Joined: Thu Nov 24 2005, 07:29PM
Location: So Cal.
Posts: 1111
I bought new bushings for my sway bar bracket links before I realized the only way to replace them is to drill out the weld holding the bracket together! What kind of whacked out engineer designed that part of our otherwise well built cars?
Are there any aftermarket sway bar links available that BOLT together? Mine are bent too, as it turns out.
...bet I could design some and have them machined. Is there a market for that?
Try contacting PST or Addco. I have an aftermarket sway bar from PST which I think is an Addco, and the links bolt together. Pretty sure their bar is the same shape. I have a factory bar on a parts car, but haven't pulled it off yet to compare.
Joined: Sat Oct 22 2005, 07:55PM
Location: ILLINOIS
Posts: 63
TOSS THE FACTORY SWAY BAR AND GET ONE FROM PST WITH POLY BUSHINGS. BOLTS ON WITH STRONGER AND BETTER DESIGN THAN FACTORY SET UP. ON MY CAR I FIRST DID THE BUSHINGS ON THE FACTORY BAR WHAT A CROCK OF THAT WAS. I BOUGHT THE BUSHINGS FROM JUST SUSPENSION,WHICH WERE OF LOW QUALITY AND OVERPRICED. IT SEEMS EVERTHING JUST SUSPENSION SELLS IS OVERPRICED. THE BUSHINGS WORE OUT QUICK. SO I GOT ONE FROM PST BOLTS ON GOOD AND WITH POLY BUSHINGS IT SHOULD LAST A LONG TIME. <span class='smallblacktext'>[ Edited Sat Feb 11 2006, 02:55PM ]</span>
Joined: Mon Oct 10 2005, 10:29AM
Location: Metamora, MI 48455
Posts: 43
When I replaced mine, I drilled out the weld, replaced the busing and put a bolt through the bracket to hold it together. Has worked just fine for 5 years now with nary a problem...
Joined: Thu Nov 24 2005, 07:29PM
Location: So Cal.
Posts: 1111
Moparman, that is what I thought I was going to do but you know, a thick PST bar is really tempting me and would make the car a lot nicer to handle. Right now it really does feel like a land yacht!
So long as the new sway bar comes with those bar to frame links (thick ones I hope) that's a bonus.
I had a friend following behind me one day when I took a left hand turn with some "spirit" and he said the left front wheel was almost off the ground. Only the very inside edge of the tire was touching. Let me tell you, from inside the car I was wondering if it HAD lifted!!! From that, and another time when a co-worker said he was behind me on the way to work, he said on the corners the car leans rediculously... A PST bar helped my '65 Bonneville significantly so I think that's how I am going to roll with this one.
For the cost, I would be seriuosly considering upgrading to the new bar. The new links do look quite a bit heavier than the stock ones on my 70 parts car. And as you mentioned, the bar is thicker.
I rebuilt the front end of the car about 15yrs ago, and I remember it handled a lot better, but still had alot of roll. When I rebuilt it last year during restofication, it was done about the same except we added frame connectors and the front sway bar. There is almost NO body roll now! It corners like my 2000 Intrepid!!! I had originally considered adding the rear sway, but I really don't feel it needs it.
Joined: Sat Oct 22 2005, 07:55PM
Location: ILLINOIS
Posts: 63
WHAT WAS BAD ABOUT THE STOCK BUSHINGS FOM JUST SUSPENSION, WAS THE BUSHINGS THEY SUPPLIED FOR LINKS TO THE FRAME. THEY LOOKED LIKE UPPER SHOCK BUSHINGS, THEY WHERE JUST A BIT BIGGER THAN THE HOLE IN THE FRAME MOUNT, FIT LIKE CRAP, WAS NOTHING LIKE THE FACTORY BUSHINGS THAT WHERE ON THE CAR. THE ONES THAT WHERE ON THE CAR WHERE ONE PIECE AND MUCH BEEFIER.THE ONES THAT ATTACH TO STRUT RODS AND THE ONES THAT ATTATCH THE SWAY BAR TO THE LINKS WHERE DECENT.