That is the question!

I need a definitive answer on whether to lube these or not. I have a 1973 Charger wiper linkage with the nylon bushing inserts and I have seen people saying different things here. It seems to me you would want to lube as that linkage is very tight dry and squeaky but some have said the linkage will pop out of the bushings if lubed.

I tried to go cheap and bought the assorted Dorman HELP bushings set but the bushing was just a tad too large inside the ball socket and was much easier to press the ball joint into. Of course, it popped right out when I turned the wipers on. I have OEM bushings on the way and I want to get my wipers working again!

Anybody here have an official answer here? Maybe somebody with a FSM or knowledge of what the factory did? I just don't see why this should be so difficult....

Thanks as always!

Factory one's I have seen had small dab of white grease in them. I would just wipe grease on pivot so there is some lube. I have never had them come back off if they went in correctly

I did the ones on my D100, and thought it a good idea to use a little lube, so I dabbed a little poly suspension goo into each one. They were the Dorman ones also.

Almost as soon as I assembled things they popped apart.

So, got another set and they went together dry.

A year later, they are still intact.

I've always put a thin coat of white lube on the ball. Too much and the linkage will pop loose because the lube won't allow the ball to seat all the way. It's a very tight fit when done right.

Anything where there is contact(especially involving plastic)is gonna benefit from some lubrication...

Quote:

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I did the ones on my D100, and thought it a good idea to use a little lube, so I dabbed a little poly suspension goo into each one. They were the Dorman ones also.

Almost as soon as I assembled things they popped apart.

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From what I could tell the Dorman ones were slightly smaller on the outside and slightly oversized on the inside. I could press the Dorman bushing in and out of the linkage with my fingers....no way even close with the factory bushings. Same thing with the ball joints where I can pop them in and out of those Dorman bushings fairly easily where the factory bushings needed a clamp and socket to press that mess in.

So the Dorman's were close but didn't quite work in my situation...

We have originals in stock:

http://www.brewersperformance.com/proddetail.asp?prod=WPB089

I drilled a small hole in the middle of the bushing dome so the air and extra lube could flow out.