Squeaking Sway Bar Bushings

[titaniumdave]

I have read some posts about after market sway bars and the annoying squeak the bushings make. I just got a set of Dali Street/Track bars for my '93 and decided to be pro-active about the noise. After looking at the brackets and bushing I realized it would be very easy to instal grease zerks and never have to hear the dreaded squeaks. It only took half an hour and $4 for the zerks, I did own all the tools before I started.

Here is a list of the tools it took me to get the job done:
center punch and hammer
center drill to start holes
1/8" bit to drill bushings
#3 bit for the threaded hole
1/4"x28 NTF tap
hand drill
2 clamps
a vice for holding everything while I drilled

Here is a picture of all the stuff.

 

[titaniumdave]

Mark and center punch the bracket

Mark the brackets so they will all have the same location for the grease fittings, nice to make them interchange. Center punch the brackets so your drill will not wander when you start to drill.

 

[titaniumdave]

Start the hole.

 

[titaniumdave]

Drill with the #3 bit and then tap 1/4x28. Here is the finished part.

 

[titaniumdave]

I used one of the drilled brackets as a guide to drill the bushings, make sure to use a very sharp bit, gentle pressure and high RPMs. A flatter angle on the drill bit will help make the bit cut in the rubber too.

I used 2 clamps to hold the bracket down so I can compress the bushing so it would be in the same shape as when it is clamped on the car with the sway bar installed.

 

[titaniumdave]

Finished bushing.

 

[titaniumdave]

Finished bracket.

 

[Larry Bastanza]

Nice !!

LarryB

 

[kgb_agent]

Nice...will you use grease specifically for poly bushings or regular stuff?

 

[DeNguyen]

Just out of curiosity...

what happens if there is lack of grease on the bushing? will the bush deteriorate at a faster rate? or will it just squeak with no consequences?

 

[titaniumdave]

Grease

I am not sure what kind of grease would be best, I plan on using general purpose Moly lube. There may be issues with some rubber swelling in contact with grease but I think the Poly Bushings are plastic and pretty resistant to that issue.

DeNguyen, I am sure the bushings will wear if ther are dry, one can always un-bolt the brackets and re-grease the bushings, I am a lazy guy who won't take the time to to do that. I only remeber they are dry when I hear the squeak, but I will squirt some grease in these when I am doing my oil change.

If any one else wants me to modify their brackets, or get new ones with this modification, PM me, and I can help you out.