Rear stabilizer bar bushing

[G A.]

Might someone out there have an NOS example or possibly the design dimensions ?
I have received a pair, purported to be GM NOS for a 69. However, the bushing is 13/16 of an inch taller than the bracket. I know there is some crush involved, but this seem excessive.

Dan

[Larry M.]

Re: Rear stabilizer bar bushing

Dan,

When I put new bushings on our car, they were significantly outside of the bracket dimensions.

I was able to mount them by a basically redundant process - I began mounting the bracket with caps screws much longer than what would ultimately be used in order to catch the threads to tighten the bracket down. First a long screw in one hole, then a long screw in the other hole, until the bracket had partially crushed the bushing.

I then backed out the first screw, and with the bracket/bushing maintaining it's partially crushed/seated position, replaced it with the shorter screw needed, and ran that one side down all the way. I then removed the second long screw and replaced it with another short one, and ran that side fully down.

Unless you have a significantly different situation than I had, this process may work for you. Good luck.

Larry

[Joe L.]

Re: Rear stabilizer bar bushing

Might someone out there have an NOS example or possibly the design dimensions ?
I have received a pair, purported to be GM NOS for a 69. However, the bushing is 13/16 of an inch taller than the bracket. I know there is some crush involved, but this seem excessive.

Dan

Dan------

There were actually 3 different bushings available in SERVICE over the years. The original bushing, PRODUCTION and SERVICE, used for 1968-74 applications was GM #3923675. That bushing was discontinued in February, 1975 and replaced by GM #480912. The latter was discontinued in September, 1977 and replaced by GM #481432 which remains available to this very day for about 9 bucks, GM list.

I don't know what the difference was among the above-referenced bushings. However, any of them should work just fine. Be advised that the bushing must fit TIGHTLY around the bar and needs to be seriously compressed into the bushing retainer. If these things don't happen, the bushing will be useless. Install the bushings as Larry suggests and you'll have no problems.

[Duke W.]

Re: Rear stabilizer bar bushing

Dan------

Be advised that the bushing must fit TIGHTLY around the bar and needs to be seriously compressed into the bushing retainer. If these things don't happen, the bushing will be useless. Install the bushings as Larry suggests and you'll have no problems.

Anti-roll bar pillow block bushings work the same as other suspension bushings. The bar rotates a slight amount in service, and all this strain is taken up be deformation of the rubber bushing. That's why it has to fit tight. If there was any relative motion between the bar and ID of the bushing, the bushing would rapidly wear out.

Duke

[G A.]

Re: Rear stabilizer bar bushing

Larry, Joe and Duke, I wanted to thank you guys for the information and your experience, all were very helpful. There is one other fellow who was also helpful, Horace, thank you as well.

I ended up boiling the the bushings for 5 minutes before installing them. They crushed with ease. Once tightened and torqued, the bushings resemble Louis Armstrong at full blow.

Work has kept me away from the car for a little more than a year. It's nice to be back. I really appreciate the wisdom and knowledge you guys have, thanks again!!

Dan