I just replaced all the bushings in the front end with polyurethane bushings. How tight should the sway bar end link bushings be? The manual says to tighten the nut on top to a certain length, but that can't be accurate for these...the nuts are different, and the bushings are different thickness.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Rich

 

When sitting flat the bar should not be straining against the mounts, any effort should be created by the car changing angle.

 

The polys don't compress the same as the rubber ones. The rubber ones, I tighten until they squish to the diameter of the cup washer, similiar how one would do the upper bushings on the rear shocks.

On mine, I wrenched them down until the gaps were closed and the bushings were fully seated in the cups. Depending on how the car sets, I can still see a little gap occasionaly. Seems to work fine for me, no rattles.

 

Just crank 'em down. They don't really compress much, so its pretty hard to screw it up. If the bolt breaks off, then you'll know its too tight.

 

I agree the recomendation in the manual may not be accurate for the poly end links. I think I had about 3/4" of thread exposed beyond the nut until I felt happy. I took the same approach trochoid described. Seems to be fine.

 

Correct. They work better if there is no preload.

 

Should these bushings be greased? The front end squeaks now. I greased the bushings for the sway bar on the tension rod bracket, and I greased the bushings in the control arms, but did not grease the sway bar end link bushings.

Thanks,
Rich

 

Instructions with my parts showed NO GREASE required on end links; Must greas sway bar bushings.

 

I hate to ressurect this thread, but my question is related to the topic and I hate to clutter the forum with unneccesary threads.

Anyhoo, what would be the consequence of a sway bar that is over-tightened? Does that preload make the bar much stiffer?

 

One cannot change the bending modulous of the bar, it's fixed. Pre-loading the bushings will slightly reduce the compression response of them. You would notice more a difference with the rubber ones.