Worst luck ever during sway bar bushing replacement

[Rocky5000100]

So I diagnosed my suspension squeak to the crack front sway bar bushings.

I planned on replacing the sway bar and end link bushings, since they looked bad too:



Simple enough. I ordered a set of Energy Suspension bushings for $11 for a 2002 4runner (or so I thought.

I jacked up the 4runner and pulled off the right front wheel and found this:



Okay...Looks like I need to order a new end link for the right side.

Well, I figure I can still do the left side at this point, so I pull the left tire off and start taking of the nut for the end link.

Then it breaks off:



Okay...looks like I need two end links now. I figure I can AT LEAST replace the big bushings that are on the sway bar.

I spend forever getting off the rusty bolts that hold the sway bar bracket in.

I pull out the cracked one:



Grease up the new one and try to fit it on. But guess what?! It's too big.

I was shipped the 27mm one, and I guess I will need the 26mm one? Can anyone confirm this?

It won't fit in correctly:



So I now have a disconnected sway bar. Don't notice any difference than before, then again only one side was connected!

 

[Rocky5000100]

How are these Moog Sway bar link replacements?

More Information for MOOG K90681

Or these Deeza ones?

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=1402751&cc=1388707

 

[PitbullRescuer]

I've used the Deeza ones before, seem like pretty good parts.

Also, did you try fitting the bushing with the actual sway bar in it? Try that before you buy new bushings.

 

[SubAlpine]

I had the same issue. Bushings were too small, got new ones all sorted out. End link bolt sheared off too. Easy fix dude. that is not even close to bad luck. My moog end links were 20 each, and seek HQ. Like that they are greaseable.

 

[afg10000]

Pulled my invoice from last fall from ES.
Part # 9.5161
Universal-greaseable Sway Bar Bushings 1in/25mm
They came with new brackets as well. This was for my '96 and fit perfect. I believe Toyota did change the sizes of the sway bars at some point.

 

[Rocky5000100]

I've used the Deeza ones before, seem like pretty good parts.

Also, did you try fitting the bushing with the actual sway bar in it? Try that before you buy new bushings.

Yea, I couldn't fit the bracket over once they were on the bar.

I even compared them to the old ones, and the old diameter was smaller.

I had the same issue. Bushings were too small, got new ones all sorted out. End link bolt sheared off too. Easy fix dude. that is not even close to bad luck. My moog end links were 20 each, and seek HQ. Like that they are greaseable.

Do you remember if you got the 26mm or the 25mm?

AFG10000 says he got the 25mm ones, which I think would work

Pulled my invoice from last fall from ES.
Part # 9.5161
Universal-greaseable Sway Bar Bushings 1in/25mm
They came with new brackets as well. This was for my '96 and fit perfect. I believe Toyota did change the sizes of the sway bars at some point.

Yea I've heard that they might have done that which makes this even more confusing haha.

 

[afg10000]

I just called ES when I needed clarity before ordering. They were always very helpful. I've got ES bushings all the way around on my '96 and am going to be ordering steering rack bushings for the '01 tomorrow. I love 'em and don't have any squeaky noises like some folks say. You can somewhat check the diameter of the sway bar with the open end of a wrench. They've got a little tutorial on their site to help -

 

[Rocky5000100]

I just called ES when I needed clarity before ordering. They were always very helpful. I've got ES bushings all the way around on my '96 and am going to be ordering steering rack bushings for the '01 tomorrow. I love 'em and don't have any squeaky noises like some folks say. You can somewhat check the diameter of the sway bar with the open end of a wrench. They've got a little tutorial on their site to help -

Ah great! I will go ahead and measure it. After some more searching I see I wasn't the first person to have the problem with ordering the wrong size.

 

[01thunder]

to my surprise, my 01 has some really thin bars. i was going to replace the bushings but i can't because that size isn't available. i guess i will have to find bigger bars and swap.

 

[snivilous]

to my surprise, my 01 has some really thin bars. i was going to replace the bushings but i can't because that size isn't available. i guess i will have to find bigger bars and swap.

There's bushings for it. I'll need to figure out what mine are if you want to know, but they are definitely out there.

And why not just remove the front sway bar? I had one side become disconnected and bent, and was going to fix it but didn't get around to it. It handles better, not much most of the time but speed bumps you can really tell there is no cross talk and I can't tell any bad affects of it removed so I just pulled it instead of fixing it. I mean you have the rear sway bar already, and if you are lifted you probably have stiffer springs to help already. Food for thought.

 

[white_n_slow]

If you live in wisconsin, I think the most effective tool for a job like this is:

FWIW, I recently helped my buddy install a complete ES bushing kit for the rear of his Tundra (leaf spring bushings, shackle bushings) and ALL of the bushings were oversized. Even with a shop press, we couldn't get them to fully seat and ended up having to cut off portions to get the springs back on the truck. Somebody needs to send them a nasty letter about bushings that actually fit where they're supposed to go. I think "close enough" is the mantra at ES.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

I've used ES bushings in the swaybars and steering rack in two of my 4Runners, never had an issue with fit.

 

[Rocky5000100]

Finally installed the Parts.

I got the 26mm Prothane bushings from Amazon
Amazon.com: Prothane 18-1115 Red 26 mm Front Sway Bar Bushing Kit: Automotive

And Mevotech End links.

I replaced the Mevotech rubber bushings with the Prothane ones.

The 26 fit up much better.





The 4runner drives much nicer now. There is much less body roll in corners (as expected when going from no swaybar to swaybar). Also takes bumps better.

I was going to take out the swaybar and sand it and repaint it with something, but I didn't have time.

 

[TheKorstjens]

Anyone done this and just left their rig on the ground? Does this load the swaybar and cause it to have undue pressure on it when removing? Doing this next weekend and would rather just put it on the ramps but dont want the sway bar to jump out when I take out the bolts and break my nose or worse.

 

[dorton]

I had the same issue. Bushings were too small, got new ones all sorted out. End link bolt sheared off too. Easy fix dude. that is not even close to bad luck. My moog end links were 20 each, and seek HQ. Like that they are greaseable.

I was expecting blood, and gore. :witch:

 

[Rocky5000100]

Anyone done this and just left their rig on the ground? Does this load the swaybar and cause it to have undue pressure on it when removing? Doing this next weekend and would rather just put it on the ramps but dont want the sway bar to jump out when I take out the bolts and break my nose or worse.

I've heard of people doing it with the wheels on.

However, it's a lot easier to get at the pieces you need to with the wheels off.

 

[gmv4k]

I left the truck on the ground with the wheels on when I cut the bracket off (with the endlinks attached). It didn't seem like there was a lot of pressure, since my sway bushing were toast, I could move the sway bar with my hand.

If I could go back I would undo the endlinks before I re-installed the sway bar bushing. My sway bar brackets are now crooked, when I installed a new bracket there was room for adjusting it but I couldn't adjust it because there was too much force on it. These are the Energy Suspension grease-able ones.

When I did one side (sway bar) the truck drove absolutely amazing. Then I got the other side (passenger side) on and it was crooked, the truck pulled a bit. I haven't had time to fix it yet. It drives much better, but it seems like it could be better.

If your sway bar bushings are toast, definitely change them out, makes a huge difference. I can't believe people drive around without sway bars. I guess I need to do some real off-roading.

 

[Rocky5000100]

And have a torch ready. It really helps with the sway bar bushing brackets. Those nuts were stuck so bad, 1 minute of heat worked great.

 

[TheKorstjens]

Cool thanks for the input guys

 

[gmv4k]

Mine were soo bad I had to use the sawzall.