Front Suspension-Just a Friendly Reminder

[frankeeski]

I see many questions on the forum about front and rear suspension setup and assembly. I do believe however, that one of the most over-looked processes is proper lubrication of all of the suspension parts during assembly. This, above all, leads to poor performance and parts breakage more than any other one issue. So please take the time while you are assembling all of these parts, to remove all of the bushings and sleeves and properly lubricate all of the moving parts.

These are the most important tools when assembling the suspension parts
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa78/frankeeski/20160117_135454_zpsncf4igmz.jpg (http://s200.photobucket.com/user/frankeeski/media/20160117_135454_zpsncf4igmz.jpg.html)

[skullandbones]

Frank,

What do you think about continued maintenance? I lub my suspension points, especially the UCAs and LCAs about every two thousand miles. I'm not sure if there is a standard on these suspensions. I also make sure the lub bleeds out before I stop pumping it into the fitting.

WEK.

[frankeeski]

Frank,

What do you think about continued maintenance? I lub my suspension points, especially the UCAs and LCAs about every two thousand miles. I'm not sure if there is a standard on these suspensions. I also make sure the lub bleeds out before I stop pumping it into the fitting.

WEK.

I got in the habit of lubing my Roadster yearly. We usually go on a weeks long cruise with the group in late June/early July and I just end up doing a nut and bolt of the entire car and lube at that time. In my opinion, often is much better than never. The next question most ask is "what kind of grease is the best?". My answer is, the grease you actually use (what ever you have handy). Again using any kind of grease is better than using none at all.

[Jazzman]

Thanks Frank, that is indeed wise counsel. Thanks for looking out for all our safety!

[bil1024]

Thanks

[frankeeski]

This is the process I've gone through on the MkII Roadster I am currently working on. When I started work on this car, the front suspension was so stiff that even with the coilover out of the car you could not raise and lower the suspension by hand. After the following procedure, the suspension travels freely all the way up and down. Before this car hits the road, the entire suspension will get another round of lubrication and be corner weighted to adjust all of the coilovers.

The first step is to press the bushing sleeve out, I use the 12 ton press.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa78/frankeeski/Bushing%20Press_zpsdm9boozi.jpg (http://s200.photobucket.com/user/frankeeski/media/Bushing%20Press_zpsdm9boozi.jpg.html)

Sleeves are out and ready for the next step.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa78/frankeeski/Sleeves%20out_zpsdym6ebza.jpg (http://s200.photobucket.com/user/frankeeski/media/Sleeves%20out_zpsdym6ebza.jpg.html)

The next step is to cut grooves in the sleeves and then smooth them out so the sleeve moves freely in the bushing.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa78/frankeeski/Grooves%20in%20Sleeve_zpskegvq7ph.jpg (http://s200.photobucket.com/user/frankeeski/media/Grooves%20in%20Sleeve_zpskegvq7ph.jpg.html)

Liberal amounts of grease are then applied to the sleeves.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa78/frankeeski/More%20grease_zpsmgntjibz.jpg (http://s200.photobucket.com/user/frankeeski/media/More%20grease_zpsmgntjibz.jpg.html)

[frankeeski]

Grease is then applied to the inside of the bushing. This is not a case of less is more, more is more. Don't be afraid to get it in there, you may just get some on you in the process.

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa78/frankeeski/Grease%20sleaves_zpsg0820beg.jpg (http://s200.photobucket.com/user/frankeeski/media/Grease%20sleaves_zpsg0820beg.jpg.html)

Now it's time to slide the sleeve into the bushing. It can be started by hand.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa78/frankeeski/Sleeve%20insertion_zpsh6w0rniq.jpg (http://s200.photobucket.com/user/frankeeski/media/Sleeve%20insertion_zpsh6w0rniq.jpg.html)

Time to finish up the installation with the vise.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa78/frankeeski/Sleeves%20back%20in_zpsnqptcelk.jpg (http://s200.photobucket.com/user/frankeeski/media/Sleeves%20back%20in_zpsnqptcelk.jpg.html)

And all installed.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa78/frankeeski/Sleeves%20in_zpsdvoyfumx.jpg (http://s200.photobucket.com/user/frankeeski/media/Sleeves%20in_zpsdvoyfumx.jpg.html)

Control arms are then installed back in the car and...........You guessed it, greased again until the grease oozes out around the bushings.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa78/frankeeski/Back%20in%20the%20car%20more%20grease_zpsl0duck8v. jpg (http://s200.photobucket.com/user/frankeeski/media/Back%20in%20the%20car%20more%20grease_zpsl0duck8v. jpg.html)

[skullandbones]

So the groove in the bushing allows for better distribution of the grease through the grease fitting, correct? Have you done this on the new builds?

WEK.

[frankeeski]

So the groove in the bushing allows for better distribution of the grease through the grease fitting, correct? Have you done this on the new builds?

WEK.

You only have to do the grooves with the older style FFR control arms. The ones Mike Forte makes have the right sized sleeves and so do the newer style FFR arms. You can sidestep the groove cutting on the older style if you get the smaller sleeves available from Mark @ Breeze. You still need to press out the sleeves with the newer style arms from FFR and from Forte and lube them before installing them on the car. I'll have to look, but I do believe this procedure is outlined in the instructions that come with the control arms from FFR.

[6t8dart]

Good knowledge transfer on this thread, thanks guys!

[Mark Reynolds]

IMHO if you have to press the bushing in with a vise or a press then by definition there is no room for grease.

[frankeeski]

IMHO if you have to press the bushing in with a vise or a press then by definition there is no room for grease.

Agreed Mark, that's why I mentioned your products. :)

[MisterAdam]

actually there is room for grease. speaking as a mechanical engineer what Frank is doing is filling all the microscopic voids of the steel and rubber with grease. this is why he does see a performance improvement.

[UnhipPopano]

... The next question most ask is "what kind of grease is the best?". My answer is, the grease you actually use (what ever you have handy). Again using any kind of grease is better than using none at all.

This statement is only correct for Rubber bushings. As more and more people are using Polyurethane bushings, "You should only use lithium based grease on polyurethane. Petroleum based greases will actually eat a bushing away so this is why it is so crucial to use the right grease. You can actually be doing more harm than good by greasing your bushings with the wrong kind of grease."