What's wrong with this picture?

cwiert · cwiert's Garage

Hi, I've got a question for the group. I'm looking underneath trying to find where a slow oil leak is coming from and I noticed this. I'm not sure what it is, but the rubber bushing thingy looks pretty worn. The same bushing thingy on the driver's side looks much better (pic of that one too). The questions:
- what is this?
- what does it do?
- is it hard to replace?
- how crucial is it to do it now (what could or will happen if I don't fix it now)?

Thanks in advance.
-John

Techno Duck · Techno Duck's Garage

Sway bar bushings, easy to replace and very common due to the power steering leaks from these cars. Also when you change the oil and take the filter off it usually dumps oil right onto that spot.

Measure the swaybar diameter and order the bushings you need.

flash968 · 03-01-2010, 10:17 AM

the bushing is oil soaked - likely to be power steering - oil (or power steering fluid) destroys rubber bushing material

fix the leak - no point in changing the bushing until that is done

race2fast · 03-01-2010, 10:19 AM

Time for a new car...

cwiert · cwiert's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by race2fast

Time for a new car...

sweet. you givin' them away?

KrazyKarl · 03-01-2010, 10:29 AM

Had the exact same issue on my car, as flash968 said you'll want to fix the leak first. It's not all that hard to replace, the bar can be removed by loosening the two brackets going to the frame and the two end links running through the control arms. Cut the old bushings off with a knife and slide the new ones on with some soapy water. It's not a critical issue, but it will affect performance when cornering as the sway bar may bind.

cwiert · cwiert's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by flash968

the bushing is oil soaked - likely to be power steering - oil (or power steering fluid) destroys rubber bushing material

fix the leak - no point in changing the bushing until that is done

its soaked in a combination of ATF fluid (PS oil), and engine oil. But finding the source isn't easy. I think the ATF fluid may be coming from the PS reservoir itself. I tried to get in there and clean everything as much as possible so i can try to find where the leak(s) are coming from.

ernie9944 · ernie9944's Garage

Don't forget to clean your steering boots & degrease everything that is rubber while in there then apply a Vinyl & rubber conditioner on them I found Meguiar's the best for that kind of stuff it does last a long time.

krystar · 03-01-2010, 10:37 AM

also looks like yer sway bar is shifted over the driver side..try to get that back in the center

Techno Duck · Techno Duck's Garage

The leak from the reservoir which soaks the bushing is 99% of the time the two hoses coming out the bottom. Replacing the hose clamps (or just tightening the ones on there if they are not too stretched out) usually works to stop any leaks from there.

cwiert · cwiert's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Techno Duck

The leak from the reservoir which soaks the bushing is 99% of the time the two hoses coming out the bottom. Replacing the hose clamps (or just tightening the ones on there if they are not too stretched out) usually works to stop any leaks from there.

Thanks. I'll do that. The PS leak appears to be coming from where you just mentioned. I cleaned the hoses and that little ledge right beneath the reservoir the other day, and today i just noticed some fluid on the hoses and that ledge again. So it can only be coming from the hoses that connect to the reservoir. I'll try and tighten them up and see if that fixes that. Thanks for your help.