Front Sway Bar Install?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 845
Likes: 12
From: LAKE BARRINGTON IL
Front Sway Bar Install?
Hi all!,
OK! upgrading front sway bar...took off old one, now want to install new one...it has POLY bushings...
the manufacturer did not send lithium grease...so got some questions...
is lithium grease necessary to avoid squeaks?
what do you grease bar to poly, and poly to bracket?
ALSO, a tech told me to wrap the bar in teflon tape to avoid future squeaks with the lithium grease...not sure how the teflon makes it better?
LASTLY, do you tighten the arm hardware under load? or tires hanging?
THANKS!
Ron
OK! upgrading front sway bar...took off old one, now want to install new one...it has POLY bushings...
the manufacturer did not send lithium grease...so got some questions...
is lithium grease necessary to avoid squeaks?
what do you grease bar to poly, and poly to bracket?
ALSO, a tech told me to wrap the bar in teflon tape to avoid future squeaks with the lithium grease...not sure how the teflon makes it better?
LASTLY, do you tighten the arm hardware under load? or tires hanging?
THANKS!
Ron
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,412
Likes: 50
From: Laguna Niguel California
Grease between the bar and bushings is a good idea, teflon tape will probably work its way out but you could try. Just bolt it together, the sway bar application is not that sophisticated.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,361
Likes: 1,592
From: Western NY
There's a product called 'Super Lube', that does a good job of lubricating poly bushings. Although grease between the bushing and the mounting bracket isn't essential, it won't hurt, and I usually do it on my cars.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,886
Likes: 9
Poly bushings allow the bar to rotate freely, so it is not important to torque everything at normal ride height.
The factory style rubber bushings, however, securely grip the bar and twist back and forth as the suspension travels. Then, it is important to torque the mounting bushings at normal ride height. The factory type suspension bushings work the same way.
You can R&R a front sway bar on a C3 without lifting the car, anyway.
The factory style rubber bushings, however, securely grip the bar and twist back and forth as the suspension travels. Then, it is important to torque the mounting bushings at normal ride height. The factory type suspension bushings work the same way.
You can R&R a front sway bar on a C3 without lifting the car, anyway.
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,361
Likes: 1,592
From: Western NY
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
That is an Energy Suspension product. It came with the grease fitting and grease. Has not given me any problems in four years despite the poly nay-sayers.
Last edited by Paul L; Oct 27, 2014 at 05:34 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,361
Likes: 1,592
From: Western NY
I've been using Energy Suspension parts sine the late 70s-early 80s, when they first became available, usually with good results.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
To be honest I have not used that grease fitting since I installed the bushings ~four years ago (perhaps 6,000 miles ago). I lubed them quite well at that time. If I had since I probably would have used moly. But I am not a well-informed person.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 845
Likes: 12
From: LAKE BARRINGTON IL
LOL!
All good...bar is in and torqued...odd question...there seems to be some space in the rods that connect to the control arms...How much/far do you tighten? til cant go further?
ALSO, any advice on torquing the frame bracket bolts? til tight? or is there a spec?
thanks,
Ron
All good...bar is in and torqued...odd question...there seems to be some space in the rods that connect to the control arms...How much/far do you tighten? til cant go further?
ALSO, any advice on torquing the frame bracket bolts? til tight? or is there a spec?
thanks,
Ron
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,361
Likes: 1,592
From: Western NY