69 Front Stabilizer Bushings Lubricant?

[Michael C.]

I have new rubber bushings to install on my BB 69 stabilizer bar. They fit snuggly on the bar and with some effort I can slide them into place. My Chevrolet Chassis Service Manual states in the stabilizer installation section "...coat the stabilizer with recommended rubber lubricant and slide the frame bushing into position." Is lubricant required? If yes, what is the "recommended rubber lubricant?"

Thanks
Mike

[Michael B.]

[David H.]

Re: 69 Front Stabilizer Bushings Lubricant?

Ru-Glyde





ru glide.jpg

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 Front Stabilizer Bushings Lubricant?

I have new rubber bushings to install on my BB 69 stabilizer bar. They fit snuggly on the bar and with some effort I can slide them into place. My Chevrolet Chassis Service Manual states in the stabilizer installation section "...coat the stabilizer with recommended rubber lubricant and slide the frame bushing into position." Is lubricant required? If yes, what is the "recommended rubber lubricant?"

Thanks
Mike

Mike-----

I don't know why any lubricant is necessary. The GM bushings are split and can easily be installed on the bar. Even when the retainers are installed, the bushing/retainer can still be moved if necessary to align with the frame horns.

Keep in mind that in operation the stabilizer bar is not intended to rotate in the bushings. Quite the contrary. When installed, the bushings are intended to firmly clasp the bar.

[Michael C.]

Re: 69 Front Stabilizer Bushings Lubricant?

Thanks for the replies. Joe, because I'm able to install and adjust the bushings without any lubricant, I'll leave them dry.

[Keith M.]

Re: 69 Front Stabilizer Bushings Lubricant?

Mike-----

I don't know why any lubricant is necessary. The GM bushings are split and can easily be installed on the bar. Even when the retainers are installed, the bushing/retainer can still be moved if necessary to align with the frame horns.

Keep in mind that in operation the stabilizer bar is not intended to rotate in the bushings. Quite the contrary. When installed, the bushings are intended to firmly clasp the bar.

Interesting. I would have thought "some" level of "movement" of the bar within the bushing would be contemplated and desirable. I would not go so far as to say rotate...but if either the front end (either one side alone or both) were to compress or extend...would not the bar tend to want to "rotate" to some degree? If that were true and it could not "rotate" ever so slightly there would be undesirable stress on the bushing. Now would that matter to any signficant to degree...who knows. But movement would be better than not...no? That said...I would never have contemplated lubrication...if I did..probably use something silicone in nature.
Keith

[Duke W.]

Re: 69 Front Stabilizer Bushings Lubricant?

Like other suspension bushings - front A-arms, rear trailing arms and strut rods, the slight rotation of the anti roll bar is designed to be absorbed by defection of the rubber... like bending a rubber erasure. That's why the antiroll bar pillow block bushings are difficult to install because if done correctly they should be highly compressed with the bushing ID face exerting enough clamping force to prevent the bar from rotating relative to the rubber.

If there is actual relative movement at the bar-bushing interface, the bushings would wear out very quickly.

Duke

[David H.]

Re: 69 Front Stabilizer Bushings Lubricant?

Like other suspension bushings - front A-arms, rear trailing arms and strut rods, the slight rotation of the anti roll bar is designed to be absorbed by defection of the rubber... like bending a rubber erasure. That's why the antiroll bar pillow block bushings are difficult to install because if done correctly they should be highly compressed with the bushing ID face exerting enough clamping force to prevent the bar from rotating relative to the rubber.

If there is actual relative movement at the bar-bushing interface, the bushings would wear out very quickly.

Duke

Duke

Agree with your assessment.

However, OPs original statement contains Service Manual Instructions below - begs question as to why? (I know RU-GLYDE doesn't last very long as a lubricant, and I have not used it for this application. Actually, didn't use anything.)

.... My Chevrolet Chassis Service Manual states in the stabilizer installation section "...coat the stabilizer with recommended rubber lubricant and slide the frame bushing into position." ....

i.e. Why a recommendation at all?

Dave

[Duke W.]

Re: 69 Front Stabilizer Bushings Lubricant?

My thought is that the "lubricant" might be purely for ease of installation, though I find no lubrication note in my '63 AIM. Maybe there is such a lubrication note in later AIMs. Maybe St. Louis had some special tools to get bushing/bracket on the bar and aligned with the frame holes to get the bolts started.

The recommended lubricant for field installation might be the same as the old water based rubber lube used to install tires back in the day. It's been awhile since I had to install an anti-roll bar, but I recall it can be a chore to get those bolts started. I never used any kind or rubber lubricant, but maybe that makes the job a little easier.

