Well, I was going to lubricate front/right bushings when I recognized that I'm not exactly sure what is this (silly). I put below some pic from Helm and indicated by arrows what I think they are. Am I right? Is there only 3 of them at front (each side)? Thanks.

 

we're not talking sway bar bushings are we? if we are, they dont need to be greased. theyre rubber. they are under the car, slightly off center. 2 of them

 

...or do you have Comptech swaybars with urethane bushings? What's the reason for wanting to lube them? Does your TL squeak?

 

I have some squeaks coming from front right side. One year ago (right after springs installation) it was fixed (by dealer) by bushings lubrication. It's back now. As a temporal fix I'd like to try to lubricate them myself but I don't know precisely where I should spray And as I don't really know which bushing squeaks, I'd like to lubricate them all on right/front side ...

Here is a link to the old discussion about this: http://www.acura-tl.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/007671.html

I don't have Comp sways, only springs.

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">[This message has been edited by maxim5 on May 22, 2001 @ ]</font>

 

Look in the Helm's manual in the Suspension chapter for the "Stabilizer Bar Replacement" section (I'd tell you the page # but I've got a CL). It shows a picture of the bushing locations there. If the squeaking is a recurring problem, a better fix is to remove the bushing, wrap a layer of Teflon tape around the bar where the bushing sits and then replace the bushing. The normal lubricant for bushings is not just plain grease (nor WD-40); it's a very sticky specialized type of grease (marine grease?). A place that sells suspension components should be able to get some for you.

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">[This message has been edited by tinman on May 23, 2001 @ ]</font>

 

can you explain that?

 

Absolutely. Teflon tape is found in the plumbing section of hardware stores and comes in a small roll about 3/8" wide. It looks like white Scotch tape. Remove the bushing holder from the sway bar, remove the bushing, clean any residue from the sway bar in the area where the bushing was and then wrap the Teflon tape around the bar (similar to wrapping tape around the handlebars of a bicycle) in an area that would overlap where the bushing previously was on the bar. Cover about 3" inches or so of the bar. Coat the inside of the bushing liberally with lubricant, reinstall it followed by the bushing holder. Voila! No more squeaking.

 

what is the teflon tape supposed to do? id think it would rip off over time since the paint on the sway bar has peeled off

thanks

 

The Teflon tape is basically a more durable layer of lubricant. The reason the paint wore off from the sway bar is friction. The tape helps minimize friction. The bushing is clamped down on top of the tape (since it’s wrapped around the bar) so the outer edges not under the bushing may rip off but the part under will remain. In time, it may wear down but it should help considerably extend the period of time between squeaking. This trick silenced a recurring squeak in the polyurethane bushings on my other car.

 

Thanks tinman,
Unf., TL Helm's manual doesn't have section you mentioned. In Front suspension section there are only following subsec:
knuckle/hub repl.; ball joint boot repl., upper arm repl., lower arm repl., damper/spring repl. Where else can I look?

Based on all comments here, it seems that what I pointed at the first figure (top of this topic) isn't really bushings

 

Oops! I didn't realize the Helm's TL manual didn't have a section on the stabilizer bar replacement. Sorry. My CL manual has that same diagram you posted above so I thought it may have the same section on the sway bar. I'm going out of town right now or else I'd scan in the page for you. I'm returning Saturday evening so if nobody else has scanned in page 18-17 of the CL manual by then, I'll do it as soon as I return.

 

tinman, thanks a lot!
Maxim

 

Here's the scan, as promised.