Noises from JimLab Bushings - Report
#76
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Silicon Valley Bay Area
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Towards the end of 2001, I had a set of rear sway bar billet brackets with teflon impregnated nylon made to replace the entire stock brackets.
To this day I have been very happy with the results. Although it does transmit a little more suspension noise than rubber (as Jim mentioned) I don't have any problems with squeaking.
They're just about wore out and my next set of nylon material will be Delrin.
To this day I have been very happy with the results. Although it does transmit a little more suspension noise than rubber (as Jim mentioned) I don't have any problems with squeaking.
They're just about wore out and my next set of nylon material will be Delrin.
#77
Originally Posted by 93BlackFD
have you investigated the original theory of the strut bushing being bad and causing excess/improper strain/wear
Yes.
Low mileage 10,000 Konis yellow, 2 years old. Lifted the car with front end up high. Used a jack to slowly lift one wheel, no slop on the shock rubber eye bushing at the base.
And why would the slop appear after the car has been driven 15-20 miles??? Once rubber is compressed, its hysterisis isn't so good anymore regardless of hot or cold.
#78
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Silicon Valley Bay Area
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by pomanferrari
.....And despite what Jim thinks, these discussions on bad points or good points of his products are useful. For example, whatever happened to the "buttplugs"? If we didn't have the flame and arguments, it would have been a disservice to everyone who would've been suckered into buying them.
U certainly didn't come on very smooth on a forum that has alot of ********* hanging in the breeze.
I'm not the only one that thinks ur trying to dismiss Jimlab's bushings as POS door stops.
At least he was pro-active in making something that would help our cars.
Jim has been one of the best technical contributor ( even though he can blow up taller than Mt. St. Helens at times ) on the forum and most other automotive forums.
Your contributions pale in comparison to his.
#79
Lives on the Forum
Originally Posted by pomanferrari
And despite what Jim thinks, these discussions on bad points or good points of his products are useful
#81
Super Snuggles
Originally Posted by pomanferrari
I am supposed to keep quiet when the vendor called me an *** w/o justification?
The other thing about Jim's testing is that he used the molded nylon bushings whereas the bushings I got from him were machined nylon. The development tests for the molded nylon are not applicable to machined nylon.
#82
built my own engine
he appears to be under the impression that nylon is self lubricating in his previous posts
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showthread.php?t=236645
Originally Posted by pomanferrari
There was a post on the big list about these things seizing up but I'm at a loss on how that could be: I mean nylon is self lubricating to begin with and the pin itself is not a press fit. And is it hot enough to melt the nylon? Even so, the pin should still permit the arm to rotate.
#84
Rotary Freak
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Hattiesburg, MS
Posts: 1,668
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by 93BlackFD
he appears to be under the impression that nylon is self lubricating in his previous posts
Poman: You are being an ***.
Jim is also generally an ***, but his posts are very entertaining and the technical content is usually pretty good too
Last edited by paw140; 08-16-04 at 04:31 PM.
#85
I'm just chiming in to say that I have had my bushings in for about 3k miles with no ill effects what so ever. I used Marine lithium lube and installed zerks, but have not greased them since install. I lubed up the pins real well, installed, and then hit them with the grease gun before putting it on the ground again. Yea, its messy because grease comes out all around the pin, but thats ok, I know the job is done.
I will likely re-grease at next oil change now...even though my original plan was to re-lube every other oil change.
I will likely re-grease at next oil change now...even though my original plan was to re-lube every other oil change.
#86
Originally Posted by xchaos
I'm just chiming in to say that I have had my bushings in for about 3k miles with no ill effects what so ever. I used Marine lithium lube and installed zerks, but have not greased them since install. I lubed up the pins real well, installed, and then hit them with the grease gun before putting it on the ground again. Yea, its messy because grease comes out all around the pin, but thats ok, I know the job is done.
I will likely re-grease at next oil change now...even though my original plan was to re-lube every other oil change.
I will likely re-grease at next oil change now...even though my original plan was to re-lube every other oil change.
I'm going to try Marine grease next.
Do you have the brand name?
#87
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
poman there are some on the mcmasters site just do a search for marine grease. On the site it mentions that polyurea seems to have some better qualities. It's on mcmaster page 1988 info on the grease types is on page 1986.
Like you mine squeek like a **** but my mechanic did the install so I am not sure about how well they lubed the pins...also the car sat at the body shop for a month before moving...that could have effected things. I'll do a update after my car gets back from the bodyshop again.
Like you mine squeek like a **** but my mechanic did the install so I am not sure about how well they lubed the pins...also the car sat at the body shop for a month before moving...that could have effected things. I'll do a update after my car gets back from the bodyshop again.
#88
I have to say, today was the most entertaining in a long time.
I have basically written off these bushings: the hardest part is trying to find the mental energy and time to remove and install the OEM bushings.
As to Jim defense of his bushings: that's his position: they're the product of his energy. But to automatically start blaming people doesn't stand him in good stead. THis brings back to mind of the old Constellation airplanes. They started falling out of the sky and guess what? it's the pilot, the mechanics, the airlines fault. Turned out it was fatigue on the airframe.
