[Guest]

Hi,

I installed new rear sw

Hi,

I installed new rear sway bar bushings on my '77 308 GTB last month (I got OEM bushings from a reputable source). I drove the car three times since then.

Today, I noticed both D-bushings are split just under where the bar enters them! They are split radially from the bottom of the bar to the bushing bracket (D-clamp). The bushings fit well over the bar so I figured I received the right ones! The radius of my D-clamps, however, is slightly different (a little "squarer") than the D-bushings round radius. When tightened the bushing did conform to the clamp. My clamps are original.

What do you think happened? Wrong bushings? Weird if the new bushings were bad - never encountered bushing failure!

Thanks in advance,

Anthony

 

[Guest]

Hi,

Did anyone ever encount

Hi,

Did anyone ever encounter this before?

Thanks,

Anthony

 

[Guest]

How much movement is there in

How much movement is there in the rod, going through the bushing, between the FULL suspension travel? This would be from the car sitting on the ground to when the wheels are off the ground (car is raised on a hoist).

 

[Guest]

Hi,

I am not sure as I did

Hi,

I am not sure as I did not check this - I'll jack up the car to see.....I just had my half-shaft seals changed...is the suspension unbolted during this process causing the A-arm to swing downward?

The splits in the new bushings occured on the outboard sides.

Thanks,
Anthony

 

[Guest]

The final tightening, of any b

The final tightening, of any bushing, should always be done where the position of the bushing, in relation to the "bushed" part, remains most often........namely when the car is on the ground.

With the bushing(s) in place, and the car is on a lift, the suspension is raised accordingly, and the bushing is tightened down.

If the bushing is tightened, with the suspension lowered, the bushing gets more radial stress as the suspension raises, as the car is brought down off the lift. Here it is under constant stress, without even driving the car.....now go over a bump, and the stress REALLY increases on the bushing(s).

Does this make any sense?

 

[Guest]

yes, Henry it does - when I in

yes, Henry it does - when I installed them, the car was on the ground - I am not sure if the mechanic removed the bar when he did the half-shaft seals......I just put new ones on, so I'll see what happens this time........

Thanks,

Anthony

 

[Guest]

And people tell me my cars are

And people tell me my cars are worth less, because I do most of the work on them myself!!!!!!!!!!!!.......and NOT by some "qualified" mechanic, whatever that means!!!! Where I live.....I am the best!!!!

BTW: When I removed my half-shafts, I found it easier to get out, with the A-frames disconnected, at the outer portions.

 

[Guest]

Anthony,

Henry is right on

Anthony,

Henry is right on the money...pertaining to the tightening of the sway bar hardware. For that matter, all suspension components are to be tighten with the vehicle at "ride height".

When I finished the suspension rebuild on my BB (which was done on a lift), I lowered the car so it was sitting on four jack stands under the suspension carriers. At this point, the lower control arms are near parallel to the ground....and then tightened all the suspension hardware to specs. As for the swat bar links and bushings...I coat them with silicone grease upon installation, to ensure that they slide into their "normal" rest position while tightening...

Regards,
David

 

[Guest]

This may sound stupid, but I &

This may sound stupid, but I 've installed sway bar bushings on another car, a Fiero, which were designed that way--ie , slit to fit over the sway bar. Could these bushings have also been designed this way ?

 

[Guest]

Bill,

No question on this b

Bill,

No question on this board is ever stupid....

Virtually all sway bar mounting bushings have some sort of slit in them to ease in their installation. However, on Anthony's installation, it would appear that the bushings developed an addition slit (crack) along the bottom side of the bushing...

Most Ferrari sway bar mounting bushings have a single horizontal slit in them. Anthony ended up with two slits per bush...after a period of time.

Regards,
David

 

[Guest]

Hi,

I'll post a pic of

Hi,

I'll post a pic of the sway bar on the car with the "new" split!

Anthony

 

[Guest]

....here is a pic......

Ant

....here is a pic......

Anthony

 

[Guest]

The bracket or clamp appears t

The bracket or clamp appears to be "flattened" from impact damage (bottoming?)...and that may account for the mismatch between it and the bushing...