame brackets are split where they fit around the sway bar and this piece is held in place by two small allen head bolts. The top bolt on both my brackets broke-off when they were being removed and my easy-outs wouldn't work (I probably should have heated it first.) I had to take both brackets to my machine shop to have them removed and the holes threaded again. Be prepared for this little problem. I found out from someone at SAI that these sway bars, when installed, came with a small packet of grease to lube the bushings. From looking at my bushings once removed, I only saw two that had been lubed with any grease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RACERX009 Posted July 7, 2010 Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 Here is a fix I used on my rear sway bar to lube the bushings and tone-down that nasty rear sway bar squeak. That squeak was getting to me and from my experience with other urethane sway bar bushings, I knew that it wasn't normal for the much noise. One lubricant I've come to use regularly on the Harleys is anti-seize lubricant, which is used on bolts that you want to get loose again later. I noticed that when I got it on my hands, it was hard to get it off - very sticky stuff. I figured that if I tried some on the bushings, maybe it might cure the dreaded rear end squeak and keep the bushings lubricated longer than regular grease. It's now been over two months since the bushings were lubed, and the sway bar has been squeak-free. There are three bushings on each side of the sway bar. One at the end of each sway bar near the bottom of the shocks, and two bushings on each frame bracket connecting to the sway bar. I lubed all six bushings. Also, there are grease zerts on the bushings located below the shocks. There are holes in the bushings for the grease to reach the inner sway bar if you want to try and grease these two bushings with a grease gun. Frankly, the bushings fit very tight and I doubt a grease gun would do much good, but I did drill out the grease holes in these two bushings, making them larger, in case I try the grease gun someday. To grease the bushings, you need to remove the rear tires to access the bushing bracket under the shocks. Also, the frame brackets are split where they fit around the sway bar and this piece is held in place by two small allen head bolts. The top bolt on both my brackets broke-off when they were being removed and my easy-outs wouldn't work (I probably should have heated it first.) I had to take both brackets to my machine shop to have them removed and the holes threaded again. Be prepared for this little problem. I found out from someone at SAI that these sway bars, when installed, came with a small packet of grease for the bushings. From looking at my bushings once removed, I only saw two that had been lubed with any grease! Nice write up , I had that problem but it disappeared but good info thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Greenwell Posted July 7, 2010 Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 Here is a fix I used on my rear sway bar to lube the bushings and tone-down that nasty rear sway bar squeak. That squeak was getting to me and from my experience with other urethane sway bar bushings, I knew that it wasn't normal for the much noise. One lubricant I've come to use regularly on the Harleys is anti-seize lubricant, which is used on bolts that you want to get loose again later. I noticed that when I got it on my hands, it was hard to get it off - very sticky stuff. I figured that if I tried some on the bushings, maybe it might cure the dreaded rear end squeak and keep the bushings lubricated longer than regular grease. It's now been over two months since the bushings were lubed, and the sway bar has been squeak-free. There are three bushings on each side of the sway bar. One at the end of each sway bar near the bottom of the shocks, and two bushings on each frame bracket connecting to the sway bar. I lubed all six bushings. Also, there are grease zerts on the bushings located below the shocks. There are holes in the bushings for the grease to reach the inner sway bar if you want to try and grease these two bushings with a grease gun. Frankly, the bushings fit very tight and I doubt a grease gun would do much good, but I did drill out the grease holes in these two bushings, making them larger, in case I try the grease gun someday. To grease the bushings, you need to remove the rear tires to access the bushing bracket under the shocks. Also, the frame brackets are split where they fit around the sway bar and this piece is held in place by two small allen head bolts. The top bolt on both my brackets broke-off when they were being removed and my easy-outs wouldn't work (I probably should have heated it first.) I had to take both brackets to my machine shop to have them removed and the holes threaded again. Be prepared for this little problem. I found out from someone at SAI that these sway bars, when installed, came with a small packet of grease for the bushings. From looking at my bushings once removed, I only saw two that had been lubed with any grease! Hey Springer, My SGT has an intermittent case of this. I plan on asking the Ford dealer to check this out when I go in for my next oil change, somedays it is worse than others depending on the weather. GG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
