C3 Stabilizer Bar Bushings

[Michael B.]

I've been trying to find rubber replacement bushings for my 77 with what appears to be the standard suspension for an L48 (7/8"). On ordering from a couple local part shops using Moog/TRW I have ended up with several variation on the part but none that fit correctly. The Moog/TRW part was too tall and narrow for the brace.

As I understand it the part may no longer be made by GM but is made for GM by Spicer. In ordering the Spicer part I ended up with a part that had ridges at the sides; totally wrong.

When I look at any of the various corvette catalogues they appear to have the correct part but it seems strange that these companies would not. Does anyone have experience having ordered the aftermarket parts with any luck; which part numbers did you get??? I'll gladly use the GM part but if the people making the part for GM don't have it right does GM at this point??

Thanks in advance Suspension Experts.

Michael Baranowsky

[Joe L.]

Re: C3 Stabilizer Bar Bushings

Michael-----

I suggest that you purchase one of two bushings:

1) Dr. Rebuild part number 7240218

2) GM #3923674 (still available from GM)

Either of the above are about 6 bucks each and will work perfectly for you.

Yes, either of the above will APPEAR to be too long and either of the above will APPEAR to be too narrow to "fill" the bushing retainer. That's because the bushings must be COMPRESSED INTO the bushing retainer. To do this, you install the bushing on the stabilizer bar, install the bushing into the bushing retainer and then use the 2 bolts for each retainer to pull the retainer up onto the frame rail and compress the bushing into the retainer. When you're done, the bushing will fill the retainer quite well and will fit TIGHTLY around the bar as it MUST.

The stock bushing retainer bolts are extra long for this very purpose. However, if they're not long enough, switch to longer bolts of the all-thread variety so that you have enough length to engage the threads of the weld nuts while the bushing retainer is still well off the frame rail. After you get the bushings compressed down into the retainers, you can remove the bolts (ONE AT A TIME) and replace with the original bolts.

[Tom R.]

Re: C3 Stabilizer Bar Bushings

Michael:

While browsing vendors at Carlisle, I stopped at a vendor's sway bar rubber bushing selection and was struck at the variation between stock and heavy duty for both FE7 (75-82) era and F41 era (65-69). I find it hard to believe that the lowest HP output engines were equipped with monster sway bars. In contrast those big block HP monsters were equipped with puny little bars.

I did a picture showing all four bushings next to each other if you are interested in seeing the comparison...all of this which is aside from your question for the 77 base bar. Just FYI stuff.

[Michael B.]

Re: C3 Stabilizer Bar Bushings

Tom,

I think what I'd be curious about is why the catalogue photo's would be the correct size where the rubber are not. I suspect this is because photo's are probably of poly bushings which would not get compressed.

And Joe, Thanks for the data.

Michael B.