Front sway bar Q?...
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,347
Likes: 9
From: Salinas Ca.
Front sway bar Q?...
Cleaning up... I noticed that my 72 LT-1 sway bar was slightly loose where the bushing sandwiches to the Lower control arm. Is there an actual adjustment there or should the nut be cinched right down i.e. compressing the bushing until the nut runs out of thread? Thanks Muddy
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
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From: Boca Raton Florida
The nut should be run down the same amount on both sides, just a little crush on the bushing for mild control, tighter for more control. Don't severely distort the bushing. I went thru 2 sets of the adjustable spring type, I thik they are junk
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,347
Likes: 9
From: Salinas Ca.
Originally Posted by SIXFOOTER
The nut should be run down the same amount on both sides, just a little crush on the bushing for mild control, tighter for more control. Don't severely distort the bushing. I went thru 2 sets of the adjustable spring type, I thik they are junk
Kind of thinkn' on the same lines...suppose I'll go with a light touch (same amount of turns) test, then keep squeezing down to where I like it...ummmmm. Again thanks!! 
Muddy...
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,758
Likes: 3
From: Surrey
Muddy,
had he same thing with my '81. The nuts had been tightened until they ran out of thread, but the bar was still loose between the rubbers. After looking at another '81 I found that the metal sleeves on the bolts were too short, so I made a couple up of the right length & tightened the nuts until the rubbers were very slightly compressed. Could be worth checking if the length of the metal (tubular) spacers is correct?
had he same thing with my '81. The nuts had been tightened until they ran out of thread, but the bar was still loose between the rubbers. After looking at another '81 I found that the metal sleeves on the bolts were too short, so I made a couple up of the right length & tightened the nuts until the rubbers were very slightly compressed. Could be worth checking if the length of the metal (tubular) spacers is correct?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Another thing to look for, if you tighten them too much, the sleeve can push into the hole in the washers and that will loosen the bar on that end. Took a minute to figure that one out, it looked normal, just a lil short til I pulled the bolt out. look over the fit of the sleeve to the washer, the hole in the washer should be just big enough for the bolt to pass thru and the sleeve should be thick enough to overlay the washer a good bit and the hole in the sleeve should fit very close to the bolt.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,347
Likes: 9
From: Salinas Ca.
UKPaul: Sixfooter, again thanks for the input: At the moment I have them just snugged up (slight compress) and will drive it all weekend. From there, I'll try another 3 turns approx. and test! Have a great weekend! Muddy
Have a great weekend! Muddy
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,758
Likes: 3
From: Surrey
No problem. There is something else that "may" be important. I'm guessing that the angle the sway bar sits at is important? Maybe the ends should be horizontal when the car is at rest & the lengths of those spacers are used to achieve this? Maybe a suspension guru could chime in?
p.s. I did have a great weekend, thanks, as we watched the Farnborough airshow from a mate's backyard. Having a Mig do it's stunts right over your head is awesome (& a bit scary when you're directly beneath a jet that's free falling!!!!). Lots of impressive stuff going on, but nothing beats the sound of a Lancaster with a Spit & Hurri flying alongside :drool
p.s. I did have a great weekend, thanks, as we watched the Farnborough airshow from a mate's backyard. Having a Mig do it's stunts right over your head is awesome (& a bit scary when you're directly beneath a jet that's free falling!!!!). Lots of impressive stuff going on, but nothing beats the sound of a Lancaster with a Spit & Hurri flying alongside :drool