springer Posted July 7, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 GG, good luck with the dealer. Hopefully he hasn't read the Shelby GT owner's manual - which tells us to "get use to the squeaking sway bars." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RACERX009 Posted July 7, 2010 Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 F that if your dealer tells you or anyone sorry live with it. I would flip out plus they would use crappy grease Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Greenwell Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 GG, good luck with the dealer. Hopefully he hasn't read the Shelby GT owner's manual - which tells us to "get use to the squeaking sway bars." Hey Springer, Yea the owners manual states squeaks are normal on a SGT racing suspension, I don't buy it though. Will see how it does after a lube. GG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kahmann Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 Nice write up. Good thinking with the anti-seize. I've had to literally throw piles of work clothes away after bathing in the stuff for days on any given project. It ought to stick to those bushings for quite a long time. My solution was to simply delete the rear sway bar after installing the Griggs setup. I don't have any sway bar squeaks, but those heim joints make up for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
springer Posted July 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 Ken, I'll keep you updated. That anti-seize is some of the nastiest stuff I've ever handled too. I was also looking at Harley Davidson springer front end grease which is also very hard to wash off. My tube was about empty so I went with the anti-seize. Harley's very proud of their springer grease - you'll know what I mean if you ever have to purchase a tube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
springer Posted January 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2011 Latest update on the rear sway bar squeak is that after seven months it is still quiet back there. Hopefully the anti-seize did the trick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Greenwell Posted January 14, 2011 Report Share Posted January 14, 2011 It has got really cold here and mine have really got worse. I tired WD40 during the summer and got some relief but it has come back with the really low temps. I don't like it and have said many times I don't buy the squeak stuff in the owners manual. Have not been to the dealer yet. GG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
springer Posted January 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2011 It has got really cold here and mine have really got worse. I tired WD40 during the summer and got some relief but it has come back with the really low temps. I don't like it and have said many times I don't buy the squeak stuff in the owners manual. Have not been to the dealer yet. GG I doubt the dealer will touch it when he sees they're urethane sway bar bushings. They squeak! There are grease zerts on the bushings, so you can try that also. If you go with the grease zerts, try some Harley springer front-end grease. It's very sticky and will not wash out as easy as regular grease. Or, you can go grab some of that anti-seize and try that, it worked for me. Be prepared for some stubborn bolts in the brackets. I'd use some penetrating spray on them the day before you tackle it! I had two of the bolts snap, one from each center link bracket. I had to take them to a machine shop to have them removed. Good luck! That squeak can be some very annoying sheeetttt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mustang DAN Posted January 15, 2011 Report Share Posted January 15, 2011 Thanks for the helpful info. I have actually applied some silicone spray lube to the smaller bushings which was surprisingly effective and of course easy to do, but probably not for as long as grease or anti-seize lube. Curious, what is the bar running at an angle under the rear axel? Haven't seen it before, and my coupe does not have it. Is this an extra body brace for 'verts? Here is a fix I used on my rear sway bar to lube the bushings and tone-down that nasty rear sway bar squeak. That squeak was getting to me and from my experience with other urethane sway bar bushings, I knew that it wasn't normal for that much noise. One lubricant I've come to use regularly on the Harleys is anti-seize lubricant, which is used on bolts that you want to get loose again later. I noticed that when I got it on my hands, it was hard to get it off - very sticky stuff. I figured that if I tried some on the bushings, maybe it might cure the dreaded rear end squeak and keep the bushings lubricated longer than regular grease. It's now been over two months since the bushings were lubed, and the sway bar has been squeak-free. There are three bushings on each side of the sway bar. One at the end of each sway bar near the bottom of the shocks, and two bushings on each frame bracket connecting to the sway bar. I lubed all six bushings. Also, there are grease zerts on the bushings located below the shocks. There are holes in the bushings for the grease to reach the inner sway bar if you want to try and grease these two bushings with a grease gun. Frankly, the bushings fit very tight and I doubt a grease gun would do much good, but I did drill out the grease holes in these two bushings, making them larger, in case I try the grease gun someday. To grease the bushings, you need to remove the rear tires to access the bushing bracket under the shocks. Also, the frame brackets are split where they fit around the sway bar and this piece is held in place by two small allen head bolts. The top bolt on both my brackets broke-off when they were being removed and my easy-outs wouldn't work (I probably should have heated it first.) I had to take both brackets to my machine shop to have them removed and the holes threaded again. Be prepared for this little problem. I found out from someone at SAI that these sway bars, when installed, came with a small packet of grease to lube the bushings. From looking at my bushings once removed, I only saw two that had been lubed with any grease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatboy Posted January 15, 2011 Report Share Posted January 15, 2011 i hardly get any squeeks in the warmer season. in winter time it squeeks. as far as anti-seize. i use 409 to get it off my skin and tools. but get it on ur clothes, as some of u have said, ur up poop creek. lol<BR><BR>edited for grammar errors lol<BR><BR>wtf? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
