Should you lubricate sway bar bushings?
Should you lubricate sway bar bushings?
“No grease. The rubber bushing deforms to allow the sway bar to rotate, stretching like a rubber band and snapping back. This is the best way because it tries to return to the same position always. Grease it, allow it to slip, and the static position is constantly changing based on the direction of approach.”
What do you lubricate bushings with?
The best lubricants for rubber bushings are silicon based lubricants, white lithium grease or a particular rubber lubricant. You should be able to find these different lubricant types at any motor product store. Even polyurethane bushings should be lubricated with oil or petroleum based lubricants.
How do you replace a bushing on a front sway bar?
Slide a bushing and cup pair up the bolt with the bushing’s lip toward the bar. Slide the spacer onto the bolt. Place a bushing, and then a cup, on the lower control arm where the link goes through it and slide the bolt through it. The lip on the bushing faces the lower control arm.
How are sway bar links connected to MacPherson struts?
The switch to MacPherson struts required a change in how and where sway bar end links were connected. Confusing the matter even more, they connect upward to the MacPherson strut and are longer, or they connect to the lower control arm and are shorter.
Where are sway bars mounted on a car?
Just about any front or all-wheel drive vehicle will have a very similar procedure to install new bushings as sway bars are usually mounted just behind the front axle. Before we give you a few more quick tips, let’s talk about what a sway bar is: What is a sway bar? The sway bar on your vehicle reduces sway, hence the name.
What kind of sway bar links do I Need?
The lower image shows a type mainly found on vehicles equipped with MacPherson struts. Sway bar end links have undergone a design change as front suspension design has transformed. The switch to MacPherson struts required a change in how and where sway bar end links were connected.
How do you replace the bushing on a sway bar?
You may have to remove the sway bar end links to get the sway bar to move enough to replace the bushings grease the bushings properly with wheel bearing grease or another heavy-duty grease to keep them quiet. Make sure you tighten the bushing bolts completely. It should compress the bushing slightly giving you a nice quiet ride.
The switch to MacPherson struts required a change in how and where sway bar end links were connected. Confusing the matter even more, they connect upward to the MacPherson strut and are longer, or they connect to the lower control arm and are shorter.
How do you remove a sway bar link?
Depending on the make and model of your car, you may have only front sway bars links, or front and rear sway bar links. Step 7: Remove the lug nuts. Two lug nuts hold the sway bar link in place. Start by removing the upper nut first. This nut holds the most weight when the sway bar is at normal rest, so it tends to be the most problematic.
Where are the sway bars on a car?
Sway bars are usually located at the front of the car and are bolted to the suspension on your vehicle. Depending on the make and model of your car, you may have only front sway bars links, or front and rear sway bar links.
