• Mustang Forums
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
  • Classic Mustang Specific Tech

Milodyne bushings, worse than poly.

  • Thread starter Thread starter grainboy
  • Start date Start date Apr 13, 2008
G

grainboy

Member
Feb 2, 2006
140
0
17
Goodyear, AZ
Apr 13, 2008
#1
  • Apr 13, 2008
  • #1
I recently purchased a milodyne front end rebuild kit off ebay, from Laurel mountain mustang, And after my initial disgust of all the parts labeled "Made in Mexico", I rebuild my front end. The kit contained UCA, LCA and sway bar links, as well as ball joints installed. Kit was easy to install, I greased everything with a zerk, and a bit on the bolt of the LCA, and lined her up with a bubble caster/camber guage, and went for a ride. Steering and handlng were great, exept for one thing. SQUEAKS! I thought iniitally the LCA bolts were too tight, so I took off the nut, pried on the housing and oiled the sides. Did absolutely nothing for the squeak. I put my hand on whatever I could reach, while bouncing the suspension, and noise and an undeniable vibration coming from the back bushing of the UCA. I re greased while moving suspension, and the squeak stopped, for 2 seconds, then got as loud or louder. No question where the noise is coming from. My next move would be to remove the spring and UCA and try to dismantle and grease properly. This kit was advertised as NON-SQUEAK MILODYNE. Yeah right. Any suggestions?
 
C

c24sc

New Member
Jan 1, 2008
114
0
0
Apr 13, 2008
#2
  • Apr 13, 2008
  • #2
grainboy said:
I recently purchased a milodyne front end rebuild kit off ebay, from Laurel mountain mustang, And after my initial disgust of all the parts labeled "Made in Mexico", I rebuild my front end. The kit contained UCA, LCA and sway bar links, as well as ball joints installed. Kit was easy to install, I greased everything with a zerk, and a bit on the bolt of the LCA, and lined her up with a bubble caster/camber guage, and went for a ride. Steering and handlng were great, exept for one thing. SQUEAKS! I thought iniitally the LCA bolts were too tight, so I took off the nut, pried on the housing and oiled the sides. Did absolutely nothing for the squeak. I put my hand on whatever I could reach, while bouncing the suspension, and noise and an undeniable vibration coming from the back bushing of the UCA. I re greased while moving suspension, and the squeak stopped, for 2 seconds, then got as loud or louder. No question where the noise is coming from. My next move would be to remove the spring and UCA and try to dismantle and grease properly. This kit was advertised as NON-SQUEAK MILODYNE. Yeah right. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...


yikes. guess when i get the car out in the next couple of weeks, i'm going to have squeeks too. What camber/caster gauge are you using? Wanted to use something to get it relatively close before i take it in for an alignment.

Thanks

Nate
 
G

grainboy

Member
Feb 2, 2006
140
0
17
Goodyear, AZ
Apr 14, 2008
#3
  • Apr 14, 2008
  • #3
I had a thought, The strut rod bushings were much narrower than the stock units. With the bushings being thinner, the strut rod nut needed an extra washer, and needed tightening to the ends of the thread to get tight. Perhaps this is putting the entire system in a bind, therefore causing the back bushing of the UCA to moan. I am going to remove the strut rod and bounce the car and see if it still makes noise.
 

woodsnake

15 Year Member
Jan 16, 2007
1,352
15
69
Hicksville, NY
Apr 15, 2008
#4
  • Apr 15, 2008
  • #4
I've been looking at the milodyne material as well, seemed a decent blend between stock rubber and polyurethane hard...
let us know what happens.....
 

SadbutTrue

Founding Member
May 1, 2002
2,390
4
49
Granada Hills, California
Apr 15, 2008
#5
  • Apr 15, 2008
  • #5
NPD and other places pretty much insist you use rubber strut rod bushings, and that poly or similar ones are terrible for the job. Might want to try a set of rubber bushings there and see how the ride is.
 
