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Sun Dec 04, 2005 2:10 pm

Hello all, first post on the site...love the site! My 85' westy is squeeking alot from what I have been told are likely my lower control arm bushings...(probably cracked/worn). The cost to replace is about $400 canadian both sides, (4 bushings and labour). Wondering if anyone knows of any easy temp. fixes / remedies for the anoying squaking/squeecking rubber sounds?

I'm currently too poor to have them replaced.

Thanks

Sun Dec 04, 2005 2:34 pm

You can soak it down with WD40, and the squeak should go away.... But do not forget that you have a problem there... it will not go away.. The squeaking is the VW god's way of telling you that you need new parts... Also, There are TWO bushings for the lower control arm... One on each side. There are also bushings on the "radius rods" (the diagonal arms that go foreward) They should be replaced at the same time... Do not let the shop charge extra labor time to replace them, since they must be removed to do the lower arm. :D :D

Sun Dec 04, 2005 7:09 pm

WD-40 is a good, quick fix. My suspension parts have squeaked since new - I use tranny fluid on them. Good rubber preservative and it usually lasts about a year in Florida.

Eric's right - replace what you can when you can afford it.

Luck to ya'

Sun Dec 04, 2005 7:47 pm

WAIT!!!! :shock: DO NOT use WD-40!!! If I'm not mistaken I believe the chemical make up in it will break down the bushings even further.

I learned this the hard way with my ball joints and tie rod ends. I had the same squeak and used WD-40 on my ball joints, and tie rod. Long story short, I wound up having to replace all ball joints and the tie rod end. I'm not absolutely sure if the control arm bushings are made of the same material, but I think its at least worth further research before you spray. I would let this post marinate awhile before you spray them.

No disrespect to the previous posters. :roll: Just speaking from my experience.

Peace

Mon Dec 05, 2005 12:35 am

WD-40 is mostly diesel fuel... It will have long tern affects on rubber, but if he has a squeak now, then the bushing is already bad, and will fail far sooner than the WD will cause problems.
With the Ball joint/ tierod issue, They are packed with grease, and WD will wash the grease out,, and the joint will wear faster. I would assume that your joints were bad already (hence the squeak). There was probably a nice film of dried caked on grease taking up the slack, and the WD just washed it clean, and opened up the gaps again.
The tranny fluid idea is also a good one... Tranny fluid has additives that condition rubber. If you have an O ring that is a little old, you can soak it overnight in tranny fluid, and it will soak some moisture ou and be nice and supple the next morning...

Note: WD-40 is the perfect starting fluid for diesel engines.... Do not use either, because it will detonate too early and possibly harm your motor....

Mon Dec 05, 2005 12:42 pm

uh oh.....ummmmm too late... I soaked anything rubber under the front of my van yesterday..and it still squeeks :cry: oh well, live and learn!

Thanks for the feedback!

Mon Dec 05, 2005 2:54 pm

Eric norse. I think that wd 40 is primarily made up of a fine fish oil.......
see below, {in brackets} from the WD40 web site

{ What does WD-40 stand for?
WD-40 literally stands for Water Displacement, 40th attempt. That's the name straight out of the lab book used by the chemist who developed WD-40 back in 1953. The chemist, Norm Larsen, was attempting to concoct a formula to prevent corrosion—a task which is done by displacing water. Norm's persistence paid off when he perfected the formula on his 40th try. Please see Our History for more information.{

{What does WD-40 contain?
While the ingredients in WD-40 are secret, we can tell you what WD-40 does NOT contain. WD-40 does not contain silicone, kerosene, water, wax, graphite, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), or any known cancer-causing agents. }

Shorepig;
When I was a kid working in my dads Chevron 'full service' station, pard of any lube service was to spray all rubber parts of the front and rear suspention with what we called rubber lube.
it came in a bucket and looked like thick snot, when mixed with water, it could be sprayed onto upper and lower control arm bushings and it would shut up all rubber parts immediatly. Even the really bad ones would shut up in a day or so. NAPA should be able to let you know weather or not it's even still on the market. Dont forget the stabilazer bar bushings also.

later brotha 8)

Mon Dec 05, 2005 10:50 pm

So Eric
what did you think about the wd40 and rubber lube, ever heard of it???

Mon Dec 05, 2005 11:18 pm

I know about rubber lube... It is the same stuff the tire shops use to lube the tire bead..... The diesel fuel in WD-40 thing came from Gramps.. I am perfectly willing to admit ignorance :D :D It does make a great starting fluid for diesels though. The active ingredient you are looking for in any product to condition rubber is Glycerine... The stuff in hand lotion.....

Tue Dec 06, 2005 9:20 am

Forget wd#40. The only thing I found it good for is cleaning grease off of the hands and spaying on the BAIT when I'am fishing :D I have had success with "BLASTER"

Tue Dec 06, 2005 10:51 am

Anybody ever heard of croil, it's an amazing penetrant???

Tue Dec 06, 2005 3:25 pm

Yes, I have, it's also used to clean gun barrels. It's a very, very good penetrant, legendary, in fact. It's difficult to apply directly from the can, though, so you might want to get a small injector style oil can for use on the VW. The seized bolts I COULD get it on all loosened very, very quickly.

Best!

Wed Dec 07, 2005 12:53 pm

personally i like to just turn the radio up real loud \:D/