sway bar noise!!!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 310
Likes: 3
From: Alhambra CA
sway bar noise!!!
Wow, it seem that everything is going bad on my vette. 
I recently changed my harmonic balancer, I had to remove the steering rack, sway bar, and alternator. well, the change of the hamonic balancer went smoothly 
. However, the sway bar is making noises. I noticed that there are groves on the sway bar bushings that match the groves on the car to identify the right way to install the swaybar. I heard a lot of noises coming from the front drivers side. after extensive investigation I narrow it to the sway bar. the lower control arm and the sway bar are making contact when the suspension moves 
I removed the sway bar from the car just to make sure the noise was in deed coming from the sway bar, sure thing the noise was GONE. I installed the sway bar once again, and this time I used more torque on the bottom bolts located on the lower control arm. The noise is back again 
the paint on the sway bar is gone from the section where the contact area with the lower control arm. WHAT TO DO??? I hope you guys have some solutions to this problem 
I recently changed my harmonic balancer, I had to remove the steering rack, sway bar, and alternator. well, the change of the hamonic balancer went smoothly . However, the sway bar is making noises. I noticed that there are groves on the sway bar bushings that match the groves on the car to identify the right way to install the swaybar. I heard a lot of noises coming from the front drivers side. after extensive investigation I narrow it to the sway bar. the lower control arm and the sway bar are making contact when the suspension moves I removed the sway bar from the car just to make sure the noise was in deed coming from the sway bar, sure thing the noise was GONE. I installed the sway bar once again, and this time I used more torque on the bottom bolts located on the lower control arm. The noise is back again the paint on the sway bar is gone from the section where the contact area with the lower control arm. WHAT TO DO??? I hope you guys have some solutions to this problem
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,194
Likes: 10
From: New Smyrna Beach Florida
I installed Z06nsway bars this summer and although they are very close to the control arm in the front, they do not make contact. Is it possible that the bar is mounted backwards? It does sound like you did not have the sway bar noise prior to the removal. You say you used markings to determine the correct orientation but something obviously went wrong with the install. Maybe someone with more experience can chime in here.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,470
Likes: 1,170
From: Dyer, IN
Wow, it seem that everything is going bad on my vette. I recently changed my harmonic balancer, I had to remove the steering rack, sway bar, and alternator. well, the change of the hamonic balancer went smoothly . However, the sway bar is making noises. I noticed that there are groves on the sway bar bushings that match the groves on the car to identify the right way to install the swaybar. I heard a lot of noises coming from the front drivers side. after extensive investigation I narrow it to the sway bar. the lower control arm and the sway bar are making contact when the suspension moves I removed the sway bar from the car just to make sure the noise was in deed coming from the sway bar, sure thing the noise was GONE. I installed the sway bar once again, and this time I used more torque on the bottom bolts located on the lower control arm. The noise is back again the paint on the sway bar is gone from the section where the contact area with the lower control arm. WHAT TO DO??? I hope you guys have some solutions to this problem
I recently changed my harmonic balancer, I had to remove the steering rack, sway bar, and alternator. well, the change of the hamonic balancer went smoothly . However, the sway bar is making noises. I noticed that there are groves on the sway bar bushings that match the groves on the car to identify the right way to install the swaybar. I heard a lot of noises coming from the front drivers side. after extensive investigation I narrow it to the sway bar. the lower control arm and the sway bar are making contact when the suspension moves I removed the sway bar from the car just to make sure the noise was in deed coming from the sway bar, sure thing the noise was GONE. I installed the sway bar once again, and this time I used more torque on the bottom bolts located on the lower control arm. The noise is back again the paint on the sway bar is gone from the section where the contact area with the lower control arm. WHAT TO DO??? I hope you guys have some solutions to this problem 
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Sway Bar Noise
Lubricate the rubber bushings!
I changed the suspension of my wife's Z-51 convertible over to 2004
Z-06 parts. It had the same noise comming from the front bushings after the sway bar change. I dropped the bar and lubed the bushings and the noise was gone.
The vert now handles like my Z-06 and has been noise free for over a year!
