bushings all dieing one by one

[B'sCheyenne]

After thirty years I gues its thier time. I drove down to Las Angelas not long ago from here in the north bay, the truck did great but while I was down there I could here a sort of humming and wobble in the front. A bushing had died on the control arm. I had that fixed and now it just started squeeking like all **** in the back, my naighbor says the bushings are dead on ladder bar or something I forget now. My beautifull truck is squeking and squaking like an old jalopy, its embaresing. Ive been wanting to upgrade tp polyurethane but that seems like a huge deal, like you have to take apart the whole truck practicaly to change all those bushings. Any advice? thanks all B.

[Chumley]

Howdy- Is the noise all coming from the front end? I had some front end work done a few months ago. A 90% front end rebuild. The idiots at one place I went to not only installed my new lower ball joints incorrectly, they didn't even grease them! Anyway, that's history, but now the front is smooth and quiet. I've seen poly kits for the bed and cab mounts, something for the future maybe. By the way, what part of the North Bay do you live in? Seems like most members of the board are from the midwest. I'm in Santa Rosa, and see a good handful of our trucks in my excursions. If you're in this area, I've found an excellent mechanic who guarantees his work for life time of vehicle. Ron C.

[B'sCheyenne]

Yea Im about a half hour west of you, in Guerneville CA, I see all those trucks too, some nice ones too from to time to time. The noise its mostly coming from the back, but I think my bushings are all in a pretty sorry state, its all just started in the last month. About that mechanic I might want to give him a call, whats the name of his shop and what city, thanks for the recamend. I wonder if anyone has an opinion on the poly graphite kits from PST, Im pretty guilible sometimes but it makes some sense, sounded good. thanks Ron.

Brendan

[fatfords]

Hey B!
I used a polyurethane rebuild kit on a '78 Firebird that I used to own. It was both good and bad.
Good-the car handled much better with firmer/more responsive steering & ride.
Bad-after about 500 miles, the bushings started squeaking, one by one.
This was about 10 years ago and I have since seen the new ones advertised with graphite impregnated in the polyurethane. It should help, but I have not used them.

Hope this helps, LOL!

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'56 F-100 w/GM stuff! "never-ending project"
'72 Cheyenne LWB "new parts chaser"

[Chumley]

Hey Brendan, the name of the shop is Rincon Valley Alignment, out on Highway 12 just down from the 7-11 on Middle Rincon. He deals mostly with front-end and brakes, but might be able to help you out. He's very straight forward and up front, so far the work he did for me ( and also a fellow employee ) has been good. Have you checked out your rear springs and shocks and related bushings? I know those unknown sources of noise can drive you nuts. I have a toolbox on my Cheyenne, and when I have my slider window open, it sounds like it's going to rattle right off the truck!

[B'sCheyenne]

PST has stock rubber only for the 72 chevy,
very disapointing, very very disapointing.

[68 Suburban]

What are the symptoms of a control arm cross shaft bushing that needs to be replaced?

[D J Derringer]

Hey Brendon,

Regarding the squeaking bushings: alot of people that install or have installed, the poly bushings fail to smear some grease on them first. It doesn't take long for them to act up if they aren't greased first. That just serves to distract from pro's of installing them. IMHO

DJ

[B'sCheyenne]

68 Suburban
it sounded like the tire was under inflated,
or misaligned. When i reached in there it came right out, it was maybe about half a bushing. just barely half a bushing. almost recognizable as something that used to be a bushing.
B.

[DennyB]

B'sCheyenne,
When you get the poly bushings, get the ones with a grease zert and grease grove where available. I know they are available for the anti-sway bar. Not sure about the "A" arms and rear trailing arms.
The others should be greased as mentioned by DJ. I would recommend waterproof grease like the type used for boat trailer wheel bearings. This should last longer than regular wheel bearing grease.


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Toms River NJ (Transplanted Hoosier)
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56 working Street Rod(under construction 71-2 coil chassis)