Don't you just love these service publications that say use the "recommended" lubricant, but never state what it actually is?

Duke

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 Front Stabilizer Bushings Lubricant?

My thought is that the "lubricant" might be purely for ease of installation, though I find no lubrication note in my '63 AIM. Maybe there is such a lubrication note in later AIMs. Maybe St. Louis had some special tools to get bushing/bracket on the bar and aligned with the frame holes to get the bolts started.

The recommended lubricant for field installation might be the same as the old water based rubber lube used to install tires back in the day. It's been awhile since I had to install an anti-roll bar, but I recall it can be a chore to get those bolts started. I never used any kind or rubber lubricant, but maybe that makes the job a little easier.

Don't you just love these service publications that say use the "recommended" lubricant, but never state what it actually is?

Duke

Duke------


No lubrication note through 1982.

[Duke W.]

Re: 69 Front Stabilizer Bushings Lubricant?

Thank, Joe... wish John Hinckley was still with us. He could likely give us a definitive answer.

Duke

[David H.]

Re: 69 Front Stabilizer Bushings Lubricant?

Thank, Joe... wish John Hinckley was still with us. He could likely give us a definitive answer.

Duke

Perhaps John Hinckley would have told us we are talking about two DIFFERENT things.

Dawned on me, Assembly Instruction Manuals address ASSEMBLY. While Service Manuals address REPAIR.

Assembly was done on the "Upside-Down" Line. Bar/rubber cushions/metal caps were likely to have been already assembled - ready-to-go - worker just drops them into place and tightens fasteners. Hence no lube required - assembly dealt with tightening nuts and screws.

Repair, on the other hand, involves replacing components previously installed. Service manual guides worker in REPAIR actions on what is likely an installed component, only partially disassembled.

Repair recommends lubricant to ease installation. If you're assembling (kinda/sorta) like St Louis, then no need for lubricant.


So back to Original Question: What lubricant is recommended for repair actions?

Dave


1981 Upside-Down Line Stabilizer.jpg

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 Front Stabilizer Bushings Lubricant?

Perhaps John Hinckley would have told us we are talking about two DIFFERENT things.

Dawned on me, Assembly Instruction Manuals address ASSEMBLY. While Service Manuals address REPAIR.

Assembly was done on the "Upside-Down" Line. Bar/rubber cushions/metal caps were likely to have been already assembled - ready-to-go - worker just drops them into place and tightens fasteners. Hence no lube required - assembly dealt with tightening nuts and screws.

Repair, on the other hand, involves replacing components previously installed. Service manual guides worker in REPAIR actions on what is likely an installed component, only partially disassembled.

Repair recommends lubricant to ease installation. If you're assembling (kinda/sorta) like St Louis, then no need for lubricant.


So back to Original Question: What lubricant is recommended for repair actions?

Dave


[ATTACH=CONFIG]117101[/ATTACH]

Dave------


Yes, but the point is that there is no fundamental reason to use lubricant. In other words, the use of the lubricant is not necessary for the bushings or bar to perform properly. If it was, then it would have been used in PRODUCTION.

My point is that there is no real need to use lubricant in SERVICE. I've installed these bushings easily with no lubricant used. But, if one wants to use lubricant, it's OK. However, if one does then one has to figure out what the "recommended" lubricant is. If one installs them without lubricant, this need is obviated.

[David H.]

Re: 69 Front Stabilizer Bushings Lubricant?

Dave------


... If it was, then it would have been used in PRODUCTION .....

Point is, we don't know if lube was used in production.

I would expect this unit was delivered to the line mostly assembled. Ready to drop on and tighten fasteners.

Like many things in the AIM, no detail on subassembly. (e.g. front spindles/brakes)

I installed my bushings without using lubricant, I know it can be done.

Doesn't alter the fact that whomever wrote that Service Manual, recommended a lubricant.

Question remains: what's recommended?

Dave

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 Front Stabilizer Bushings Lubricant?

Point is, we don't know if lube was used in production.

I would expect this unit was delivered to the line mostly assembled. Ready to drop on and tighten fasteners.

Like many things in the AIM, no detail on subassembly. (e.g. front spindles/brakes)

I installed my bushings without using lubricant, I know it can be done.

Doesn't alter the fact that whomever wrote that Service Manual, recommended a lubricant.

Question remains: what's recommended?

Dave

Dave------

Usually, if any sort of lubricant, other chemical, etc. is to be used in PRODUCTION that will be shown in the AIM. If the stabilizer bars were delivered to PRODUCTION as an assembly, the associated parts (bushings, retainers) would not be shown in the AIM.