DIY - Replacing Sway Bar Bushings

[yakuza]

DIY - Replace Sway Bar Bushings



1. Jack up the car

2. Remove front wheel(s)

3. Locate Sway bar and the 2 (12mm) bolts holding the bushings together.
Using a wrench and a socket, remove the top nut. The bushing assembly should "pop" loose. Pry off all the rubber bushings.

4. Get new bushings. See how much nicer they look compared to the old.




5. Reinstall in reverse order. Once you have the lower and middle 2 bushings in place, slide the long bolt from the bottom up.

6. Place a second jack, (I used my OEM scissor jack) under the lower control arm and jack it up until the sway bar bushing bolt pokes through the top bushing so you can twist on the top nut. Tighten everything up on the bushing, and let the lower control arm back down.



7. Put the wheel back on, and go to the next side.

[cpoups]

I just put some of the red ones on my van last week. Looks like you really cranked down the nut on the top. I would be scared of splitting a bushing.

[yakuza]

It needs to be tight. That's how my OEM ones were.

The bushings I got were the Urethane from Energy Suspension (94-97 Accord model).

[Robert]

Originally posted by cpoups
Looks like you really cranked down the nut on the top. I would be scared of splitting a bushing.

I have always cranked mine down til the nut stops.

[cpoups]

Ya I have the Energy too.

[veneodyssey]

hey excellent post. looks like it 'shouldn't' be so difficult to remove my old dried out and shredded sway end link bushings.

I've also got the energy ones waiting to be installed but in red. How did it feel for you guys that replaced them with the polyurethane ones? Big difference?

I don't know if it's going to be necessary but i also have the strut center bushings as well, do they really make that much of a difference overall?

Is there a need to dab a bit of grease on the bushings while doing the install?

[yakuza]

I didn't use any grease.

Suspension feels much better. I took a short drive immediately after installing and there is a much more firm feel going over bumps and in turns than with the old worn-out bushings.

I can't wait to do all of my control arms/ball joints next. That will complete my suspension maintenance (at least until I install air ride)...

[Nsxnext1]

[SoSideways]

Originally posted by yakuza
I didn't use any grease.

Suspension feels much better. I took a short drive immediately after installing and there is a much more firm feel going over bumps and in turns than with the old worn-out bushings.

I can't wait to do all of my control arms/ball joints next. That will complete my suspension maintenance (at least until I install air ride)...

When you do actual suspension bushings, grease those bushings, or else you will get bind and/or noises.

[veneodyssey]

thanks for the DIY instructions Yakuza. I had a friend put them in. The old ones were shredded beyond cookie crumb stage, hence, the constant rattling noise.
The feel is much better obviously but not as tight as I had imagined. At least these polyurethane ones will do their supposedly job without issues.

[Catterman]

Good job!

For another way, here is my write up.

http://www.raxtuning.com/Howto/Suspe...nkBushings.pdf

[maku]

Do you usually get a squeaking sound from the bushings when they are worn out?
I have a squeaking sound going on and I wondered if the sway bar bushings are to blame.

[yakuza]

Old dry-rotted bushings will squeak from all over the place.
Ball Joints are another noisy item if left unattended.

[HostileJava]

Again I don't mean to hijack your threads, just pointing out I also have a similar how to on my site:

http://raxtuning.com/Howto/Suspensio...nkBushings.pdf

[Henry]

I'm about to replace my sway bar bushings too along with all the other bushings in the Energy Hyperflex master kit,has anyone else done all these bushings?Any tips to get the job done without complications.Oh yeah,I'm also putting in Moog front lower ball joints and upper and rear SPC adjustable ball joints to get rid of my camber issue,alignment and new tires right after all this.Any tips or comments welcome,thanks!