Should I replace sway bar bushings?
Q: When do I need to change my sway bar bushings? You may need to replace the bushings if you notice your vehicle is more sluggish when making turns. Or you may hear a clunking sound or squeaking noise underneath your vehicle.
Should you grease 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.”
How do you know if your bushings are bad?
Bushings act as a cushion between parts and control the amount of movement in the joints while reducing road noise, vibration, and harshness. Symptoms of worn bushings are clunking or scraping noises, uneven tire wear, and reduced handling and braking response.
How long do rubber bushings last?
Summary
| Polyurethane Suspension Bushings | Rubber Suspension Bushings | |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness | Harder and less pliable | Softer and more pliable |
| Lifespan | Life of vehicle | Same as original bushing |
| Squeaking | Small chance of squeaking | No chance of squeaking |
| Maintenance | Greasing every 4-5 years | None |
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.
What should I use to clean front sway bar?
Some vehicles, especially trucks, have mudguards or skid plates that have to be removed before you can get to the sway bar frame bushings. Clean and inspect the bar and mounts. Sandpaper or wire brush as needed to get them as clean as possible. Lightly grease the bar, bushings, and mounts.
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.
Why do suspension bushings need to be replaced?
For example, a loose stabilizer bar will allow more body lean (and perhaps noise) in turns, but if the bar isn’t bent or broken, maybe only the bushings need replacement.