1967 Sway-bar bushings

[Tom M.]

Does anyone know of a good way to get new bushings to take the shape of the brackets so you can install them with the correct bolts? Since the bushing is the same for the front and rear, I am sure someone must have a good way to do it.

Thanks,
Tom McCabe

[Joe L.]

Re: 1967 Sway-bar bushings

Tom-----

Use longer bolts to install and compress the bushings around the bar and into the u-shaped retainers. Then, remove the bolts one at a time and replace each with the "correct" bolts. Actually, the original bolts were a lot longer than they needed to be for this very reason. However, they are usually not long enough to do as described above.

[John H.]

Re: 1967 Sway-bar bushings

In the plant, the bolts were installed while a compression fixture clamped the U-bracket and rubber bushing tight against the frame; the frame was upside-down at the time.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1967 Sway-bar bushings

John-----

Thanks; that explains how they were able to install the bushings without using even longer bolts.

[Alan Drake]

Re: 1967 Sway-bar bushings

Just put new one's in. Started with longer bolts and compressed (not fully) then removed one. That let one end down to far so then used a small bottle jack with a short chisel to jack up the boltless end until I got the smaller (correct) bolt in place. May take a little more time but works just fine.

OH, if you are using a repro bolt kit the top nut on the long bolt is most likely .285 tall with rounded edges (just like a normal bolt) which is incorrect. That nut should be .340 tall with square edges. The long bolt is very close (not perfect) and usable.

[Tom M.]

Re: 1967 Sway-bar bushings

Thanks to all for the reply's will put in the correct bolts after the bushings have some time to take shape.

Tom McCabe