Logan176

Last night I posted this question in a similar, yet much older, thread with a different name that I now realize doesn't match my question.

I went to change out the front stabilizer bar bushings on my '72 small block last night. I measured and purchased the correct size bushing (1 and 1/8 inch) from Corvette Central but the brackets appeared to be about 3/4" away from the frame and the stock bolts are not long enough. After reading another thread on this site, I learned that I may have to temporarily use longer bolts until the bushings compress a little more.

My question is, do I have the right bracket to mount the bushings? My bracket, seen in the photo below, doesn't have a lip to keep the bushing from mushrooming out the sides. This is what happened to my old bushings. Am I supposed to have this bracket if I plan on sticking with rubber bushings?

Alan 71

Hi L,
It appears to me that you have the sway-bar mounting bracket from an aftermarket sway-bar and bushing.
Here's the typical sway-bar, bushing, and bracket for 70-72 sb cars with the standard sway-bar.
Regards,
Alan

Logan176

Holy crap! I would eat off the bottom of your car! I hope you really enjoy it now that the warm weather is coming.

Thanks for the info about the bracket. Just out of curiosity, what is the diameter of the stock front stabilizer bar? 1" or 1-1/8"?

Alan 71

Hi L,
I believe you'll find the original front sway-bar for 72 sb cars was 3/4" while the sway-bar for bb cars, and cars with F41 suspension, was 15/16".
Sway-bar in your picture looks considerably greater in diameter than the original in mine..
Regards,
Alan

Chassis looks like that because I don't drive it!?!
Very strange to MOST everyone.

Logan176

So, I guess I have to assume that the previous owner went with a larger bar to stiffen up the front end more?

Alan 71

Hi L,
Yes, that's what likely happened.
Regards,
Alan

Logan176

I picked up the correct brackets and everything went together much smoother. There is still a quarter inch gap between the bracket and the frame, but I'm hoping that time will compress it and I can tighten it the rest of the way. Thanks.

7T1vette

If you have the correct bracket and the right bushings for your sway bar, then you just need to tighten up the bolts fully. The rubber will compress.