1

180 Out

Member
Jul 23, 2005
375
0
16
Apr 15, 2008
#6
  • Apr 15, 2008
  • #6
Hold it right there Pilgrim. The upper control arm is steel on steel. If it's squeaking even after a lube I'd say the nut is screwed on too tight.
 

DK832

New Member
Apr 11, 2006
291
0
0
Copenhagen, DK
Apr 16, 2008
#7
  • Apr 16, 2008
  • #7
Dump the rubber/poly! Just went to solid strut rod (Rosehill Performance). End of squeaks and much nicer run into the corners under braking.
 
T

TheShagg

Member
Mar 30, 2002
67
0
6
Apr 18, 2008
#8
  • Apr 18, 2008
  • #8
grainboy said:
..noise and an undeniable vibration coming from the back bushing of the UCA.
Click to expand...


Sorry, everyone settle down. You can tell the fire department to go home. There is no plastic of any kind in that joint, so it doesnt matter what material you buy. That IS metal on metal in every kit.
 
G

grainboy

Member
Feb 2, 2006
140
0
17
Goodyear, AZ
May 5, 2008
#9
  • May 5, 2008
  • #9
Even being metal on metal, that is where the noise was coming from. Had to back off the nuts until quiet. Then welded flat iron to keep nut from backing off any further.
 

Rusty67

20+ Year Stangneter
Dec 3, 2002
3,749
37
109
LA, CA
May 6, 2008
#10
  • May 6, 2008
  • #10
180 Out said:
Hold it right there Pilgrim. The upper control arm is steel on steel. If it's squeaking even after a lube I'd say the nut is screwed on too tight.
Click to expand...

TheShagg said:
Sorry, everyone settle down. You can tell the fire department to go home. There is no plastic of any kind in that joint, so it doesnt matter what material you buy. That IS metal on metal in every kit.
Click to expand...

You guys beat me to it. It is possible the A-arms are sub-standard quality or that they were assembled improperly.

grainboy said:
I recently purchased a milodyne front end rebuild kit off ebay, from Laurel mountain mustang, And after my initial disgust of all the parts labeled "Made in Mexico", I rebuild my front end.
Click to expand...

Mexican 302 blocks are rather desirable as they are stronger then many of the USA made blocks. Mexico's manufacturing quality is actually a lot better then you would think. Would you rather have it say "Made in China ROC" ?

I would also recomend going back to stock strut rod bushings and having a compitent alignment shop at least double check what you have it aligned at.
 
G

grainboy

Member
Feb 2, 2006
140
0
17
Goodyear, AZ
May 7, 2008
#11
  • May 7, 2008
  • #11
Would you rather have it say "Made in China ROC

What I would rather have are parts manufactured and sold right here in America. I would gladly pay more to keep the money right here in the USA. That is why there will never be a nissan, toyota or honda in my garage.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

G
Front Sway bar HELP
  • Grabberblueguy77
  • May 28, 2025
  • 2005 - 2014 S-197 Mustang -General/Talk-
Replies
4
Views
387
2005 - 2014 S-197 Mustang -General/Talk- May 28, 2025
gkomo
For Sale Borg Warner WC T5, Stock Bell Housing, RAM Clutch Set, Double Hump Cross Member, & Pro 5.0 Shifter
  • AeroCoupe
  • Aug 9, 2025
  • Drivetrain Parts
Replies
1
Views
627
Drivetrain Parts Dec 26, 2025
AeroCoupe
J
Suspension Front LCA rebuild **FAIL**
  • JohnG
  • Mar 19, 2022
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 2
Replies
20
Views
3K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech May 9, 2022
mikestang63
G
Suspension bottoming out - rear springs bad?
  • gotchopsticks
  • Jul 8, 2021
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
9
Views
7K
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Aug 1, 2021
1low03gt
Need suspension help? Check out OpenTracker
  • Husky44
  • Sep 9, 2021
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
Replies
0
Views
2K
1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk- Sep 9, 2021
Husky44
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
  • Classic Mustang Specific Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?