Installing zerks in control arms for urethane bushings

[JustinJones]

My 98 4runner has urethane control arm bushings in both the upper and lower front control arms. Over time the grease works its way out no matter how much I cram in there. I can feel it as stiction and eventually it'll squeek over speedbumps. I disassemble and regrease and it rides like a caddy... for a while. I've seen on other forums where folks drill and tab for a zerk in the control arms in order to squeeze the appropriate grease in there without having to take anything apart. Anyone ever done this on a 3rd gen? have any pointers or sucess/disaster stories?

Justin

 

[octanejunkie]

It's been done and I believe if you are looking for another point of maintenance this is one of little return.

If you cannot rotate the bushing a full 360 you won't be able to distribute the grease evenly, everywhere.

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

 

[GhostRing]

Will a zerk effectively get past the outer steel sleeve and get to the inner bushing surface & steel tube the bolts go through?

I always thought the approach was to lube the inner bushing surface, steel sleeve, and outer bushing face.
That way, the bushing doesn't rotate in any given control arm and the bolts sandwich the sleeve, thus making that the rotation surface.

 

[RandyBobandy]

Will a zerk effectively get past the outer steel sleeve and get to the inner bushing surface & steel tube the bolts go through?

I always thought the approach was to lube the inner bushing surface, steel sleeve, and outer bushing face.
That way, the bushing doesn't rotate in any given control arm and the bolts sandwich the sleeve, thus making that the rotation surface.

You need to drill through the outer sleeve and bushing so the grease can get to the center sleeve, I did this on all the poly bushings on my Miata but didn’t bother with the 4Runner and have no squeaks or binding after a few years of driving.

 

[Devbot]

Edit: I was under the impression you were talking about trailing arms, not control arms. Disregard my comment.

 

[JustinJones]

Are there any better solutions for maintenance free bushings that don't cause it to ride like a cement truck?

Justin

 

[96RedRunner]

Are there any better solutions for maintenance free bushings that don't cause it to ride like a cement truck?

Justin

Go back to OEM change em every 100k mi or so.

 

[cblock406]

You really disassemble the UCA's and LCA's just to add grease!? Do you get an alignment after every time as well? I'm going on two years on mine and don't notice any squeaking.

 

[phattyduck]

You really disassemble the UCA's and LCA's just to add grease!? Do you get an alignment after every time as well? I'm going on two years on mine and don't notice any squeaking.

I do about every 3 years on my other vehicles with poly bushings. Whenever you start to hear the squeaks or feel the stiction in the suspension. Part of the cost of doing business with poly bushings.

Zerks would be a great addition if you could get them to push grease into the right location(s).

-Charlie

 

[cblock406]

I do about every 3 years on my other vehicles with poly bushings. Whenever you start to hear the squeaks or feel the stiction in the suspension. Part of the cost of doing business with poly bushings.

Zerks would be a great addition if you could get them to push grease into the right location(s).

-Charlie

I read the OP like he was doing that much more frequently, but maybe not.

 

[JustinJones]

I just checked my maintenance log and I installed the poly bushings less than 2 years and 12k miles ago. Upper and lower. I greased both at that time. The uppers I've had to take off once and relube since then. The lowered I did not want to because it's a bit more involved and I just did it less than 2 years ago. Reluding Evey year seems excessive right?

Justin Jones

 

[Jakeepoo3]

LCA Bushings: Energy vs. Whiteline

I made this for people that want more information on how a bushing works it answers all your questions. Poly doesn't need greased. One silicone application should last a long time.

 

[Chuckles89]

I just added zerks to my front uppers and lowers this past Saturday. Was a pain to drill them all, but well worth it! (only one I couldn't get to was the driver's upper rear because of the fuel lines)

I pumped in a little Valvoline Moly grease till it came out and they ride so much better already. After a wheeling trip with some full flex motions, I'll grease them again to try and get more grease around the inner sleeve. I know it won't ever get 100% lubed with a zerk, but the difference in ride quality is amazing so far.

Before, the 4 year old (100k+ miles) basically dry bushings rode like a block of wood.

 

[JustinJones]

Jakeepoo, I don't intend to actually use "grease". I just want to be able to use a grease gun to connect to a zerk and pump in silicone.

Chuckles, do you have any photos or tips on doing this job. Is the grease able to get into the pivoting area?

Justin