New sway bar bushes and gap...Is this normal?
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Car: 1989 Pontiac Firebird Formula 350
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
New sway bar bushes and gap...Is this normal?
Hello
I am hoping someone can help! I am completely overhauling my Firebird and am re-installing the sway bar with new bushes. The new bushes fit the bar fine, however the clamping bracket appears to sit a good 1/4inch below the chassis! I took the sway bar off a long time ago so is this normal? Am I missing something? I have attached some pictures which should explain.
Thanks in advance!
Jay
I am hoping someone can help! I am completely overhauling my Firebird and am re-installing the sway bar with new bushes. The new bushes fit the bar fine, however the clamping bracket appears to sit a good 1/4inch below the chassis! I took the sway bar off a long time ago so is this normal? Am I missing something? I have attached some pictures which should explain.
Thanks in advance!
Jay
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Car: 1985 Z28 & 1997 Z28 SS SLP
Engine: Sbc 305 TPI & LT1
Transmission: 700r4 and A4
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt Posi 323 & Posi 323
Re: New sway bar bushes and gap...Is this normal?
more muscle? my car has small cut outs that clamp hooks into on one side, are the clamps positioned flush? is bushing right size?
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Car: 1989 Pontiac Firebird Formula 350
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Re: New sway bar bushes and gap...Is this normal?
Well used air compressor impact wrench and that was the tightest I could go without warping the bracket and the bushes are flush. The only sizes available were for the diameter of the sway bar which is spot on! Half tempted to 'trim' some of the bush off, though cannot decide if that is wise.
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Car: 1985 Z28 & 1997 Z28 SS SLP
Engine: Sbc 305 TPI & LT1
Transmission: 700r4 and A4
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt Posi 323 & Posi 323
Re: New sway bar bushes and gap...Is this normal?
are those stock clamps or aftermarket? anyways, when I get stuck, I take a break from it & usually when I return, I got it figured out, or get the right answer from someone/somewhere, regain my patience, etc. Don't trim if you can help it
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Car: 1989 Pontiac Firebird Formula 350
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Re: New sway bar bushes and gap...Is this normal?
They are stock clamps, just rust treated and resprayed (in UK and car untreated for 28 years so massive rust which I am almost on top of!) Thanks for the advice, I will have another look tomorrow with a fresh mind. I have thought about putting something in the gap between the chassis and clamp but not sure if that will affect performance!
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Car: 1987 Chevrolet Camaro Iroc Z28
Engine: 383 Stroker supercharged.
Transmission: 5 speed manual transmission
Axle/Gears: 3.45 posi rear
Re: New sway bar bushes and gap...Is this normal?
That is definitely not normal. The sway bar should sit flush. You must have the wrong bushing size or something.
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Car: 91 Firebird/88 Firebird/91 Formula
Engine: V6 3.1/V8 5.0/V8 5.0
Transmission: 4L60/700R4/4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.23/2.73/2.73
Re: New sway bar bushes and gap...Is this normal?
What was the stock bar size and is your current bar a different size than that?
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Car: 1987 Chevrolet Camaro Iroc Z28
Engine: 383 Stroker supercharged.
Transmission: 5 speed manual transmission
Axle/Gears: 3.45 posi rear
Re: New sway bar bushes and gap...Is this normal?
Yea, compare the two pics.
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Car: 1992 Camaro RS
Engine: Rebuilt 350 going in after paint
Transmission: WCT5, 7k & counting behind the 350
Axle/Gears: 4thgen disc rear w/ 3.73 Posi
Re: New sway bar bushes and gap...Is this normal?
Do the bushings have a ridge or bump on the side that sits against the frame? I bought a pair of bushings and they a bump about a 1/4" high and when I tightened them down, it looked like your pic. I trimmed the bump off and they sat flush like they are supposed to.
Another thought would be to add a wonderbar(steering brace). It would take up just about all of that gap, and it will help keep the steering box from breaking the subframe. A common occurrence on these cars, especially when running 16" or larger wheels.
Another thought would be to add a wonderbar(steering brace). It would take up just about all of that gap, and it will help keep the steering box from breaking the subframe. A common occurrence on these cars, especially when running 16" or larger wheels.
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Re: New sway bar bushes and gap...Is this normal?
That bolt looks like it's just simply too long. The end may be running into the "frame" thing up above there.
Replace the missing bolt; get some somewhat shorter ones for the sway bar bushings (maybe, 35mm or so, no longer than 40 for sure); should fix it up.
Replace the missing bolt; get some somewhat shorter ones for the sway bar bushings (maybe, 35mm or so, no longer than 40 for sure); should fix it up.
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Car: 86 IROC
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: 700-R-4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 open
Re: New sway bar bushes and gap...Is this normal?
Well used air compressor impact wrench and that was the tightest I could go without warping the bracket and the bushes are flush. The only sizes available were for the diameter of the sway bar which is spot on! Half tempted to 'trim' some of the bush off, though cannot decide if that is wise.
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