My rubber spring bushings  creek and groan when when I flex my suspension. They are the stock rubber bushings with greasable bolts run through them.

I am considering changing the rubber bushing out for new poly style bushing if available. I am running a Ruff front end with Calamini  rear springs.

Can I measure the spring eye inner diameter and purchase these? Has anybody purchased these or can recomend a supplier that has these for a good price?   

You might give Poly bushings a try.  they do alot of odd ball stuff.  if they dont have, they may be able to make.  I know they make stuff for dodge and caddy's.  so if u have good dimensions, give them a try.

energy suspension has them    http://www.energysuspensionparts.com/products.asp?cat=Suzuki+Samurai+1987

Thanks Jon! I filled out an information request. I am going to reuild these spring packs and it just would'nt be right without new bushings!

I appreciate your help and the direct link to their site!

                                                                                                             Tux...

glad i could help

Make sure you get their "pre-lube", otherwise the squeaking will continue.

Make sure you get their "pre-lube", otherwise the squeaking will continue.

Fordem, I have greasable bolts that I can lube the bushings with. I believe the noise I hear now iw the spring moving the bushing around inside of the spring eye. It appears to me there is entirely too much slop between the bushing and the spring eye.
I was hoping that the new bushins would fillsome of the void within the spring eyeitself. Does that make sense?

There may be some folks who disagree with this - but it's what I was told, and it's what I have always done.

Polyurethane bushes WILL squeak if not lubricated (I know this from personal experience) and petroleum grease should not be used on polyurethane bushes - personally I've always used the Energy Suspension Prelube (a sticky white grease - yes, you read that right, it is both sticky & slippery) - but every poly manufacturer has their own sythetic lubricant.

There is one school of thought that claims the only reason to use the synthetic grease is because it stays put so - what ever floats your boat - but if you don't grease them they WILL squeak.

Makes good sence to me to just get there lube while your ordering the bushings. I have used regular old "tub-o-grease" to lube bushings (poly) and ended up with squeaks. I would think whatever grease they Suppily has some serious r&d time.And hopefully they know what there doing.

How much room around the bushing and the spring eye should there be? I''m wondering if it is the bushing that has deteriorated or if it is the spring wy opening up from wear / flex.... Energy Suspension left me a number to call their Tech Folks on Wednesday. I'm hoping the can provide me with some bushing that you will damn near hafta drive in and will be acceptable to white lithium grease. My choice because we use the snot outta it in the shop.

Makes good sense to me to.... But.... am on on the right track here? I can't imagine these bushing being able to float inside the spring ey with a noticable gap (like .25 or more all the way around.)

I have put on several lifts in my day and I just don't every remember that much slop.

Bushings must be snug. Gap is bad for sure. He was planing on replacements for stock worn out ones.

Umm - there is a difference in the way rubber & poly bushes work - at least, there is in coil spring setups, I don't have that much experience with leaf springs.

Rubber bushes are designed to flex - poly bushes are not.

Let's go withe coil springs because thats what I know best.

The rubber bushes in a coil spring suspension will usually have inner & outer metal sleeves bonded to the rubber - the outer sleeve will be a "press fit" in the control arm or link, and the inner sleeve will be clamped "end wise" - the rubber itself will flex or distort to allow limited rotational movement of the arm or link.

Poly bushes in the same setup do not flex - they are not bonded to the sleeves and will pivot typically on the inner sleeve like a bearing and this is where the squeak comes from.

In a leaf spring suspension - one end will mount to the chassis, and the other has the shackle(s) - the chassis end has very little movement and the rubber is for isolation.  The shackle end however moves back & forth as the suspension flexes and you will probably see the same pivoting action that I describe above, and get the same squeak.

I've never put poly bushes on a leaf sprung vehicle, I have put them on a coil sprung street car - they make for a very firm ride, awesome road holding, and if not properly lubed - a very annoying squeak.