You are here:

4 Wheel Drive/SUVs/noise when i brake

Advertisement

Expert: - 10/30/2004


Question
the back bushings that .  the springs ride on seem to be dry and make noise when i stop going forward only. i have been using deep creep and it is helping some   2001 Z71 chev.  truck

Answer
Carlton,

I am not familiar with deep creep, but I assume that it's a penetrating oil.  First of all, most bushings are not designed to be lubricated at all.  Rubber, or polyethylene bushings should not be greased, or oiled with a petroleum based product.  Petroleum based products will, eventually soften, and eat up the bushings.  If you do want to lubricate a bushing, you should use a synthetic based product.  

You can check with some of the off road parts suppliers, such as Truck Performance, and see if they have greasable bushings available.  You can find several companies that sell these products listed in most 4x4, or off-road magazines.  In any case, I would suggest that you replace the bushings if they are showing signs of wear.

Carl

4 Wheel Drive/SUVs

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Carl Brandt

Expertise

Will discuss suspensions, lifts, lockers along with tire suggestions. Trail ratings and possible requirements needed for specific type of trails. Safety equipment and what you should carry with you. Certified off-road instructor. I am not a mechanic, and 4-Wheeling is a hobby, so if I can't answer a technical question it is due to my mechanical knowledge being related to vehicles that I have owned, or have worked on. I do not have manuals on all vehicles.

Experience

40 plus years of 4 wheeling in a variety of vehicles. At the present time, my major off-road rig is a 94 Jeep Wrangler with a spring over and a 1 1/2" suspension lift. This gives me a total lift of 7" or so. I have lockers front and rear. I have removed the track bars, and sway bar for maximum articulation. I am running a stock 2.5 ltr 4 cylinder with a Jacobs ignition along with a cold air high flow filter. It has 4.56:1 gears with a Dodge NV4500 transmission along with a 3.8:1 Atlas II transfer case. This gives me a final ratio of 105:1 in low gear/low range. Other vehicles I own, are a 96 Ford F-250 with a 6" lift, posi rear end, 36" Hummer tires, 5 speed with a fuel injected 460 ci engine, an 87 Samurai with an 8" lift, Ford 9" rear end with a spool, Chevy Dana 44 front end with an electric locker, 5.88 gears, 16% reduction in high range and a 6.5:1 low range with 35" Baja Claws, and a stock 2003 Grand Cherokee Overland. Trails I have run are the Rubicon (10 times), Dusey Ershim, Fordyce Creek trail, McGrew trail, several trails in Moab, Utah along with local monthly runs.

Organizations
Lost Coast 4x4's Cal 4-Wheel Corva UFWDA Blue Ribbon Coalition

Education/Credentials
Certified off-road instructor - Certificates in engineering/electronics

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.