Outer sway bat bushing

thekidd · 05-30-2011, 09:06 PM

I got my sway bar bushings in the other day, and went to work on them today. The inner bushings were fairly easy to get off, in the bracket, and onto the bar itself. The outer sway bar bushings are another story. I used a screwdriver to pry partly off, then a hammer to bang the bushing out. Put the bushing back in using hammer and some screw driver. But I am completely stuck on how to get the outer back on the sway bar. I bought the feri? OEM part for my 84 944, and in the inside middle of the bushing it has a lip, or gets skinny in the centre. My old (original I'm guessing) bushings were smooth and flush and can easily slide it back on the sway bar. My new ones I can barely get them an a 1/4" on the sway bar. How did anyone get the outer bushing onto their car? I am using soapy water and grease to try and slide it on the bar. Thanks fellas.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Lube it - I think last time I did them I used some WD40 and they went on without too much difficulty. Probably not the best thing to use in the world but then again, using ANY petroleum-based product on rubber can be a bit detrimental but it was a one-time thing and let's face it - you gotta' put SOMETHING on there...

Rasta Monsta · Rasta Monsta's Garage

Lithium grease will lube the bushing without degrading the rubber.

AA_Ezra · 05-30-2011, 10:59 PM

I have my bushings installed on those brackets on the a-arm but have yet to install them. I'm going to use Some Heavy Duty silicone spray made by CRC. it worked good pushing other bushings in and it dries fast enough that it wont leave parts permanantly slippery.

If you got the money you could go to NAPA and get some " RU GLYDE" or something like that meatn for mounting tires to rims and other applications and wont harm rubber

thekidd · 05-31-2011, 10:48 AM

Got them on. Thanks guys. Put some lithium grease, that I had left over from my CV joints job, on the sway bar, put one end against a brick wall, and hammered the bushing on the other side. Took 5 mins to get both on doing it that way. Hope this helps someone in the future. Guess I'll just hammer them off when I need to replace them again because they are very snugg on the bar.

Rasta Monsta · Rasta Monsta's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by thekidd

Put some lithium grease, that I had left over from my CV joints job.

Uhhhh. . .CVs need moly grease. Here's the stuff I use:

TheSamba.com :: VW Classifieds - Febi/Bilstein C.V. Joint Grease Germany

The packet in the picture is enough for one joint.

thekidd · 05-31-2011, 03:55 PM

Oops. Forgot the name of the lube I used when I posted that. I did use moly based lube for the CV joints. Was it ok for me to use a small amount (fingertips worth) for the bushings? Will it make them wear faster if there's some moly grease on the bushings? Wiped some off when I was done.