springer Posted January 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2011 Thanks for the helpful info. I have actually applied some silicone spray lube to the smaller bushings which was surprisingly effective and of course easy to do, but probably not for as long as grease or anti-seize lube. Curious, what is the bar running at an angle under the rear axel? Haven't seen it before, and my coupe does not have it. Is this an extra body brace for 'verts? Mustang Dan, the extra bars are chassis stiffening supports probably found only on the convertibles. There are usually extra support braces found on most convertibles, and since I don't have a coupe to compare it to, my guess is that you are correct. Here is another pic of the underside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mustang DAN Posted January 17, 2011 Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 Interesting. Wonder if it would be at all worthwhile to add these stiffeners to the coupe (reduction of squeaks, improvement in handling, etc.)? I had a Buick Grand National some years ago, and it was popular to add similar stiffeners in several spots. Aftermarket kits were (and I think still are) available for the Buick. Mustang Dan, the extra bars are chassis stiffening supports probably found only on the convertibles. There are usually extra support braces found on most convertibles, and since I don't have a coupe to compare it to, my guess is that you are correct. Here is another pic of the underside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
springer Posted January 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 Dan, I don't know how much the bars would help the coupes. When they installed my Whipple supercharger they removed the strut tower brace from the engine compartment and frankly I can't tell any difference. The strut tower brace wasn't very effective anyway. Besides the strut towers, it needed to be tied into the firewall to really be effective. It really is a show piece, but it doesn't show much as it covers-up parts of the engine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Greenwell Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 The weather has changed and its in the upper 70s in Texarkana, AR this week. I've had the top down all week and guess what. The winter squeak in the rear has all but disappeared, imagine that?????? Mine is always worse when it gets really cold. Not one squeak yesterday or today. Just thought I would pass this on. I wonder if it is possible or has anyone replaced the nylon bushing in the racing suspension. GG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard m.switzer Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 Hey Springer, Yea the owners manual states squeaks are normal on a SGT racing suspension, I don't buy it though. Will see how it does after a lube. GG now you tell me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
springer Posted February 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2011 I drove the Shelby down to the Autorama in Dallas today and it has now been nine months since I lubed the sway bar bushings with anti-seize. The rear end of the car is still squeak-free and the anti-seize seems to be holding its own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redlinetoys Posted February 28, 2011 Report Share Posted February 28, 2011 Good info and appreciate the updates. Need to get on mine soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
springer Posted May 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2011 May, 15.2011. The Shelby is still "squeak" free and still able to "smoke" the competition in a single bound! (You gotta love Clark Kent!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NordicShelby Posted June 3, 2011 Report Share Posted June 3, 2011 Here is a link that I started that directs people to a great silicone grease that is to be used on sway bars with polyurthane bushings. http://www.teamshelby.com/forums/index.php?/topic/67899-silicon-grease/ I just ordered a tube so I will see how well it works Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
springer Posted June 4, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 Here is a link that I started that directs people to a great silicone grease that is to be used on sway bars with polyurthane bushings. http://www.teamshelby.com/forums/index.php?/topic/67899-silicon-grease/ I just ordered a tube so I will see how well it works Thanks Scotty, I read that thread yesterday and Ford's recommendations made me chuckle. They used silicone grease originally, and they squeaked like hell. Anti-seize will not rot your bushings, that I know for sure. And mine are still squeak-free." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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