All,
In a mammoth campaign on Sat, 3 Mates and I replaced
bearings, stub axle and bushings on the rear suspension of
my Pantera. We used graphite-impregnated polyeurothane
bushings for the upper and lower A-arms, and of course the
question of squeaking bushings arose.
Even though the bushings were supplied with a thick
silicone (it smelled like silicone) grease, I thought of the
many posts to this list that once the grease dries out, the dreaded
squeaks set in.
The bushings for the Pantera were quite interesting, in that
channeled grooves were cut lengthwise on the inside of the poly
bushing, so that grease would lubricate the inner steel sleeve.
A common Pantera-owner cure for the squeaks is to drill a hole in
the A-arm sleeve and insert a zerk fitting so that grease may be
forced between the two halves of the bushing, and into the channels.
So we inserted zerk fittings onto the A-arms, and hopefully I wont hear
any squeaks.
Seeing that my next major project for the TR6 will be go through
the suspension, I wondered why not do the same thing for Triumphs?
I've not seen what the bushings available for the Triumph are like, but
why not cut small channels on the inside of the bushing (with a hacksaw),
and if the bushings are not in 2 parts, cut them in half and insert a zerk
fitting where appropriate so that external lubing can be employed?
Shane Ingate in San Diego
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