Properly sized front stabilizer (sway bar) bushings?

[Patrick H.]

In putting the 63 back together we ordered new bushings for the front stabilizer (sway) bar.
The bar measures 0.751 inches, and the bushings from Paragon have a hole measuring 0.6 inches with no slit in the bushing to actually be able to install it. There is no way these will work.

Does anyone make or sell a correctly sized and configured rubber bushing for this application?

[Joe L.]

Re: Properly sized front stabilizer (sway bar) bushings?

In putting the 63 back together we ordered new bushings for the front stabilizer (sway) bar.
The bar measures 0.751 inches, and the bushings from Paragon have a hole measuring 0.6 inches with no slit in the bushing to actually be able to install it. There is no way these will work.

Does anyone make or sell a correctly sized and configured rubber bushing for this application?

Patrick------

As long as the center hole is of the correct size, I think you could just slice the bushings with a sharp knife and create the slit necessary for installation. The center hole size is critical as the bushing must properly compress around the stabilizer shaft when the retainers are installed.

Otherwise, you could look for some NOS GM #3817573 bushings.

[Dan D.]

Re: Properly sized front stabilizer (sway bar) bushings?

Hi Patrick,

I just went through this with my 57. Don't know if C2s are the same or similar, but most 57 sway bars are 11/16s. I tried to sort by year and it did not work out. But Paragon lists a whole bunch of bushings, all by ID. I originally bought bushings from CC and they were the wrong size, and as you say, no split. So I sent them back and bought ones from Paragon, according to size, 11/16. They fit perfect.

However, be aware if you are going to have your car judged, all the replacements I found are polyethylene, not rubber, so they will not pass muster.

They tell you to grease them well first, which I did, they were split for assembly, and the u-clamps seemed to compress them as there is no play in the bar, but the bar is free to rotate.

Check the ones for C!s and see if they look the same. This might be your best bet, as I don't think you are going to find rubber ones, but it certainly is worth a try. Were the ones you got from Paragon rubber - or polyethylene?

Dannn

[Joe L.]

Re: Properly sized front stabilizer (sway bar) bushings?

However, be aware if you are going to have your car judged, all the replacements I found are polyethylene, not rubber, so they will not pass muster.

They tell you to grease them well first, which I did, they were split for assembly, and the u-clamps seemed to compress them as there is no play in the bar, but the bar is free to rotate.

Check the ones for C!s and see if they look the same. This might be your best bet, as I don't think you are going to find rubber ones, but it certainly is worth a try. Were the ones you got from Paragon rubber - or polyethylene?

Dannn

Dan-------


The bar should not rotate within the bushings. That's not how the system is designed. That's why the ID of the bushings is critical.

As far as polyurethane bushings, I would not even consider using them. Rubber bushings for C1, C2, or C3 are easy to find.

[Dan D.]

Re: Properly sized front stabilizer (sway bar) bushings?

Okay, thanks Joe for the clarification. This means that just about everything our suppliers are selling is incorrect.

If I can find rubber bushings I will remove what I have and install the rubber. I was just unable to find rubber in 11/16 is all. I think Paragon listed some rubber, but not in 11/16.

Out of curiosity, what effect will the bar rotating in the bushings have on the handling, or something else with with car? The bar will still 'wind up' on uneven tire elevations. They will be more apt to wear, and they wont absorb shock loading like the rubber will.

Dannnn

p.s. Sorry for the typo on 'Polyurethane'

[Leif A.]

Re: Properly sized front stabilizer (sway bar) bushings?

Zip has the correct rubber front sway bar bushings for both standard and heavy duty suspension. They list the standard as 5/8"...

https://www.zip-corvette.com/53-59-front-sway-bar-frame-bushings-5-8in-sway-bar.html

[Michael M.]

Re: Properly sized front stabilizer (sway bar) bushings?

Like Joe said GM #3817573. Here is what a NOS pair looks like.

[Dan D.]

Re: Properly sized front stabilizer (sway bar) bushings?

Dan-------


The bar should not rotate within the bushings. That's not how the system is designed. That's why the ID of the bushings is critical.

As far as polyurethane bushings, I would not even consider using them. Rubber bushings for C1, C2, or C3 are easy to find.

Hi Joe,

Just to tell what I did, is in January I bought what was supposed to be correct (except for the Poly) bushings from Zip. Well, they measured 5/8, were not split, did not have the 4 'feet' on the bottom, and it looked like the OD was too big for the U-clamps. I figured it would be impossible to make them work, so I sent them back. They may be the same ones that Leif posted.

In February I found 11/16 bushings (Poly again) at Paragon but it looked like they would work, so I bought them. They were 11/16, they were split, had the feet, installed very easily, and I thought life was good.

But I understand what you say about them locking onto the bar, and I agree with you.

Looking at the Zip bushings that Leif posted, it does not look like they have the bottom feet, which I am sure is to prevent them from rotating. But other than that they may be good.

So my question is, does it look like 5/8 is the correct diameter, and will they compress .063? It sounds right, but I have the feeling they will be hard to install, given that rubber has a high coefficient of friction when being compressed. Perhaps using a temporary rubber lubricant or soapy water is the secret to installing them. Getting the U-clamps on would probably be the difficult part.

I would think that the correct way to install them would be to have the car sitting on all 4s, on its own weight, and with the links installed, so the bushings are not under any torsional pre-load when the car is at rest, but the bushings can 'wind up' in both directions when being driven. Does this sound correct to you?

(Patrick, I do not mean to high-jack your posting, but this may be beneficial for both of us).

There doesn't seem to be any ending to the product knowledge that these cars were designed to, and the difficulty they seem to give us when trying to keep them running.

Dannn

[Leif A.]

Re: Properly sized front stabilizer (sway bar) bushings?

Hi Joe,

Just to tell what I did, is in January I bought what was supposed to be correct (except for the Poly) bushings from Zip. Well, they measured 5/8, were not split, did not have the 4 'feet' on the bottom, and it looked like the OD was too big for the U-clamps. I figured it would be impossible to make them work, so I sent them back. They may be the same ones that Leif posted.

In February I found 11/16 bushings (Poly again) at Paragon but it looked like they would work, so I bought them. They were 11/16, they were split, had the feet, installed very easily, and I thought life was good.

But I understand what you say about them locking onto the bar, and I agree with you.

Looking at the Zip bushings that Leif posted, it does not look like they have the bottom feet, which I am sure is to prevent them from rotating. But other than that they may be good.

So my question is, does it look like 5/8 is the correct diameter, and will they compress .063? It sounds right, but I have the feeling they will be hard to install, given that rubber has a high coefficient of friction when being compressed. Perhaps using a temporary rubber lubricant or soapy water is the secret to installing them. Getting the U-clamps on would probably be the difficult part.

I would think that the correct way to install them would be to have the car sitting on all 4s, on its own weight, and with the links installed, so the bushings are not under any torsional pre-load when the car is at rest, but the bushings can 'wind up' in both directions when being driven. Does this sound correct to you?

(Patrick, I do not mean to high-jack your posting, but this may be beneficial for both of us).

There doesn't seem to be any ending to the product knowledge that these cars were designed to, and the difficulty they seem to give us when trying to keep them running.

Dannn

Dan,
That is exactly how I installed my rubber link bushings...really not that hard, at all. One recommendation would be to get four bolts that are 1/4" - 3/8 " longer for the u-clamps so that you can more easily compress the new bushing. Once all four longer bolts are snugged down, remove the longer bolts one at a time and install the correct length, original bolt.