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  •  » Upper control arm bushing squeak

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    10/13/2026 6:30 PM  #1

    Dennis
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    From: Waterloo, Iowa
    Registered: 7/28/2021
    Posts: 31

    Upper control arm bushing squeak

    I've put about 120 miles on my Mustang after all the updates.  The upper control arm bushings did not squeak at first, but they now are horrible.  At least that's what appears to be squeaking.  I can push the front end down and feel the vibration through the shock tower, and it has that same squeak I remember from back in the day.  I greased the right side tonight and got some grease coming through the inside of the bushing. The squeak is still there.  I'm not sure if driving it will spread the grease better and calm it down.  Looking for experiences and suggestions.

     

    10/13/2026 6:48 PM  #2

    Nos681
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    From: Atlantic Mine, Michigan
    Registered: 7/14/2016
    Posts: 3,612

    Re: Upper control arm bushing squeak

    Have you checked front sway bar bushings and end link bushings?

     

    10/13/2026 6:51 PM  #3

    Dennis
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    From: Waterloo, Iowa
    Registered: 7/28/2021
    Posts: 31

    Re: Upper control arm bushing squeak

    Nos681 wrote:

    Have you checked front sway bar bushings and end link bushings?

    I have not, but did spray some WD40 on the pivot end of the lower control arm (it should not be able to make noise anyway).  The sound is the same as I've heard on cars back in the day.  I can squirt some lube on the other bushings just to see, but I really don't think that's it.
     

       •Thread Starter
     

    Yesterday 4:21 AM  #4

    TKOPerformance
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    From: Newark, DE
    Registered: 12/15/2014
    Posts: 8,085

    Re: Upper control arm bushing squeak

    Are the bushings rubber or poly?  If they are poly you need to use the correct poly bushing grease (AKA whale snot).  Normal grease doesn't work and may degrade the bushings over time.  

     

    Yesterday 5:58 AM  #5

    Dennis
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    From: Waterloo, Iowa
    Registered: 7/28/2021
    Posts: 31

    Re: Upper control arm bushing squeak

    TKOPerformance wrote:

    Are the bushings rubber or poly?  If they are poly you need to use the correct poly bushing grease (AKA whale snot).  Normal grease doesn't work and may degrade the bushings over time.  

    I believe they are poly.  I'm quite confident it isn't the sway bar bushings.  I can just remove the end links to test.

       •Thread Starter
     

    Yesterday 6:23 AM  #6

    BobE
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    From: White Plains, NY
    Registered: 4/04/2013
    Posts: 3,086

    Re: Upper control arm bushing squeak

    Are you greasing both the front and rear sides of the shafts with a grease gun?
    As you point out, make sure some grease can be seen on the inside of both sides of the shaft to ensure grease has made it into, and though, the bushing.
     
    I would then work the grease in by pushing the fender up and down several times, then drive the car a bit to further work the grease in and see how it goes.  You may want to leave the sway bar end links disconnected to verify they are, or aren’t, the issue. 
    And don’t forget the lower arm bushing maybe an issue. 
     

    65 Fastback, 351W, 5-speed, 4 wheel discs, 9" rear,  R&C Front End.
     

    Yesterday 11:44 AM  #7

    MS
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    From: Canyon Lake, Texas
    Registered: 1/24/2013
    Posts: 12,785

    Re: Upper control arm bushing squeak

    Be sure to rebuild UCA bushings using my method I came up with. Even MOOG has copied the grease path slot that I use.  And when you torque down the big nut… Don’t!!! You need to adjust them so the arm can freely rotate on the shaft, then weld the big nut to the arm to keep that setting.  If you torque the nuts tight, there is a big chance they will squeak.   I believe there is an article on the Tips & How-To forum section about rebuilding upper control arms that I wrote a while back.

    Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
     

    Yesterday 11:52 AM  #8

    MS
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    From: Canyon Lake, Texas
    Registered: 1/24/2013
    Posts: 12,785

    Re: Upper control arm bushing squeak





    Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
     

    Yesterday 12:56 PM  #9

    TKOPerformance
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    From: Newark, DE
    Registered: 12/15/2014
    Posts: 8,085

    Re: Upper control arm bushing squeak

    The grease you want is Prothane Super Grease.  It is not cheap in grease gun tube size (like $66 @ Summit).

    https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ptp-19-1751?seid=srese1&ppckw=pmax-oils-fluids-sealer&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20081552311&gclid=CjwKCAjw0LzWBhBOEiwAKQd0cOdQY6fpIe9qcYoTqNVP8nfpp64aM_fQeefbY2lk8kyQIOJfLCGxjxoCc5EQAvD_BwE

    Conventional grease will destroy the bushings over time.  

     

    Yesterday 1:57 PM  #10

    Dennis
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    From: Waterloo, Iowa
    Registered: 7/28/2021
    Posts: 31

    Re: Upper control arm bushing squeak

    Good info.  What is the relevance of the orientation of the grease slots?  Would I want them on top, so the grease works down rather than up?  More than likely I torqued the nuts.  I may have to disassemble them if greasing and a little exercise doesn't clear it up.

       •Thread Starter
     

     

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