ZO6 Sway Bar Problem...
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 5,364
Likes: 38
From: King George VA
I grease the bushings on my car front and rear about every other track weekends. But on mine, which has the GM T1 sway bars which have metal to metal endlinks, its the endlinks that make more noise than the bushings. Those I use a spray grease on, but they still clank and clatter...
__________________
C66 Racing #66 NASA ST2, SCCA T2
AMSOIL Dealer (Forum Vendor)
AMSOIL Preferred Customer Program (Members buy at Wholesale - a savings of about 25%)
C66 Racing #66 NASA ST2, SCCA T2
AMSOIL Dealer (Forum Vendor)
AMSOIL Preferred Customer Program (Members buy at Wholesale - a savings of about 25%)
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,726
Likes: 97
From: Castro Valley State of Insanity
So as of now the general concensus seems to be either the poly bushings or spacing the brackets with washers. I recently went with the Z06 bars and am experiencing the same clunking sound in the front, too simple of a switch to F up, and was perplexed till I saw this thread. Guess I'll try the spacers in the morning, and go from there, will post results. But as asked earlier, and has not been answered, why do the factory built cars not have this problem?
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,726
Likes: 368
From: Montoursville Pa
So as of now the general concensus seems to be either the poly bushings or spacing the brackets with washers. I recently went with the Z06 bars and am experiencing the same clunking sound in the front, too simple of a switch to F up, and was perplexed till I saw this thread. Guess I'll try the spacers in the morning, and go from there, will post results. But as asked earlier, and has not been answered, why do the factory built cars not have this problem?
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,726
Likes: 97
From: Castro Valley State of Insanity
I grease the bushings on my car front and rear about every other track weekends. But on mine, which has the GM T1 sway bars which have metal to metal endlinks, its the endlinks that make more noise than the bushings. Those I use a spray grease on, but they still clank and clatter...
My car came from the factory with the metal links, and never made a sound till I changed the bars, so I don't think the metal links are the problem in my case.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 96,209
Likes: 75
From: Houston Texas
St. Jude Donor '09
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,726
Likes: 97
From: Castro Valley State of Insanity
Just tried z9cougars suggestion, and it worked for me. Used two grade eight washers, each .097" thick, retorued front brackets and noise was gone. Will keep the poly in mind though, in case this turns out to be a short term cure.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,820
Likes: 2
From: San Diego
I had squeaking going over speed bumps. Problem solved by using 3mm washers as indicated in picture below.
Four of these, probably found in your tool box, fix the problem in a few minutes.
I posted this solution about 1 1/2 years ago. Guess its time to revive it again.
..rickko..
Four of these, probably found in your tool box, fix the problem in a few minutes.
I posted this solution about 1 1/2 years ago. Guess its time to revive it again.
..rickko..
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 14,610
Likes: 219
From: Ohio
So as of now the general concensus seems to be either the poly bushings or spacing the brackets with washers. I recently went with the Z06 bars and am experiencing the same clunking sound in the front, too simple of a switch to F up, and was perplexed till I saw this thread. Guess I'll try the spacers in the morning, and go from there, will post results. But as asked earlier, and has not been answered, why do the factory built cars not have this problem?
A Creaking sound is the sway bar bushings.
As to torque specs...
the brackets for the sway bars:
Front 43 ft-lbs.
Rear upper bolt 49 ft-lbs
Rear lower bolt 70 ft-lbs.
End-links 53 ft-lbs.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 14,610
Likes: 219
From: Ohio
No, it's the sway bar twisting in the rubber of the bushing. See Rickko's drawing...the sway bar inside the bushing is squeaking. Lube the hole, and it helps. The washer just helps keep the bracket's squeeze on the bushing a little less, so it squeaks less also.
Last edited by gpotski; Dec 19, 2006 at 09:47 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,726
Likes: 97
From: Castro Valley State of Insanity
Was definately more of a clunk than a squeak, all the bolts and links were torqued to the proper spec, spacing the brackets did it for me. Prior to installing the washers I checked the compressibility of the bushings and they were squeezed so tight, they were more like metal than rubber, and I did notice during the initial installation the brackets bottomed on the bushings while there was still a good 1/4" between the frame and the brackets
Last edited by Bubbletop409; Dec 19, 2006 at 11:49 PM.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
From: DFW Tx
had popping after 1st install
washers and bearing lube (red stuff) here
no need for poly bushings, just lots of lube
