Running Board Lubricant

[19ExpMaxPlatYYC]

I've purchased motors and bushing/bearings for the hinges on the powered running boards and see that the bearings (no idea why they're called bearings) are made from PTFE. A bit of searching yieleds that hydrocarbons and PTFE don't get along.

My gut has been that the penetrating oils and lubricants that are recommended are wrong based upon the fact they haven't seemed to help me or seemingly anyone maintain function on the power running boards. The recommendation from the searches is to use PTFE based lubricants for PTFE...not exactly rocket science.

The thought is that once the PTFE bushing/bearing gives up, you seize up, then you start throwing hydrocarbon based penetrating oils and lubricants at it and you're done. That's exactly what happened to mine.

Core points from the search:

• Avoid using hydrocarbon-based lubricants on PTFE, as they don't mix well.
• For some applications, like door hinges, PTFE bushings may work best with only PTFE-based lubricants.
• In high-stress environments like racing, specialized formulations with additional additives like hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) may provide even better performance.

In conclusion, PTFE-based lubricants are generally the best choice for PTFE bushings and bearings, offering low friction, compatibility, and longevity. However, the specific application and operating conditions should always be considered when selecting a lubricant.

 

[19ExpMaxPlatYYC]

Examples would be:

WD-40 Specialist Dirt & Dust Resistant Dry Lubricant PTFE Spray

Lubricates and provides superior long-lasting corrosion protection with no oily residue. It dries quickly and resists dirt, dust and oil.

wd40.ca

3-IN-ONE Multi-Purpose PTFE Lubricant

Perform under pressure with this PTFE lubricant designed for all your heavy-load tools and equipment.

3inone.com

Performa PTFE lubricant | Jig-A-Loo

www.jigaloo.ca

Most of the HBN lubricants seem to be dry or petroleum suspended. Haven't really found one.

 

[Benztech]

I use an older version of this. Seems to work well on a lot of things.

 

[19ExpMaxPlatYYC]

A couple other interesting findings, add grease nipples...

Stuck Running board Ford the fix. The fancy fix. The untried fix.

Hi all. So this is a short on the ongoing saga of rebuilding the stuck and actually broken off running board on the wife's side of my Navigator. It had been ...

www.youtube.com

Ford / Lincoln power running board hinge assembly and greasing. Yes, greasing.

Hi all. So this is the final step prior to doing the bolt up to the car. In this video I remind you to reinstall the rubber bumpers and then show the final p...

www.youtube.com

 

[19ExpMaxPlatYYC]

This is what the bearings look like.

 

[19ExpMaxPlatYYC]

You need a thin walled 13mm socket for this job.

 

[SyndicateZ]

So what should we be using to lubricate?

 

[GixxerJasen]

So what should we be using to lubricate?

There's links included above.

Now, where exactly do we apply it?

 

[Benztech]

When I lube my running boards I spray all moving parts. See what pivots and lube it. The lube I use dries so you don't have to worry about accumulating a bunch dirt. I used it on motorcycle chains for years with no issues.

 

[Fizzy]

Say what you will, but every winter my power running boards would seize up here when we got into the -30c range. The cold mixed with the road pickle (a salt and sand mix they spray on the roads) would render them inoperable.

I followed this YouTube video, and they worked flawlessly all winter.

Edit: Oh hey there fellow Calgarian...