Poly Urethane Bushings
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,908
Likes: 735
From: Southwest Kansas
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Unmodified
2021 C6 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
Poly Urethane Bushings
OK I just got my new urethane bushings for my Sway bars (front and rear). The old ones have been removed (cut out and used a C clamp). Does anyone have a quick hint on how to put the new ones in (end links)? They are pretty stiff and don't really compress much to work them through the hole. A press and just shove them through? Or is there some sort of finesse way to get them in?
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
From: Keaau Hi
I think the metel sleeve stays in, according to the instructions (I tried like a **** too, said the heck with it and bought a larger rear sway bar (came installed!) More expensive than bushings but sure went in easier!
I think that if you remove the metal sleeve there would be too much slop in the bushing, and believe me,
I tried every thing I could think of short of setting the damn things on fire.
I think that if you remove the metal sleeve there would be too much slop in the bushing, and believe me,
I tried every thing I could think of short of setting the damn things on fire.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,908
Likes: 735
From: Southwest Kansas
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Unmodified
2021 C6 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
I did grease them up, but I put a digital caliper to them and they measure .920 diameter (in the middle section smallest diameter), the hole is .776, there is quite a difference. I did not remove the metal sleeve, that should help. As a matter of fact I went so far as to try and measure to the outside of the sleeve, but it looked like I was only going to gain a little more half the difference (measured .882, not a terribly accurate measurement). I will remove the sleeve and give it another try. Should make it close.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,966
Likes: 709
From: WI
I did grease them up, but I put a digital caliper to them and they measure .920 diameter (in the middle section smallest diameter), the hole is .776, there is quite a difference. I did not remove the metal sleeve, that should help. As a matter of fact I went so far as to try and measure to the outside of the sleeve, but it looked like I was only going to gain a little more half the difference (measured .882, not a terribly accurate measurement). I will remove the sleeve and give it another try. Should make it close.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,908
Likes: 735
From: Southwest Kansas
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Unmodified
2021 C6 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
Did you get them from Ecklers? Theirs seemed to large to fit. I put heim jointed end links on so I don't have to change those again! The sleeve is pretty easy to remove, make a cut with a hacksaw blade then another cut a small distance aside of the first. Remove the channel of metal and squish the sleeve, it'll pop right out.
I have an email question in to VBandP, hopefully I will get an answer soon.
Thanks for the help, and if anyone else has suggestions I'd like to hear them.
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Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 405
Likes: 1
From: Twinsburg OH
No, I bought them from Vette Brakes and Products. After checking, the little metal sleeve has to come out as the width of the sleeve is wider than the part of the bushing that has to fit. I got the sleeves out of the end link (haven't tried to take it out of the end of the bar yet), was pretty easy and I didn't have to cut them.
I have an email question in to VBandP, hopefully I will get an answer soon.
Thanks for the help, and if anyone else has suggestions I'd like to hear them.
I have an email question in to VBandP, hopefully I will get an answer soon.
Thanks for the help, and if anyone else has suggestions I'd like to hear them.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,908
Likes: 735
From: Southwest Kansas
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Unmodified
2021 C6 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
Thanks for all the help and suggestions. I got them all installed. Had another person suggest that I use a fender washer on the end of the bushing and put a socket large enough for the bushing to fit into on the other side, put a 5/16" bolt through and use the compression action of tightening the bolt to pull the bushing into place. This worked like a charm, used lots of the silicon grease they sent with the new bushings and they slipped right in. I guess I should have taken some pictures of the process. As soon as I get my other u-joints (axle) I'll get the car back down on the ground and finish tightening up and adjusting the rear sway bar.
Again thanks for the help.
Again thanks for the help.