My position is to report my experience notwithstanding the fact that I violated my cardinal rule of never buying insufficiently developed parts from a guy in his garage.
I have basically written off these bushings: the hardest part is trying to find the mental energy and time to remove and install the OEM bushings.
As to Jim defense of his bushings: that's his position: they're the product of his energy. But to automatically start blaming people doesn't stand him in good stead. THis brings back to mind of the old Constellation airplanes. They started falling out of the sky and guess what? it's the pilot, the mechanics, the airlines fault. Turned out it was fatigue on the airframe.
My position is to report my experience notwithstanding the fact that I violated my cardinal rule of never buying insufficiently developed parts from a guy in his garage.
Last edited by pomanferrari; 08-16-04 at 04:53 PM.
#89
Originally Posted by 7racer
poman there are some on the mcmasters site just do a search for marine grease. On the site it mentions that polyurea seems to have some better qualities. It's on mcmaster page 1988 info on the grease types is on page 1986.
Like you mine squeek like a **** but my mechanic did the install so I am not sure about how well they lubed the pins...also the car sat at the body shop for a month before moving...that could have effected things. I'll do a update after my car gets back from the bodyshop again.
Like you mine squeek like a **** but my mechanic did the install so I am not sure about how well they lubed the pins...also the car sat at the body shop for a month before moving...that could have effected things. I'll do a update after my car gets back from the bodyshop again.
Dude, mine doesn't squeak. I know what squeaking is like b/c I have the ST sway bar and polyurethane red bushings. They squeak like little rats.
My car DOES NOT SQUEAK. IT CLUNKS like when you reverse and hit the brakes on the OEM bushings. AND IT CLUNKS if the road is not perfectly glass smooth.
#90
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
Originally Posted by pomanferrari
Dude, mine doesn't squeak. I know what squeaking is like b/c I have the ST sway bar and polyurethane red bushings. They squeak like little rats.
My car DOES NOT SQUEAK. IT CLUNKS like when you reverse and hit the brakes on the OEM bushings. AND IT CLUNKS if the road is not perfectly glass smooth.
My car DOES NOT SQUEAK. IT CLUNKS like when you reverse and hit the brakes on the OEM bushings. AND IT CLUNKS if the road is not perfectly glass smooth.
#92
Got it from mcmaster's. I'll have to take a look at the tube later.
Originally Posted by pomanferrari
Well we need more data points on this.
I'm going to try Marine grease next.
Do you have the brand name?
I'm going to try Marine grease next.
Do you have the brand name?
#94
Rotor Head Extreme
iTrader: (8)
Originally Posted by jimlab
Or sooner. Lubricate them when you change your oil. With zerk fittings installed, it should only take 10-15 minutes, tops.
Lithium-complex or synthetic greases are best, and marine-grade grease holds up best in wet weather driving.
Lithium-complex or synthetic greases are best, and marine-grade grease holds up best in wet weather driving.
Jim quick question about your diff mounts. Since the diff isn't designed to move as much as the suspension arms, would these diff bushings need to be lubed as frequently as the other bushings?
#95
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: DET
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have to admit I was all ready to buy a press and get to work on these things but after reading this thread I'm having second thoughts....for a track car no doubt they are worth the extra hassle, for a street car I tend to agree with damonb, I don't want to have to jack up the car and crawl around lubing bushings with every oil change
#96
Originally Posted by FD from R1
I have to admit I was all ready to buy a press and get to work on these things but after reading this thread I'm having second thoughts....for a track car no doubt they are worth the extra hassle, for a street car I tend to agree with damonb, I don't want to have to jack up the car and crawl around lubing bushings with every oil change
If it's just an increase in the overall level of noise such as when I start my drive to work (i.e., a cold start) I wouldn't mind. That is to be expected with stiff couplings like a Heim joint.
The problem is that after 15-20 miles, the clunking is very pronounced to the point that I'm afraid to throw the car into a tight turn as the front bushings make a huge rackets like an old wooden battleship tacking into the wind, groaning and clunking as I go through the turn.
You can actually feel the sharp impact of the clunks through the steering wheel too.
On the drive home today when the weather was about 70F, the clunking seems less. Why is this dependent on ambient temperature is what is confounding me.
If you're local to D.C., I'm inclined to give you a spin to illustrate what I'm talking about.
Last edited by pomanferrari; 08-16-04 at 11:48 PM.
#97
Super Snuggles
Originally Posted by t-von
Jim quick question about your diff mounts. Since the diff isn't designed to move as much as the suspension arms, would these diff bushings need to be lubed as frequently as the other bushings?
#98
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: DET
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm afraid to throw the car into a tight turn as the front bushings make a huge rackets like an old wooden battleship tacking into the wind, groaning and clunking as I go through the turn.
LOL
poman, I will say you are quite accomplished at the colorful analogies
LOL
poman, I will say you are quite accomplished at the colorful analogies
#99
Super Snuggles
Originally Posted by FD from R1
poman, I will say you are quite accomplished at the colorful analogies