Don
I changed the suspension of my wife's Z-51 convertible over to 2004
Z-06 parts. It had the same noise comming from the front bushings after the sway bar change. I dropped the bar and lubed the bushings and the noise was gone.
The vert now handles like my Z-06 and has been noise free for over a year!
Don
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 310
Likes: 3
From: Alhambra CA
[IMG]
[/IMG] as you can seel the sway bar is pretty close the lower control arm.
this is abtter angle and here you can see that the paint from the sway bar has come off [IMG]
[/IMG]
When I removed the sway bar I removed the lower bolts connected to the lower control arm to make it easy for me. Ahhhh
[/IMG] as you can seel the sway bar is pretty close the lower control arm.this is abtter angle and here you can see that the paint from the sway bar has come off
[IMG][/IMG]When I removed the sway bar I removed the lower bolts connected to the lower control arm to make it easy for me. Ahhhh
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,194
Likes: 10
From: New Smyrna Beach Florida
As stated earlier, make sure they are centered. The Z06 bars come with paint lines on the to indicate side to side alignment. If the lines are gone I would suggest Adjusting the side to side position such that each endlink is in the same position relative to vertical. I don't think lubricating the bushings, although a good thing to do, is gonna fix that problem
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,660
Likes: 9
From: Charlotte, NC
As I remember it, if you have the swaybar bolted in, then it should be centered on its own. There is nothing you can do to align the bar. Try pulling on it and you'll see it won't budge.
Instead of using silicon grease, use White Lithium Grease. It comes in a spray can but has a thicker consistency (like snot)
. This worked for me much better than the silicon stuff that others have suggested.
That is really freaking odd that your sway bar would hit your A-arm. But your pictures certaintly indicate that is indeed what's happening.
Crazy.
Instead of using silicon grease, use White Lithium Grease. It comes in a spray can but has a thicker consistency (like snot)
. This worked for me much better than the silicon stuff that others have suggested.That is really freaking odd that your sway bar would hit your A-arm. But your pictures certaintly indicate that is indeed what's happening.
Crazy.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,677
Likes: 0
From: I have to return some videotapes
It's tough to compare b/c I'm used to looking at mine at full droop, whereas the pics you posted seem to be with the suspension loaded. Look at these pages for some help on how the bar should be positioned:
http://fuzzydiceracing.com/test.htm
http://www.2phast.com/Corvette/bilstein.htm
I think you need to pivot the bar so that the bend brings it more forward toward the front of the car to clear the A-arm and less down into contact with the A-arm.
I swapped out for metal end links this weekend and had the bars loose, but not completely off.
http://fuzzydiceracing.com/test.htm
http://www.2phast.com/Corvette/bilstein.htm
I think you need to pivot the bar so that the bend brings it more forward toward the front of the car to clear the A-arm and less down into contact with the A-arm.
I swapped out for metal end links this weekend and had the bars loose, but not completely off.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 310
Likes: 3
From: Alhambra CA
I have come to the conclusion that the plastic end links are the source of the problem, the sway bar will not move left or right, so it is centered. only one side (driver) is hitting the lower control arm, the sound is so loud and anoying I end up removing the sway bar completely. I ordered the metal adjustable end links from Ecklers, as soon as I get them I bet the problem will be fix. Hawk4077 you are right it is the cheap plastic end links, I haven't seen it but I am almost sure the end link is bending and that's why it's hitting the Arm.
This gives me an opportunity to paint all front suspension parts
I think bright red will look nice. what do you guys think?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 310
Likes: 3
From: Alhambra CA
Ducati, I did lower the car two years ago I never had problems with the swaybar before, until I removed it to replace the harmonic balancer. That was a lot of work but everything went smoothly. when I removed the sway bar I removed the lower bolts attaching to the sway bar to the lower control arm. (to make it easy on me) 
any how I think since the end links are pretty old now they are not as strong as when they were new, so I am replacing them with the metal adjustable end links from Ecklers.
I will let you guys know if the new end links are the solution to my problem.
any how I think since the end links are pretty old now they are not as strong as when they were new, so I am replacing them with the metal adjustable end links from Ecklers. I will let you guys know if the new end links are the solution to my problem.
