Swaybar Bushing Upgrade
- Thread starter CJ3Flyr
- Start date
Iowa4Runner
New member
Nobody wanted my old 21mm swaybar so I decided to cut it to see why it seemed so light. It turns out these have a wall thickness of only ~2.8mm. I realize the stiffness is exponentially proportional to the radius but still, this seems a bit flimsy. The Addco 22mm felt noticably heavier and I don't think it's all due to the slight increase in OD...
foyaboya
New member
So I'm guessing Iowa4Runner is happy with the Addco Swaybar? I have a 99' and I'm really debating whether to go with entire new swaybar kit front and back (expensive) or just doing the bushings (cheaper). My 4Runner has 240k + miles and sways bad...I wonder if the stock swaybars are "worn out" if that's possible. Anyone think the swaybar itself needs replacing? I have gotten under and can see the busings are shot to he**! So perhaps just replacing those with greasable ones and replacing the links will do the trick...any feedback will be great! :lookout:
CJ3Flyr
Super Moderator
Due to the $$$ I would try just the bushings first. If your bushings are OE and look like crap I'm sure you'll notice an improvement with new ones.
IMHO swaybars can 'wear out' to an extent (not as much as springs but to a minor extent) just as springs sag and get soft over time.
A couple of good reads for your 3rd gen:
Toyota 4Runner Handling Modifications Sway Bars Energy Suspensions
Toyota 4Runner Handling Modifications Addco Sway Roll Bars
:cheers:
Last edited:
Iowa4Runner
New member
Yeah I'm happy with my setup, the only trouble is I'm not sure how much of the improvement to attribute to the bushings and how much is the new sway bar. I'm not sure a sway bar can wear out unless the modulus of elasticity of the material changes. It's different than a spring application. At any rate I second CJ3Flyr's thought to try replacing the bushings first and see how you like it.
Front and rear sway-bar bushings upgraded with greasable prothane x1186 and x1162 part numbers. 30mm front, 19mm back. 2007, 4wd,V6.
Install was painless.
My only complaint is that I bought some 90 degree zerks to swap out the straight ones on the fronts. The zerks provided were barely screwed in, maybe epoxied or a cheap weld. To get the new zerks to stay put, I had to epoxy them in. If they don't hold I will send them back and leave the straight ones on.
Road test tomorrow.
Install was painless.
My only complaint is that I bought some 90 degree zerks to swap out the straight ones on the fronts. The zerks provided were barely screwed in, maybe epoxied or a cheap weld. To get the new zerks to stay put, I had to epoxy them in. If they don't hold I will send them back and leave the straight ones on.
Road test tomorrow.
Iowa4Runner
New member
On dry relatively smooth roads my 'Runner handles great for an SUV. It's very predictable, there's nothing twitchy or funky about the way it takes hard corners. In the wet it's got a fair amount of understeer, but it has always had that. I haven't been in the snow yet but I don't imagine the bushing / sway bar upgrade will change it much.
Summit. Great Customer Service:
Response (Dale) 10/10/2010 03:46 PM
Pete,
We're sorry for the inconvenience caused by the broken zerk fittings. We don't have the bushings in stock, so we'll contact Prothane to ship them directly to you from their warehouse. Please dispose of the broken bushings locally. The low dollar amount makes them not worth the return shipping cost.
We appreciate your business.
Thank you,
Summit Racing Equipment
Customer (Pete) 10/09/2010 08:13 PM
I recently purchased a set of Prothane greasable swaybar bushings (19-1186 30mm). After installation, I attempted to grease the bushings using the zerk fittings. Both broke free and came loose.
Since I have already installed them, I was hoping you could send me a replacement set and I will return the defective bushings after the reinstall. This will save me a lot of time.
Thanks for any help you can provide.
Pete
Response (Dale) 10/10/2010 03:46 PM
Pete,
We're sorry for the inconvenience caused by the broken zerk fittings. We don't have the bushings in stock, so we'll contact Prothane to ship them directly to you from their warehouse. Please dispose of the broken bushings locally. The low dollar amount makes them not worth the return shipping cost.
We appreciate your business.
Thank you,
Summit Racing Equipment
Customer (Pete) 10/09/2010 08:13 PM
I recently purchased a set of Prothane greasable swaybar bushings (19-1186 30mm). After installation, I attempted to grease the bushings using the zerk fittings. Both broke free and came loose.
