Bushing Grease

Grease is what lets a polyurethane bush do its job quietly. Unlike bonded rubber bushes, which twist with every movement of the suspension, polyurethane bushes pivot on their inner sleeve and against their housing. That movement needs lubrication. Without the right grease, polyurethane bushes can squeak, bind and wear faster than they should.

Nolathane bushing grease is made for polyurethane suspension bushes. It?s used when fitting new bushes and when servicing them later, helping keep suspension pivots smooth, quiet and protected from water and grit on passenger cars, 4WDs, pick-ups, performance vehicles and classics.

Why Polyurethane Bushes Need Grease

A factory rubber bush is usually bonded to its inner and outer sleeves, so the rubber itself twists as the suspension moves. A polyurethane bush works differently. Nolathane bushes are mechanically fitted with minimal crush, and the centre sleeve is lubricated so the arm pivots freely rather than twisting the bush.

That design is what gives polyurethane its precise, consistent location and long life, but it relies on a film of grease between the moving surfaces. The grease:

• Reduces friction, so the suspension moves freely through its travel
• Prevents squeaks and groans from dry surfaces rubbing together
• Seals out water, dust and road grime
• Protects metal sleeves and pins from corrosion
• Reduces wear on both the bush and the sleeve

Choosing a Grease for Polyurethane Bushes

Not every grease is suitable for polyurethane. Some petroleum-based and lithium-based greases can soften or degrade polyurethane over time, which shortens bush life and can make noise worse rather than better.

Greases formulated for polyurethane, such as silicone-based and PTFE-based greases, are designed to stay in place, resist water washout and remain compatible with the bush material. Using a grease made for polyurethane bushes is the simplest way to protect the investment in new bushes.

Where to Use Bushing Grease

Bushing grease is used anywhere a polyurethane bush pivots, slides or rotates, including:

• Control arm and trailing arm pivot bushes
• Sway bar mount bushes, where the bar rotates inside the bush
• Leaf spring eye and shackle bushes
• Panhard rod and radius arm bushes
• Shock absorber and strut mount bushes where movement occurs
• Steering rack, idler arm and steering linkage bushes
• Greasable pins and shackles fitted with grease fittings

Apply grease to the surfaces that move against each other: the inner bore of the bush, the outer surface of the sleeve or pin, and the faces of the bush flanges where they contact the housing or washers.

How to Grease Polyurethane Bushes When Fitting

1. Clean the bush housing, sleeve and mounting hardware, removing rust, old grease and dirt.
2. Apply a thin, even coat of grease to the inside bore of each bush.
3. Coat the outside of the inner sleeve or pin.
4. Lightly grease the outer surface of the bush and the flange faces where they meet the housing.
5. Assemble the bush, sleeve and hardware, wiping away any excess grease from the outside.
6. Tighten the pivot bolts to specification with the vehicle at ride height.

Use enough grease to coat every moving surface, but avoid packing so much in that it squeezes out and collects dirt.

Ongoing Maintenance

Polyurethane bushes on most vehicles don?t need regular greasing once they?re fitted correctly. On vehicles that see water, mud, sand, dust or heavy loads, occasional maintenance helps keep them quiet:

• Grease any greasable pins and shackles at every service
• Re-grease after beach driving, deep water crossings or long trips on dusty roads
• If a bush begins to squeak, clean it and apply a small amount of grease to the exposed contact surfaces
• Inspect bushes at every service for cracks, extrusion or excessive movement

On sway bar mount bushes, the most common source of polyurethane squeak, lifting the bush slightly away from the bar and applying grease to the contact surface often cures the noise.

Grease or Replace

Grease cures noise and friction, but it can?t repair a bush that has worn out. Before re-greasing, check whether the bush is still serviceable. A bush that only needs grease will usually be intact, fit snugly in its housing and squeak without any clunk or visible movement.

A bush that needs replacing may show:

• Cracks, splits or chunks missing from the polyurethane
• Material squeezed out past the housing or washers
• A worn, oval or loose fit around the sleeve or bar
• Clunking or visible movement as well as squeaking
• A sleeve or pin that is worn, scored or rusted

If any of these are present, replace the bush and clean or renew the sleeve, then grease the new parts on assembly.

Fixing Squeaky Polyurethane Bushes

A squeak from a polyurethane bush usually means the surfaces have dried out or contamination has worked in. Common causes include:

• Too little grease applied at fitting
• An unsuitable grease that has washed out or broken down
• Water and grit entering the bush after off-road driving
• Pivot bolts tightened with the suspension hanging, which pre-loads the bush

Cleaning the bush and re-greasing with a polyurethane-compatible grease solves most squeaks, and on most positions it?s a quick job that rarely requires the bush to be removed from the vehicle. If a bush was tightened at full droop, loosen the pivot bolt, let the vehicle settle at ride height and re-tighten.

The Nolathane Approach

Nolathane has been making polyurethane suspension bushings since 1974, originally developed to replace brass bushes in hillclimb competition. The signature red bushings are made in a range of durometers (hardness grades) for each position, and offer outstanding abrasion resistance, high load-bearing capability and resistance to oil, grease, ozone and weathering. Correct lubrication is part of the design, and using the right bushing grease helps every bush deliver its full service life.

Shop Bushing Grease

Nolathane keeps this grease in two places, here in universal parts and in car accessories.

Order bushing grease online with fast shipping, or pick it up from a Nolathane reseller when you buy your bushes. 60-day returns give you time if a product isn?t right, and our local support team can help with greasing advice, whether you?re fitting new bushes, curing a squeak or servicing a hard-working 4WD.