Bushing Grease for UNIVERSAL PRODUCTS GREASE

This range covers SuperPro grease for fitting and servicing UNIVERSAL PRODUCTS GREASE polyurethane suspension bushes. It comes in two formats: a 500 g tub, listed as silicone grease, and Ezy Grease sachets in packs of 10 or 20. The grease goes between the bush and its inner sleeve, and on the faces where the bush meets its housing, so the parts can rotate against each other without binding, wearing or making noise.

What Grease Should You Use on UNIVERSAL PRODUCTS GREASE Polyurethane Bushes?

Use the grease the bush manufacturer specifies. Rubber bushes are usually bonded to their sleeve and flex to allow movement. Polyurethane bushes work differently, because the sleeve rotates inside the bush. That rotating joint depends on a grease that stays in place under load, resists water and road grime, and does not attack the polyurethane itself.

Many polyurethane bush makers supply or recommend a silicone-based poly bush grease for this reason. Silicone grease is generally compatible with polyurethane, repels water and holds a consistent texture across a wide temperature range, so it stays in the joint through summer heat, cold mornings and creek crossings. The SuperPro tub in this range is listed as silicone grease and is made for SuperPro polyurethane bushes. If your bushes come from another maker, check their fitting instructions to confirm which grease they call for.

Where Polyurethane Bushes Are Used on Your UNIVERSAL PRODUCTS GREASE

Polyurethane bushes are fitted throughout 4WD suspension, and each location moves in a slightly different way. Control arm and trailing arm bushes rotate around their mounting bolt as the suspension travels. Leaf spring eye and shackle bushes pivot as the spring flexes and the shackle swings. Sway bar mount bushes let the bar twist inside them, while sway bar link bushes take small angular movements at each end. Panhard rod and radius arm bushes locate the axle as it moves up and down.

In each case, the grease belongs on the surfaces that move against each other. A bush that sits fixed in its housing while the sleeve turns needs grease on the sleeve and bore. A sway bar mount bush needs grease where the bar turns inside it. This is why grease placement differs between bush types, and why the fitting instructions for each bush identify the surfaces to coat.

Can You Use General-Purpose Grease on UNIVERSAL PRODUCTS GREASE Poly Bushes?

Polyurethane bush makers generally advise against it. A general-purpose or wheel bearing grease is formulated for metal-to-metal contact. Some may not suit polyurethane, and others may wash out of the bush faster than a grease made for the job.

The result is rarely immediate failure. The bush starts to squeak within weeks or months, then the sleeve and bore wear as the lubrication film breaks down, and the bush needs to come apart again sooner than it should. Using the specified grease at fitting costs little compared with the labour of removing a pressed-in bush a second time.

Why Do UNIVERSAL PRODUCTS GREASE Polyurethane Bushes Squeak?

The most common cause is too little grease, or the wrong grease, between the bush and its sleeve. A dry joint makes noise as the sleeve rotates, and the noise is usually worst over speed humps, during slow turns or after rain. Contamination works the same way. Grit or water that gets past the bush edges displaces the grease and creates friction.

Not every suspension noise comes from a bush, though. Worn ball joints, loose fasteners, sway bar links and shock absorber mounts can all sound similar. If cleaning and re-greasing does not stop the noise, have a suspension technician inspect the vehicle before replacing parts.

When Should a UNIVERSAL PRODUCTS GREASE Poly Bush Be Replaced Instead of Re-Greased?

Grease solves noise and friction in a bush that is still in good condition. It does not repair a bush that is worn out. Signs that replacement is the better option include cracks or splits in the polyurethane, a bore that has worn oval so the sleeve moves sideways, and visible play when the suspension component is levered by hand. A sleeve that is scored, pitted or rusted should also be replaced, since a rough surface wears through fresh grease and then the bush itself. If a bush still knocks or clunks after re-greasing, or becomes noisy again soon afterwards, wear is the more likely cause than lubrication.

Do UNIVERSAL PRODUCTS GREASE Rubber Bushes Need Grease?

Generally, no. Most rubber bushes are bonded to their sleeve and allow movement by flexing rather than rotating, so there is no sliding surface to lubricate. Some petroleum-based greases can also soften or degrade rubber over time.

Where a rubber bush is a press-fit into its housing, the bush manufacturer may specify a fitting lubricant to help it slide in. That is a different job from lubricating a polyurethane bush, so follow the fitting instructions supplied with the bush rather than reaching for bushing grease by default.

How Often Should UNIVERSAL PRODUCTS GREASE Poly Bushes Be Re-Greased?

It depends on the bush design and how the vehicle is driven. Some polyurethane bushes include grease nipples so they can be topped up at regular service intervals. Others are greased once at fitting and are expected to retain that grease for a long period.

A vehicle that regularly crosses water, mud or sand puts more contamination into its bushes than one used mainly on sealed roads, and may need attention sooner. Follow the bush maker?s guidance, and listen for returning squeaks at each service so a dry bush is caught before the sleeve and bore start to wear.

How Do You Grease UNIVERSAL PRODUCTS GREASE Bushes During Installation?

Start with the fitting instructions supplied with your bushes, since grease placement and quantity vary between designs. As a general overview, clean the housing, sleeve and any washers so no old grease, rust or grit is trapped in the new joint. Apply grease to the bore of the bush and to the outside of the sleeve, plus any thrust faces the instructions identify.

Some bushes are pressed into their housing and need suitable press tooling. Our bushing and bearing press tool kits cover that part of the job. Once everything is assembled, tighten all fasteners to the vehicle manufacturer?s torque specification. Many suspension fasteners are tightened with the vehicle at normal ride height, so check the instructions before final tightening.

Sachets or a Tub: Which Suits You?

The Ezy Grease sachets suit owners fitting bushes to one vehicle. Each sachet is a pre-measured application, and choosing a 10- or 20-pack lets you match the quantity to the number of bushes being fitted. The 500 g tub suits workshops and owners who regularly fit or service polyurethane bushes across several vehicles or projects, and it allows grease to be applied in whatever quantity each bush needs.

Storing and Handling Bush Grease

Grease only protects a bush if it goes in clean. Keep the tub lid sealed between uses, and apply grease with a clean applicator or a gloved finger rather than a tool that has been sitting on the workbench, so dust and metal filings are not carried into the joint. Store grease away from direct sun and heat sources. Once a sachet is opened, use it for that job rather than folding it over to keep, since a partly used sachet picks up grit. After assembly, wipe excess grease from the outside of the bush. It does no work there and attracts dirt that can find its way back into the joint.

Shop Bushing Grease for Your UNIVERSAL PRODUCTS GREASE with Formula 4x4

Bushing grease sits in the Formula 4x4 car accessories range, ready for every bush you fit.

Choose the format that matches your job: sachets for a single installation, or the tub for ongoing workshop use. Before buying, confirm that your UNIVERSAL PRODUCTS GREASE bushes are polyurethane and check which grease their manufacturer specifies. If you are fitting new bushes, our press tool kits can help with installation. For help choosing the right grease or diagnosing a suspension noise, contact the Formula 4x4 team.