Since I have already installed them, I was hoping you could send me a replacement set and I will return the defective bushings after the reinstall. This will save me a lot of time.
Thanks for any help you can provide.
Pete
foyaboya
New member
Thanks Chris I refer to J.A.'s page all the time, i had not seen that he replaced the Addco swaybar bushings with Energy Suspension good to know i will definitely go with those then. :thanks:
00328
Senior Member
Bringing this back from the dead!
Been reading this thread with a lot of interest and feel its a worthwhile upgrade since I'm sure mine have probably degraded some in the 6 years I've owned it. I know most seem to be getting the greaseable bushings and I'm just not sure I see the practicality of greaseable bushings. In the 6 years I've owned my runner I've never heard one squeek from the OEM bushings and never greased them.
Why would I get the greaseables vs the non-greaseables? Seems to be a fix for something that doesn't need it. What am I missing? Are the polys more prone to squeeking over time? I don't get it.
Been reading this thread with a lot of interest and feel its a worthwhile upgrade since I'm sure mine have probably degraded some in the 6 years I've owned it. I know most seem to be getting the greaseable bushings and I'm just not sure I see the practicality of greaseable bushings. In the 6 years I've owned my runner I've never heard one squeek from the OEM bushings and never greased them.
Why would I get the greaseables vs the non-greaseables? Seems to be a fix for something that doesn't need it. What am I missing? Are the polys more prone to squeeking over time? I don't get it.
message
Member
Polyurethane pushing will squeak bad if they are installed dry. As for needing greasable versus non-greasable this is not required. You can apply a thin coating of grease upon install that will last for years.
I should note that the bushing that squeak are the centers not the end links.
Another option would be to get polygraphite (graphite impregnated polyurethane) and never worry about having to grease them. I think PST is the only company out there that makes polygraphite.
Makes me want to get a set for my 4runner now as well.
I should note that the bushing that squeak are the centers not the end links.
Another option would be to get polygraphite (graphite impregnated polyurethane) and never worry about having to grease them. I think PST is the only company out there that makes polygraphite.
Makes me want to get a set for my 4runner now as well.
message
Member
I contacted PST to see if they offer just polygraphite sway bar bushings for the 4runner. They said they do not despite offering a 4th gen full sway bar kit??? Performance Suspension Technology - TOYOTA - 4 Runner 1988-07
I still think a set of universal bushings would work the same way the energy suspension brand ones do... Just have to do some measuring to make sure.
I still think a set of universal bushings would work the same way the energy suspension brand ones do... Just have to do some measuring to make sure.
2003-4x4runner
New member
Does any one know the difference between the Black Greaseable Sway Bar Bushings and the Red ones (besides the cost) Has any body had any issues with the Greaseable bushings besides pmdata ?
Whitebeauty
New member
Hey everyone. I still have the extra sway bar end link bushings up for grabs...they r the energy suspension in red.. 12 bucks shipped.
Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but are the F/R sway bars and rear end-links the only bushings I need to replace? What about Upper/Lower control arms? Are they a different animal altogether? Finally, is there a difference between Prothane and Energy, or is it all the same?
Thanks for the information.
Thanks for the information.
talonjade
New member
Its done
Ok, so here is how it worked out for me:
2003 V8 Sport 104,000Mi with X-REAS and factory ride... she is bouncy with body roll.
I feel like my car is a perfect control for this project.
WOW what can I say! Big improvement over stock bushings. when I take a turn that would normally result in body roll, it leans the same but it FEELS and handles tight!
As already stated if your suspension is not as worn as mine you will probably not notice as big a difference. But I certainly did notice how much better the Prothane are!
I had one bad Zerk end and need to replace it, good news is that its the one that needs to be converted to the 90.deg angle (Rear bushing by gas tank) anyway.
:nicethread:
Ok, so here is how it worked out for me:
2003 V8 Sport 104,000Mi with X-REAS and factory ride... she is bouncy with body roll.
I feel like my car is a perfect control for this project.
WOW what can I say! Big improvement over stock bushings. when I take a turn that would normally result in body roll, it leans the same but it FEELS and handles tight!
As already stated if your suspension is not as worn as mine you will probably not notice as big a difference. But I certainly did notice how much better the Prothane are!
I had one bad Zerk end and need to replace it, good news is that its the one that needs to be converted to the 90.deg angle (Rear bushing by gas tank) anyway.
:nicethread:
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