Swaybar bushings.

[John Purdy]

Thinking about greasable swaybar bushings. Front 32mm, rear 19mm. Pros and cons of using them and part numbers if possible for each.

 

[swshawaii]

Only benefits IMO. The Energy Suspension universal 9.5165G 1 1/4" fits well for the front. Black polyurethane is graphite impregnated to help prevent squeaks.

Stock rear brackets are stronger and the bolt spacing is wider. Adding zerks to the stock brackets may be a better option. (See Todd Z's linked project below)



http://www.energysuspensionparts.com/proddetail.asp?prod=9.5165

 

[swshawaii]

I removed the ES front brackets after a year and added 1/4-28 zerks to the OEM brackets. They aligned better and are a much heavier gauge.

Highly recommend using 65 degree angled zerks for the rear to clear the shocks. Also used them for the front brackets for easier access.

 

[Yardsale]

Pros: Easy to lube.

Cons: None.



As I recall, the front bushings are not grease-able and cannot be modified to make them so. They will have to be replaced with a grease-able bushing and bracket. The OEM front end link bushings are urethane, I believe.



<a href="http://energysuspension.com/products/Sway-Bar-End-Link-Bushings.html" target="_blank">Energy Suspension Sway Bar & End Link Bushings</a>

<a href="http://www.mysporttrac.com/mysporttrac/projects/GreasableFrontBushings/GreasableFrontBushings.htm" target="_blank">Greasable Front Sway Bar Bushings</a>



I believe the rear anti-sway bar bushings are rubber and also cannot be modified to be grease-able. You might as well replace them with grease-able urethane bushings and brackets. You'll have to verify whether your rear end link bushings are urethane; if they are, you're good. If they aren't, the redesigned OEM rear links are.



<a href="http://www.mysporttrac.com/MySportTrac/projects/SwayBarEndLinks/RearSwayBarEndlinksReplacementProject.htm" target="_blank">Rear Sway Bar End Link Replacement</a>



I followed Todd Z's project to add a grease ("zerk") fitting to the OEM rear anti-sway bar bushing brackets and add used the grease-able bushing that came with the Explorer Express bar.



<a href="http://www.mysporttrac.com/mysporttrac/projects/GreasableEEBushings/GreasableEEBushings.htm" target="_blank">Greasable EE Sway Bar Bushings</a>



Depending on your driving style and desire, consider replacing the rear anti-sway bar with one that's stiffer. If it's a 2WD, I highly recommend this; if a 4WD, there's a trade-off.



Explorer Express has a good rear anti-sway bar ans has Energy Suspension bushings, too. Part number: ZD5622. Bar is 1.125 dia. with Energy Suspension poly bushings.



<a href="http://www.explorerexpress.com/swaybars-0105-sport-trac-xspec-rear-sway-p-574.html" target="_balnk">Swaybars 01-05 Sport Trac X-Spec rear sway bar</a>

 

[swshawaii]

Sorry, forgot about the OEM rear bushing design. Replaced it long ago with a larger bar. The ES 4.5153G kit will work, but also includes end link parts you may not need.

Nice thing about the ES frame bushings is they are split and easily installed. No reason why it can't be drilled and used with a modified stock bracket with grease fittings.

 

[Yardsale]

There may be a reason they can't simply be drilled and used as a grease-able bushing - grease channels. Grease-able bushings have channels through which the grease flows around the bar. Without those, no, or reduced, flow.



[Broken External Image]:

 

[Yardsale]

http://s1207.photobucket.com/user/swshawaii/media/DSC04189-1.jpg.html



Sorry. This person moved or deleted this image.

 

[swshawaii]

Grease squeezes out all the way around the sway bar on both sides. Guess I got lucky. :grin: Image still there. Try again? Thanks Yardsale.

 

[swshawaii]

Don't know if it makes a difference that I packed the bushings completely before installing. They actually work much better than the ES universals did.

 

[swshawaii]

Yardsale



There may be a reason they can't simply be drilled and used as a grease-able bushing - grease channels. Grease-able bushings have channels through which the grease flows around the bar. Without those, no, or reduced, flow.

STOCK front sway bar frame bushings WITH grease channels.

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Stock front sway bar brackets with added zerk fittings. Grease DOES flow completely around the bar. Will post video while greasing if requested.

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