Front sway bar

[Mel S.]

Putting new polyurethane bushings in the front sway bar of my 66. The package state to lubricate the bushings before installing but does not specify what to use. Does anyone know what kind of lube to use?
Thanks
Mel

[Jim S.]

Re: Front sway bar

Putting new polyurethane bushings in the front sway bar of my 66. The package state to lubricate the bushings before installing but does not specify what to use. Does anyone know what kind of lube to use?
Thanks
Mel

Curious, why did you decide to use polyurethane?

[Mel S.]

Re: Front sway bar

Curious, why did you decide to use polyurethane?

Just wanted to.
Mel

[Michael M.]

Re: Front sway bar

Amsoil makes a good heavy duty synthetic grease that is moly fortified.

[Joe L.]

Re: Front sway bar

Mel------


I don't recommend urethane, at all, especially for sway bar bushings.

[Alan D.]

Re: Front sway bar

Second Joe! Unless you are racing do not use.

[Mel S.]

Re: Front sway bar

Second Joe! Unless you are racing do not use.

Why do you not recommend them?

[Joe R.]

Re: Front sway bar

Joe and others don't recommend them because they are of no use for anything however they will last longer then rubber. They also make noise, transfer vibration thru the Corvette and don't make your Corvette drive better and maybe even worse.

JR

[Duke W.]

Re: Front sway bar

The pillow block bushings or link bushings? My recommendation, based on experience, is to only replace the rubber link bushings with polyurethane. Keep the OE type rubber pillow block bushings.

Hard link bushings will mitigate the transition to oversteer at the limit of adhesion or when you lift off the throttle. The problem is that the rubber link bushings compress at high lateral g, which reduces front the roll stiffness. This effectively increases rear roll stiffness distribution, which will alter the balance from mild understeer to oversteer.

It's also critical to having proper rear toe-in, with the total SPLIT EQUALLY BETWEEN BOTH SIDES!

Clean and smooth the machined bushing wells in the bar and same with the steel retainers. Any "EP" type chassis/wheel bearing grease should do fine. If they start squeaking it's time to clean and regrease.

See the nearby thread on the fastener installation sequence.

Duke

[Mel S.]

Re: Front sway bar

thanks for the info
Mel

[Michael M.]

Re: Front sway bar

If you want to update and improve your suspensions performance use the polyurethane bushings. I have been using them for years without them failing or making noise in any way. Consider the replacement a upgrade from rubber. Just make sure you grease them and you good to go.