Silicone spray to bushes and boots - thoughts?

[DickP]

Hi,

I saw on a video someone spraying silicone onto the rubber bushes and ball joint boots of their car, with the logic that it will help slow the natural ageing and drying of the rubber so (hopefully) slowing the rate of wear.

Is there any truth to this for car suspension bushes and rubber boots or is it nonsense?

Thanks,

[mwstewart]

A waste of time IMO. The bushes will still turn soft.

[Rozzers]

It probably ages them faster as these sprays use a solvent to carry the silicone which eats the rubber - so Ive been told -

[sgtBerbatov]

I wouldn't. I read somewhere on the internet that Lucas's 'Red n Tacky' was good stuff for bushes, so I used it on mine and I'd have to say it's been brilliant stuff.

[Evanivitch]

Alfa 147/GT owners probably used to doing this with notoriously noisy front wishbone bushes.

Can't remember what I used to use, think it was a grease with small plastic grease gun.

[ninjag]

Red Rubber Grease was the stuff I was advised to use for rubber, seals etc.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Granville-0846-500g-Rubbe...

[ChampionRabbit]

Silicone is supposed to improve the lifespan of rubber isn't it? Although I've never really noticed one way or the other.

Lithium grease should also be fine; we use red lithium at work on all manner of stuff that is rubbery and it never causes issues.

[oceanview]

Yes, I don't know what the other posters are on about!
Silicone can be used as a rubber lubricate ( just make sure the rubbers clean first, so not to trap any detritus) .

The only thing silicone can mess with is electrical connections.

[ninjag]

I always thought any of the sprays which are petoleum based should be avoided?