New LR UCA SPC bushing started squeaking after only a few miles?

i literaly just finished installing my new spec ride LR UCA bushings on my tacoma and the squeak disapeared for all of a couple miles then returned just as bad as it was before with the old bushings. anyone have an idea why this is happening?

 

Maybe that's not what was squeaking. ?

 

it definatly is. i had someone shake the truck while i put my head in the wheel well. could it be because i tourqed the nut while the truck was in the on the lift?

 

Yes, this was going to be my question. You need to have it on the ground before torqueing. You may even want to drive it a couple hundred miles, loosen and let sit, then torque again.

 

when i loosen them to re-tq do i need to jack up the front or can i do it all while the truck is on the ground?

 

No need to jack it back up.

Since you have already driven it, it has probably settled a little. I would just loosen the bolts and bounce it some, let it sit for a half hour (grab a beer), bounce it again and torque it up.

Do they give you a silicone grease for these? I have used silicone bushings on my old Celica, and they come with grease.

 

i have some silicone aerosole can grease. im gonna drive it for a day or two then do the re-tq. thanks. ill let you know if the squeak goes away

 

how loose should i go with bolts. one turn, more or less?

 

Is it possible to loosen it enough so it no longer squeaks?

 

Like under-torque them ?

 

i will attemp this when i get the time again and keep you informed

 

I don't have these bushings, so I am just speaking from general experience with rubber suspension bushings (my old Celica has a 4-link rear suspension and panhard rod, 10 bushings in all, with a specific procedure for torqueing them down).

When you tighten the bolts with the vehicle lifted, when you drop the vehicle the suspension compresses and the bushings can twist if there is too much pressure on them. They can then resist twisting even more and slip some when you hit bumps or compress the suspension more, creating the squeak.

You just need to loosen them up to where there is no bolt presure on them, bounce the truck to get them to (hopefully) settle in, and then retorque to spec. Do NOT drive it with the bolt loose.

I still think you should check other potential sources of the squeak. Noises can be tricky to pinpoint, stuff echoes around.

 

...

MOLY GREASE

Can torque spec rides without putting weight, they pivot freely.

Did you grease the outsides of the bushings where they contact the washers, per the directions? Did you grease the inside where the sleeve rides?

 

He said he didn't in the other thread

 

Mine did the same. I drove about 500 miles then the uniball started to squeak. I cleaned them, put teflon lube, and now they are fine 1K miles later.

 

I have TC UCA's and they also squeak. I spray them with lithium grease a couple times a month and they still squeak. that's the one thing that annoys me about lifting the truck. oh well, I just turn up the radio to drown out the squeaking.

 

LR UCA's don't have uniballs

 

Yeah sorry I meant loosen them with the truck resting on its weight and then re-torque them.

 

It doesn't matter, per the instructions.

 

I thought my LR UCA bushings were squeaking as well...Had someone rock the truck and I stuck my head in the wheel well. I was positive that was the problem. Turns out it was the hood latch mechanism, Greased up the latch mechanism and BAM! Squeak is gone...