Lubricating My Bushings

tractionisovr8ed · March 19, 2010

So lately I've noticed this awful creaking sound coming from under the truck on the passenger side. It would creak even with the slightest articulation of the suspension and it's been driving me crazy. To me it sounded like my bed was loose and rattling around as I hit bumps etc. So I got under it and checked all the bolts and exhaust hangers and everything seemed ok. So it dawned on me to just spray some lubricant on all my bushings underneath the truck such as control arm mounts, shock mounts, trans mount, exhaust hangers and so on. Also, I'm not sure what to call them but specifically the big bushings right below the doors on my single cab truck. They look like the bolts that the cab actually bolts to the frame with. Anyways, that did the trick perfectly. No more creaking noise anymore and I couldn't be happier. My truck only has 11,800 miles on it but I figured the cold weather here lately may have affected the rubber or broke down the factory grease/lubricant enough to make the noise. The only thing I had was chain lube to use but it worked great. Just thought I'd throw that out there in case anybody had the same problem. I'll be lubricating the bushings as a preventitive maintenance every 3 months or so from now on.

peteking · March 19, 2010

Would a petrolium-based lubricant deteriorate the rubber bushings at all, or cause them to crack? I have no idea whether it would or not, but I'm curious.

tractionisovr8ed · March 19, 2010

not sure, wasn't too concerned about the long term effects of it. I just wanted that noise gone or I was gonna drive the truck into the Atlantic on my way home from work that day. LOL