sway bar rubs
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Okemos MI
sway bar rubs
Have a '99 and the front sway bar is rubbing the lower control arm. When hitting bumps in the road it makes the car sound like something the Clampetts would drive. I have lowered the car 1.5" (used stock bolts), installed Bilstein sport absorbers, and installed Z06 sway bars. Thinking it is happening because of its lower stance but I haven't heard of this being a problem for lowered c5's. Any input would be appreciated! 
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Okemos MI
I checked that too because it makes more contact on the driver side than pass. and it seemed the most logical place to start. Checked for center and it looked good, removed clamps to be sure and it looked the same after reassembly. The pitch of the end links looks the same on both sides too. I keep thinking the bar is just too thick and, or the car is too low but I haven't heard of this issue with other lowered c5s. There is a groove in the arm that I assume is there for clearance of the sway bar but it doesn't quite line up (on either side). Think I'll put it back together and see if moving the bar around helped at all. Thanks, will post again after I drive it a bit..
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 906
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
Check your end link nut torques - more often than not, they have loosened up since the install, are under-torqued or just need to be tightened a bit over. They can make a lot of noise if loose. Also, I have had mine clank badly when the grease in the insulators was deteriorated or inadequate. Probably isn't bar size - I just installed these massive C6 Z06 pipes in the wife's lowered base-suspensioned coupe and they are silent.
Front stock and Z06 bars
Rear stock and Z06 bars
Front stock and Z06 bars
Rear stock and Z06 bars
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Okemos MI
I will definetely check the torque on the end links next thanks!
And to answer Slothy, it is for sure the bar contacting the arm. I can see wear marks and it creaks when jacking the car up so I was able to watch as it made contact. Thanks though, I'll post a pic tomorrow if the torque on the end links aren't the culprit.
And to answer Slothy, it is for sure the bar contacting the arm. I can see wear marks and it creaks when jacking the car up so I was able to watch as it made contact. Thanks though, I'll post a pic tomorrow if the torque on the end links aren't the culprit.
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Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Okemos MI
Well the torque on the end links were good. Drove it around and it is still happening even after moving sway bar to the extreme left and right, it still makes contact regardless of position. Starting to think something must be bent though it hasn't been in any accident. Will try to post a couple pics. One is of the passenger and the other the driver. You can easily see the difference. Next step I think will be to take it all apart and check for any irregularities.
should note that these pics were taken with weight of the car on the wheels
http://s590.photobucket.com/albums/s...albumview=grid
should note that these pics were taken with weight of the car on the wheels
http://s590.photobucket.com/albums/s...albumview=grid
Last edited by spladam74; Aug 17, 2009 at 08:41 PM. Reason: forgot something
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 782
Likes: 45
From: Toronto Ontario
I'm rollin in the weeds and my bars are close too, but they never touch. Unless this is some kind of tolerance stacking problem, I think there is something wrong here. Maybe the bushings aren't in properly and the bar is sitting low?
Navigator
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma City Oklahoma
My 02 w/60k also sounded like jed clampett was drivin. Lol. I was told to check and lube the sway bar bushings. I removed and greased my sway bar bushings, took about 45 min, and now it's perfectly quite and surprisingly smoother. You can also drill a clean hole thru the bushing braket & bushing (caution not to damage your sway bar), insert a zirk grease fitting, now an easy quick lube. Makes me want to replace and lube all my bushings since the ride improved with such a small fix. Hope any of that helps.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Okemos MI
Appreciate the pics! I've lowered it about 1.5". I have measured the height and it is equal on both sides. The bushings are in properly too. What makes it weird is the big difference from side to side. Think I'll trade the sway bar clamps from side to side, maybe one has been bent somehow. What the heck, I'm running low on ideas. The car tracks straight and doesn't shake at all so I don't think it's anything major (probably shouldn't have said that).
The end links are the same front to back if memory serves but will double check.
I will definetely check the springs too. The car has 102k on it and they could be tweaked.
Thanks for all the input! Will let you all know if we get it figured out.
The end links are the same front to back if memory serves but will double check.
I will definetely check the springs too. The car has 102k on it and they could be tweaked.
Thanks for all the input! Will let you all know if we get it figured out.
Last edited by spladam74; Aug 18, 2009 at 06:09 PM.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Okemos MI
Well, here's a reason to never toss your unbroken original equipment. Put my original sway bar back on and the clearance over both lower control arms were identical. Took a closer look at the Z06 sway bar and could see by rocking it on the concrete that it is BENT! Unfriggin'believable! The bar is only a year old and I don't remember driving the car off any cliffs.
I'm going to use the metal end links so that I can salvage some of my investment. The service manual says the torque for the end link nuts is 53ftlbs. But, the manual is pre Z06 and I doubt the torque is the same for the metal links vs. the original rubber units. Anybody know the torque for deez nuts? (couldn't resist that one)
Thanks Again!!!
I'm going to use the metal end links so that I can salvage some of my investment. The service manual says the torque for the end link nuts is 53ftlbs. But, the manual is pre Z06 and I doubt the torque is the same for the metal links vs. the original rubber units. Anybody know the torque for deez nuts? (couldn't resist that one)
Thanks Again!!!
