Suspension Bushings?

[Sunroof]

Well, I used a micrometer to measure my sway bar so I can order new suspension bushings on my '73T, and the bars measured 15mm. As I went through the parts catalogs I found that the smallest anyone carries is 16mm?

Does anyone know where I can get a set of 15's? in rubber or the new miracle materials?
If I cannot find 15's, can I get away with 16's and maybe wrap teflon tape or something else around the sway bar to make the difference without impairing performance? I do not race, rally or drive this car super hard into turns. The older rubber though is rotten and its time to get them out.

Thanks
Bob

[T Bird]

Bob
OEM 15mm rubber bushings for the rear bar should still be available. They were available from Stoddard about 4 years ago when I replaced my sway bar bushings. The PN is 901.333.793.02. Now the bad news- the price for each OEM rubber bushing at that time was around $36!!! In view of the price and the need for four of the bushings, I elected to use the 16 mm polyurethane bushings from Automotion. As suggested by the techie from Automotion who I spoke to about the install, I cut a small sliver (about 1mm) of material from each bushing so that it would clamp tightly against the sway bar when installed. I also lubricated the bushings with the special polyurethane lube that Automotion sold at the time. After 4 years, the bushings look great, are firmly clamped around the bar and don't squeek.

If you go the polyurethane route, you will have a little difficulty installing the bushings in the shackles. That's because polyurethane is a lot harder material than the OEM rubber and will not allow itself to be compressed sufficiently to fit in the shackle. The trick to installing them in the shackle is to place the bushings in hot (near boiling) water for a minute or less. This will temporarily soften the bushing, allowing you a few seconds to collapse the bushing sufficiently and press it into the shackle.

The 15 mm OEM rubber bushings that support the front bars at their ends were also available from Stoddard and were reasonably priced (then) at about $6 each. The part number is 901.343.792.02. While I used these OEM bushings at the sway bar ends, I also used the Automotion plastic bushing for the front sway bar shackles.

Good luck. It's really pretty easy.
John

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John
1972 911T Coupe
"S" pistons & Webers
PCA- Potomac Region