Sway bar bushing?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 964
Likes: 124
From: Chesapeake Va
Sway bar bushing?
Changing all 4 bushings,I had no problem with the back 2 but the front 2,the brackets won't pull all the way up.there is about 1/4 inch from being all the way tight.any thoughts?
Racer
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 296
Likes: 6
From: Valencia CA
Do you have the correct size bushings? I believe the bracket also has a ridge that the bushing sit into. It also needs to be torqued to 43 ft lbs. The bushing and bracket should pull up flush when you get to that torque setting. I use a torque wrench on mine. I also apply silicone grease to the part where the sway bar goes through the bushing and I apply a thin coat on the bushing and bracket itself. Hope this helps.
Last edited by imlowr2; Jul 4, 2016 at 10:32 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 964
Likes: 124
From: Chesapeake Va
Do you have the correct size bushings? I believe the bracket also has a ridge that the bushing sit into. It also needs to be torqued to 43 ft lbs. The bushing and bracket should pull up flush when you get to that torque setting. I use a torque wrench on mine. I also apply silicone grease to the part where the sway bar goes through the bushing and I apply a thin coat on the bushing and bracket itself. Hope this helps.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 296
Likes: 6
From: Valencia CA
The overall size of the bushing (outside diameter) shouldn't be that much bigger? The hole size matters and needs to be the same as the diameter of your sway bar. Even with a larger diameter sway bar, the overall size of the bushing should be the same. The hole will only be larger to accommodate the sway bar. Not sure the condition of your old bushing, but you may only need to apply some silicone grease to get rid of the squeeking. Those bushing tend to dry out and that causes the squeezing noise, not to mention wear on the sway bar from rubbing. I'd take those bushing along with your original ones back to the place you got them.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 3,638
Likes: 245
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 964
Likes: 124
From: Chesapeake Va
I miss stated the difference in size it was 3/16 not 3/8, sorry.anyway,I greased the old ones and all is fine.when I return them I'll find out if there is more than one size and report back. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,797
Likes: 356
From: Northville, MI
For the front bushings I find that I have to tighten them gradually, front, back. front, back, etc and they will snug up, if I try to tighten one and then the other there is always about a 1/4 inch gap.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 964
Likes: 124
From: Chesapeake Va
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,797
Likes: 356
From: Northville, MI
I went from standard bushing to poly and had a devil of a time getting them correct. Went a little at a time on each side and they finally compressed correctly. Before that I would always end up with a 1/4" gap or more.