Correct Rear Sway Bar Bushing for a 73 RS Clone Mutt

bluesky · 06-12-2009, 11:36 AM

My 1973 911 RS Clone is a mutt using parts from various years....some stock....some aftermarket..... and that makes finding the correct parts for it an adventure!.....just going to our Host's catalog is not a simple task.

I know a lot of you can relate to this.

The rubber rear sway bar bushings have crumbled away so now I'm looking for the correct ones with which to replace.

I'm at work and don't have pics of under the car handy, so I'll use pics from the Catalog to show what I'm working with as far as the suspension components....and hopefully someone can guide me.

The rear suspension consists of aluminum trailing arms from a SC.

It has a 18 mm sway bar from a SC that looks like this #10 in the pic....

.....it even uses those same drop links #12 as shown in the above pic.....I want to replace the #11 items.

However, this is where the mutt character raises its ugly head, by the use of Weltmeister sway bar mount adapters that look like this....

With all of that as background, here's my question, what sway bar bushings should I use with this set up?.....I ordered a couple of 18 mm poly-graphite bushings from our host that are for a SC/Carrera (1978-1989) (Part# PB-1027-18) Link.....

However, when they arrived, I found that they do not have a flat surface on the back side that will sit flush against the sway bar mount.....in order to fit, I will have to trim these, or grind them down on grinder/sander.

Before I did that, I thought I'd ask for help....are these the correct bushings to use or is there a better one for my application? Should I use 18 mm ones for the 74-77 model year?...will they have the flat back surface?

Also, with all of this mutt-ness in my car's set-up, should I even be using poly-graphite bushings?....I will use the car for some DE's and spiritied back-road fun- runs but no real track time. Would rubber bushings be better?....I don't want to go with bushings that are too stiff and have that cause another part of the system break, like drop links.

My searches lead me to a post by Warren (Early S Man) Link that stated to go with poly-graphite sway bushings.....hopefully, his recommendation still stands for my conglomeration set-up....

I want to get the correct bushings installed so I can set ride height....the front especially needs to be lowered.... and then get a badly needed alignment.

Any recommendations or guidance by our Suspension experts would be greatly appreciated?

911pcars · 06-12-2009, 01:06 PM

"I want to get the correct bushings installed so I can set ride height....the front especially needs to be lowered.... and then get a badly needed alignment."

I assume you're referring to sway bar bushings and not suspension bushings.

Sway bars are disconnected when adjusting ride height and corner balancing. Thus, you can wait and install these afterwards.

Maybe someone can confirm, but isn't the rear factory sway bar on a Turbo 18mm?

Sherwood

onboost · 06-12-2009, 01:14 PM

First off.. that's a really pretty mutt you've got there!

I think the pats that were shipped may be wrong. The item shown as #11 has a flat surface as do the Weltmeister sway bar mount adapters. There should not be a need to trim anything.

For me, I don't like that swaybar adapter and would suggest that you prepare for a little welding and purchase item #16 for ecah side. Of of course the Wevo upgraded version. That weltmeister piece looks kinda flimsy like it may twist a bit under hard cornering loads.

Think the Turbo rear bar was larger? I think 18mm is SC.

Hope that helps some.. I'm sure the masses will chime in shortly!

bluesky · 06-13-2009, 09:37 AM

@Sherwood: I was referring to the sway bar bushings and not suspension bushings. Thanks, good point on the sway bars being disconnected when adjusting the ride height & corner balancing.

@onboost: Thanks. I will eventually go with the welded in brackets. I'll probably have that done next winter. I'm thinking the part I got is not right for the application....I was unsure as to whether any trimming was necessary. I might call and see if there are other bushings available that are flat on that side.

bluesky · 06-15-2009, 07:45 AM

Well, I did a side by side comparison of the old bushing that had crumbled from my car and the new bushing that I ordered......

....there is a definite difference in length between the two in addition to the lack of a flat spot on the new ones. The older ones are a good 1/4 to1/2 inch shorter in length!

Instead of the 78-89 bushing, I'm really wondering now if the old 74-77 ones would work better. Catalog Link. The pic on the link shows a 18 mm bushing that appears to have a flat spot and looks smaller.

I'll try and talk to Glenn in parts to see what he recommends but if anyone else here recognizes the issue and knows from experience what specific sway bushing that I need to buy, I'd appreciate the direction.

minoclan · 06-15-2009, 08:26 AM

I hope I don't kill your thread, but what exhaust is on your car?

javadog · 06-15-2009, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 911pcars

[bMaybe someone can confirm, but isn't the rear factory sway bar on a Turbo 18mm?

Sherwood

Yes.

JR

bluesky · 06-15-2009, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minoclan

I hope I don't kill your thread, but what exhaust is on your car?

@minoclan - the exhaust on my car is a 2-in 2-out sport muffler attached to SSI heat exchangers. I bought it years ago from a friend when he replaced it with one with longer tips.

I don't know it's original source/manufacturer but I do know that it has a nice agrressive sound to it.