Rochester's new G
#1876
Registered Member
iTrader: (7)
If you are running Hotchkis sway bars, those bushings have a tendency to start to creak/squeak (and sometimes even clunking) if not lubed every 5K miles or so. I've now had them on my car for 8 - 9 years (was the 2nd test car for them) and have had to lube them once or twice a year every since installing them. Its been an endless cycle and at one point even lubing my front Hotchkis sway bar bushings didn't fix my problem and I actually had to replace the bushings with new ones to get the noises to stop.
I tried all kinds of different grease and the only thing that worked was Philwood waterproof bike grease. I have since switched to an actual grease gun since the Hotchkis sway bars have zerk fittings for the bushings (super convenient) and use marine grease (avail. at any autoparts store). It works great and the Hotchkis sways have not made a peep in the last year and a half.
#1877
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Thread Starter
iTrader: (9)
Differential Gear Oil Change
Finally got around to changing the differential gear oil this morning. I seriously made more of this project than was necessary however, it was the first time I've ever done it. For prep, I backed the car up on my new Race Ramps, using the parking pad at the end of my driveway because it has a very slight grade to it. That grade, along with running the front-end up on a 6ft section of 1x8, gave me as close as I could come to leveling out the car. I mean, it's not as good as putting the car on stands, and I'm chickensh1t about that, so this is what I did.
Also in prep, I bought a hex bit to fit for my 1/2-drive torque wrench (26 foot pounds), and a $5 fluid pump kit from Harbor Freight. My moment of humility happened here when I first started pumping the new fluid in, and realized I had the inlet and outlet switched. My god, what a stupid move. Messy, too.
Looking at the magnet on the drainplug, I'm glad to have done this. It's been approx 1500 miles since the gear swap, and to me that looks like a fair amount of sludge. I really don't know how to interpret this. One the one hand, it's validation on doing a gear oil change after a gear-swap. On the other hand... that's a lot of sludge.
Either way, here's less than 2 quarts of used gear oil in an Arnold Palmer Iced Tea jug. Yummy.
Also in prep, I bought a hex bit to fit for my 1/2-drive torque wrench (26 foot pounds), and a $5 fluid pump kit from Harbor Freight. My moment of humility happened here when I first started pumping the new fluid in, and realized I had the inlet and outlet switched. My god, what a stupid move. Messy, too.
Looking at the magnet on the drainplug, I'm glad to have done this. It's been approx 1500 miles since the gear swap, and to me that looks like a fair amount of sludge. I really don't know how to interpret this. One the one hand, it's validation on doing a gear oil change after a gear-swap. On the other hand... that's a lot of sludge.
Either way, here's less than 2 quarts of used gear oil in an Arnold Palmer Iced Tea jug. Yummy.
Last edited by Rochester; 08-20-2017 at 01:21 PM.
#1878
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Thread Starter
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With the car on ramps, and the kid rocking the car up and down while I move the mechanic's stethascope around to various suspension components... the eeek eeek eeek is coming from my rear passenger shock.
So... let's assume I'm not looking for a whole new suspension... how do I buy just one Tein Basis rear-shock?
So... let's assume I'm not looking for a whole new suspension... how do I buy just one Tein Basis rear-shock?
#1879
Registered Member
iTrader: (7)
Looking at the magnet on the drainplug, I'm glad to have done this. It's been approx 1500 miles since the gear swap, and to me that looks like a fair amount of sludge. I really don't know how to interpret this. One the one hand, it's validation on doing a gear oil change after a gear-swap. On the other hand... that's a lot of sludge.
Either way, here's less than 2 quarts of used gear oil in an Arnold Palmer Iced Tea jug. Yummy.
Either way, here's less than 2 quarts of used gear oil in an Arnold Palmer Iced Tea jug. Yummy.
#1881
Administrator
Thread Starter
iTrader: (9)
Maybe I should be doing yearly gear oil swaps along with my yearly oil change.
IDK, one baby step at a time. The car drives fine, it just makes this horrible eek-eek sound when crawling around in parking lots.
#1883
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#1884
Registered Member
iTrader: (3)
Looking at the magnet on the drainplug, I'm glad to have done this. It's been approx 1500 miles since the gear swap, and to me that looks like a fair amount of sludge. I really don't know how to interpret this. One the one hand, it's validation on doing a gear oil change after a gear-swap. On the other hand... that's a lot of sludge.
With the car on ramps, and the kid rocking the car up and down while I move the mechanic's stethascope around to various suspension components... the eeek eeek eeek is coming from my rear passenger shock.
So... let's assume I'm not looking for a whole new suspension... how do I buy just one Tein Basis rear-shock?
So... let's assume I'm not looking for a whole new suspension... how do I buy just one Tein Basis rear-shock?
#1885
Administrator
Thread Starter
iTrader: (9)
If that's the case, perhaps this is the rationale for recommendations to swap gear oil after a break-in period. Whatever the reason, I'm going to swap it again next summer. Now that I've done it, it's no big deal to do this again.
That option occurred to me, too. The OEM sport dampers only have 20k miles on them.
#1887
Administrator
Thread Starter
iTrader: (9)
So what would you recommend? Pre-lube grease, or spray-can lubricant? I have a can of this stuff available:
https://www.krown.com/products/aeros...and-lubricant/
I also have a spray-can of Kroil lying around:
http://www.kanolabs.com/google/?gcli...SAAEgIOHvD_BwE
Last edited by Rochester; 08-21-2017 at 10:40 AM.
#1889
Premier Member
iTrader: (5)
OK, totally worth a shot.
So what would you recommend? Pre-lube grease, or spray-can lubricant? I have a can of this stuff available:
https://www.krown.com/products/aeros...and-lubricant/
I also have a spray-can of Kroil lying around:
Google Deal
So what would you recommend? Pre-lube grease, or spray-can lubricant? I have a can of this stuff available:
https://www.krown.com/products/aeros...and-lubricant/
I also have a spray-can of Kroil lying around:
Google Deal
I would not suggest greasing the shock shaft, as it will just add a source to attract dirt and/or sand that could possibly be pulled into the shock as it strokes and damage the oil seal and possibly even scratch the shock shaft itself. You could try just a squirt of Teflon based spray lubricant that is transported in a carrier that will evaporate so it doesn't stay wet. Although this probably won't permanently cure your problem it will at least confirm if the shock shaft moving in and out of the shock is the source of your noise. If it goes away when you spray it then you'll know where your problem is.
This is the dry film PTFE based lubricant that I use:
I hate tracking down random noises. Never fun. Good luck!
Last edited by 2GoRNot2G; 08-22-2017 at 07:22 PM. Reason: Added link.
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Rochester (08-22-2017)
#1890
Premier Member
iTrader: (5)
Forgot to mention that I wouldn't recommend using any type of petroleum based rust protection lubricant on the shock. I'm not familiar with the one in your link, but petroleum based products like WD40 and PB Blaster are know to break down natural rubber parts over time, which could affect your shock boots and/or oil seals (although the oil seals are probably some type of synthetic based rubber).