Help with Sway Bar D Bushes

Missu · Member

Help with Sway Bar D Bushes

SGS Welding · Guru

Moog K5227 for 13/16" bar - readily available,
Moog K8258 for 15/16" bar - difficult to find, but occasionally pop up on eBay.

This answer was given on another post

Hopefully you have the smaller bar the parts are easy to find

If you have the larger bar start watching E-Bay for NOS parts??

Easiest way to measure the bar is with an open end wrench

Missu · Member

I'm sorry I didn't explain properly he was after the D Bushes that attach to the sway bar

Thank you for your reply :) My fault :( I'm not good with this stuff

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Missu wrote:
I'm sorry I didn't explain properly he was after the D Bushes that attach to the sway bar

Thank you for your reply :) My fault :( I'm not good with this stuff

No worries, you did a great job and SGS has listed the bushings you likely need (13/16"). On the Canadian cars the 15/16" bar is very uncommon and I will assume that's likely the same on the Australian Pontiacs as well. Just measure the bar using an open end wrench as he mentioned to be sure.

Feel free to ask questions, that's what this site is for!

OURWAGON · Guru

SGS Welding wrote:
Moog K5227 for 13/16" bar - readily available,
Moog K8258 for 15/16" bar - difficult to find, but occasionally pop up on eBay.
This answer was given on another post
Hopefully you have the smaller bar the parts are easy to find
If you have the larger bar start watching E-Bay for NOS parts??
Easiest way to measure the bar is with an open end wrench
MY EARLY 60"S X FRAME USE K 5227

Missu · Member

Thank you everyone for your help - we located the ones suggested by SGS from a Rare Spares place in Perth - I should have read your post properly, sorry!

Thank you again for your help, no doubt I will be back when he starts yelling and throwing spanners across the garage soon :)

Have a great weekend everyone x x x

oshawacliff · Poncho Master!

Karen

How refreshing to have a female newbie on the site. Our lingo may not jingle but we are willing to accommodate any of your requests. Let us know what his target usually is!.

Cliff

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Just an FYI, they're called "bushings".

Missu · Member

oshawacliff wrote:
Karen
How refreshing to have a female newbie on the site. Our lingo may not jingle but we are willing to accommodate any of your requests. Let us know what his target usually is!.
Cliff

Cliff - that would be ME !!

Okay he has another question - Sundays he has too much time on his hands

Can anyone tell him why the Sway bar is touching the spring - Picture Attached

Its been like this since he got it and wants to know how to rectify

Thanks again

Karen x x x

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Well that's an interesting problem. Do you know what diameter the bar is? I wonder if it's not the right one for the car?

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Possibly,

An aftermarket stabilizer bar of a different shape/length than stock. Is the bar stock?

Incorrect length Stabilizer links (too long) can move the bar end up and back. But your link looks normal.

Bowed spring. Looks fine here,

I suspect your strut rods have been adjusted down to their minimum length. This pulls the lower control arm forward, and can cause the bar to actually contact the spring.

In this image below you can see thread remaining on the Strut Rod (red), normal, which is probably where it would be if the factory alignment specs are followed.

If you try for maximum positive caster and bottom the nut down on the rod, the spring can contact the stabilizer. I've done that.

Grab a shot of your strut rod lower thread area.

LT1Caddy · Poncho Master!

I would say it's the wrong bar. or maybe the wrong bushing kit. The middle metal spacer should be longer than the pictured one.

-- Edited by LT1Caddy on Sunday 28th of April 2024 10:06:07 AM

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Is it touching the spring only on one end of the away bar? What about the other end of the away bar?
I had the same problem of touching the spring, but the other end wasn't and the sway bar wasn't centered.

Missu · Member

I suspect your strut rods have been adjusted down to their minimum length. This pulls the lower control arm forward, and can cause the bar to actually contact the spring.

In this image below you can see thread remaining on the Strut Rod (red), normal, which is probably where it would be if the factory alignment specs are followed.

If you try for maximum positive caster and bottom the nut down on the rod, the spring can contact the stabilizer. I've done that.

