2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission SSI track bar upgrade-grease?

[NETim]

I am just about done installing the '03 upgrade kit on my '02. There is a small tube of Energy Solutions' grease included with the track bar. I assume I'm supposed to grease the bushings before installing the bar.



Do I grease the outside of the rubber bushings only? Not sure obviously.

 

[Dave M]

I got my adjustable 3rd gen track bar from Rip at Source Automotive about 3 years ago and there was no grease with it. I don't know what you'd do with it. Is your bar the stock or adjustable one? The threads on the adjustable bar would be where I'd put grease.



When I installed my energy suspension control arm bushings they came with a white sticky silicone grease that was used on the poly bushings Is that what kind of grease you got?

 

[ThrottleJockey]

Man that sucks. There aren't any directions?

 

[NETim]

No, the included instructions don't mention the grease. I emailed SSI and got a response. It was nice to have as it made slipping (prying) the bar into the mounting brackets quite a bit easier.



I had to resort to my farmer roots to convince the bar that it wanted to be in the frame side bracket. Put a 4 ton bottle jack up on blocks and pushed REAL hard on the back edge of the bar to get the holes to line up on the backside of the bar/bracket junction. Manipulating the steering wheel got the bolt in most of the way from the front but there was a slight twist in the bar that wouldn't allow the holes to line up on the back side.



And of course, even with the grease, a variety of pry bars were needed to line up and otherwise insert the bar into the axle end of the bar.



This install was done after last night's tie rod/drag link/steering damper replacement evolution. Basically got a new front end under the truck now.



Now it's off to the front end alignment shop. Hopefully there won't be any surprises like "You need new ball joints too. "



The truck seems to drive better. It seems quicker when I turn. Maybe there was that much slop in the front end. The original track bar was near death IMHO. The tie rods/ends seemed to have a lot of play as well, so I elected just to replace the whole shootin' match.



All MOOG parts, all have zerks.

 

[JRBurton]

Put the grease on the bushings, that's what I did. I also had trouble geting my bolt in from the front, so I took everthing off and instlled the bolt from the rear and reassembled everything. Works great I wished I'd of done it sooner.



John

 

[Joe Mc]

You'll love the 3rd gen set-up no more blasted ball and socket type B/S.
Did you get the adjustable one?

Oh, the grease goes in/on/all over the bushings. The moog components should last better than OEM and they have zerks so you can grease them from time to time.

 

[ThrottleJockey]

No, the included instructions don't mention the grease. I emailed SSI and got a response. It was nice to have as it made slipping (prying) the bar into the mounting brackets quite a bit easier.



I had to resort to my farmer roots to convince the bar that it wanted to be in the frame side bracket. Put a 4 ton bottle jack up on blocks and pushed REAL hard on the back edge of the bar to get the holes to line up on the backside of the bar/bracket junction. Manipulating the steering wheel got the bolt in most of the way from the front but there was a slight twist in the bar that wouldn't allow the holes to line up on the back side.



And of course, even with the grease, a variety of pry bars were needed to line up and otherwise insert the bar into the axle end of the bar.



This install was done after last night's tie rod/drag link/steering damper replacement evolution. Basically got a new front end under the truck now.



Now it's off to the front end alignment shop. Hopefully there won't be any surprises like "You need new ball joints too. "



The truck seems to drive better. It seems quicker when I turn. Maybe there was that much slop in the front end. The original track bar was near death IMHO. The tie rods/ends seemed to have a lot of play as well, so I elected just to replace the whole shootin' match.



All MOOG parts, all have zerks.

Nice. Sometimes a little convincing is all it takes.

 

[NETim]

I went with the non-adj bar. The truck's not lifted and I don't intend to lift it.



The steering feels lighter and quicker. I don't know if I can attribute that all to the 3rd gen bar or not. That would be a bonus. Mainly I was after a more durable design.



The grease that came with the bar was a whitish, very thick and sticky goo.

 

[ThrottleJockey]

The grease that came with the bar was a whitish, very thick and sticky goo.

I'm gonna let that one slide on by. I'm not gonna say a word.