Since installing Addco sway bars on my 98' 4runner I have noticed a loud and persistent squeak from the front of the vehicle. This occurs less so on the freeway and around turns. After investigation, it turns out the noise is coming from the sway bar mounting bushings on the undercarriage. As the vehicle's height moves up and down the sway bar rotates slightly. This rotation against the bushing causes the noise.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you!

 

Silicone bushing grease.

 

yep...
I'm not sure if you've used the bushings that came with the addco swaybars or if you bought energy suspension bushings. The ES bushings (greasable ones) have a zerk fitting/nipple on the bracket so that you can use a grease gun to grease the bushings pretty easily.

 

Ther are also graphite impregnated poly-urethane bushing out there if you want to spend a few extra bones. They claim you will never have to lube them ever to eliminate squeaks.

But this gets me to wondering... couldn't one just dust the inside of the standard bushing with some graphite dust, and let is work it's own way into the rubber/PG?

 

Thank you everyone for your helpful advice. I will give the grease a try. Thanks Again!

 

Nah... the graphite ones still require grease! After i upgraded mine to the graphite ones (black) and the greaseable brackets, i forgot to buy a grease gun and never got around to it for weeks. The bushings squeeked like crazy even over the smallest bumps. Then when i finally got a grease gun i could never figure out how to use it. So then again for a few weeks it was still squeeking. Finally i went in for an alignment and the mechanic said "did you know you can lubricate these bushings with the zerk fitting on there?" i said "Yes, lol but i cant figure out how to use my grease gun".

The mechanic was nice enough to lube them up for me free of charge. But after that, the bushings were SILENT!

Moral of the story, no matter what, you still need grease!