Don’t put grease on rubber bushings

Question:

On some of the automotive TV shows they talk about putting grease on the rubber bushings of the rear leaf springs. But they never say what kind of grease to use. Maybe you can answer that question for me.

Answer:

No petroleum-based grease should be used on rubber bushings. They may have used a little of it to make the bushings slide on a little easier, but that is not the best approach. Over time, ordinary chassis grease will cause rubber bushings to deteriorate, and it will also make the joints more slippery than they are supposed to be. Because the lubricant is used for installation, not lubrication, the best approach is to use a little silicone spray on the contact surfaces of bushings to slide them into place, because it will not damage the rubber.