Grab a shot of your strut rod lower thread area.

Thank you for your reply

I have attached a photo as requested - can you see what you think the problem is, I appreciate your help

Missu · Member

Is it touching the spring only on one end of the away bar? What about the other end of the away bar?
I had the same problem of touching the spring, but the other end wasn't and the sway bar wasn't centered.

I asked him about this - the bar is touching spring only on one side, but the sway bar is definitely centered. He had 2 inchs either side, not touching. When he dropped the car back on the ground it was touching !!

Missu · Member

4SPEED427 wrote:
Well that's an interesting problem. Do you know what diameter the bar is? I wonder if it's not the right one for the car?

Hi Speed - it is the right one, its been in the garage for the last 30 years, this problem he is trying to rectify and its bugging him

Thanks :)

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

LT1Caddy wrote:

I would say it's the wrong bar. or maybe the wrong bushing kit. The middle metal spacer should be longer than the pictured one.

Still good threads showing on the strut. So you're not pulled too far foreword.

I can see a new nut and bolt on the bushing bracket, which tells little. But to my eye, the bar does look plated like an Addco or aftermarket bar might be.

And the ends, (can't see real well here) look thick and squared off like the Addco. The standard or F41 bar has a forged link end with a distinctly thin and rounded shape usually with a parting as line seen here,

Enlarged, you can see the shape of your end,

I had put an Addco in a 69 project (seen below), and it's ends did actually come very close to the springs. The ends certainly look similar to your bar.

So like Bruce has mentioned, this all point to the bar perhaps being aftermarket?

Missu · Member

cdnpont

Thank you so much for your extensive reply and photos

Seems like you have all nailed it - my Hubby called the guy he brought it from years ago and it seems like the Sway Bar WAS replaced and it is indeed an After Market Sway Bar !!!!

So here goes my next request / question :)

Is there any where in Canada he can get the proper Sway Bar, Brackets and D Bushes?? We have tried here in Australia but they are not the correct ones

If you can help that would be awesome and thank you ALL again for your help on this, it is very much appreciated

Karen x x x x

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

I have an original 13/16" bar (the small one). I would sell it for $10 if you are interested.

The 15/16" bar is not very easy to find. I now a wrecking yard that may have a 15/16" but it's a few hours away and I won't likely get there until fall.

I hate to think what shipping will cost!

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I'd just try to find a stock or the 15/16 F41 bar where you live.

There are a few Australian members here. Perhaps they could help you track one down. There certainly is a good following for the 65-70 chev and pontiac there. There must be more than a few unused bars available there. You just have to find the fight person.

Make an "Australia, 65-70 front stabilizer wanted". You never know..

A alternative would be to buy a pair of Energy greaseable bushings with the brackets. The number linked to is for a 15/16 (23.8mm) bar.

They do require one new hole be drilled right and left as the holes are not offset, but the potential to drill two new frame holes each side to move your bar forward might work.

I suspect your bar may by 1 1/8" or 28.5mm which you can buy the bushing for the Energy shell separately.

A third alternative would be to install the Energy bushings with one new hole per side, and dial the strut rods back until the bar end just clears the spring. You could also grind a wee tab off the contacting corner of that bar with no problem.

It was also mentioned here that perhaps a longer end link might could the bar up and off the spring.

All kinds of lengths are available. In fact, it would be pretty easy to fab up your own.

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I have an original 15/16" sway bar (blasted, primed & painted black) & new Moog K8258 bushings if you're interested.
I'm in Calgary Canada, and I suspect shipping would be prohibitive.

-- Edited by seventy2plus2 on Wednesday 1st of May 2024 10:45:12 PM

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I'm interested Clint...kidding.

hawkeye5766 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Is the sway bar in upside down??? No pun intended.....

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

hawkeye5766 wrote:
Is the sway bar in upside down??? No pun intended.....

It won't go in upside down.

LT1Caddy · Poncho Master!

I think it will.... The tip end should have a minor bend down to be in the correct way.