Rear Sway Bar and its Noises

[trobbins]

This past weekend I took the time to put the rear wheels on ramps and remove the rear sway bar (the red one).
I removed the 4 bolts on the 2 clamps that hold the bushings in the middle of the car and removed the nuts on each end of the bar. I took it off, cleaned it, and the bushings.

I cannot decide whether the bushings are too loose or too tight.

I am currently trying the too tight theory. I placed a plastic spacer in the opening of the bushing which should keep it from clamping too tight. So far no squeaks but I still have the clunk.
I didn't drive the car without the sway bar but I should have to see if the sounds dissapear.

If this doesn't fix it I will try the too loose theory by cutting a part of the bushing to allow it to clamp down harder on the sway bar. I would think this would make it squeak though....

Any opinions???

Next time I will take pictures.

Tim

 

[C Rae]

YEAH MAN TAKE IT OFF AGAIN AND DRIVE IT AROUND.IF IT'S NOT TOO MUCH OF A PAIN IN THE ASS.
ONE BY ONE TAKE OUT THE JAK & SPARE AND THE LUG NUT REMOVAL TOOLS.

THEN IF YOU STILL GET THE CLUNK TRY THE BASS TUBE.
I WOULD DO THIS MYSELF BUT I ONLY HAVE AN APARTMENT AND THE PARKING LOT IS 2 BLOCKS OVER.
RAERAE

 

[C Rae]

REMEMBER YOU ARE DOING A GREAT THING FOR YOUR COUNTRY AND YOUR FELLOW MP3'ERS.

 

[trobbins]

Wow, you make it seem so patriotic or something.

I will try that some time soon. I live in an apartment also but have underground semi-heated parking.
Last weekend was warm in WI suprisingly. And I had the time.

 

[<DooMer_Work>]

Hey guys, its already been done! . The Dealership put the new bushings on, and they said the noise was still there. In fact, they said it was worse. So they took the sway bar off and drove it around, and the sound was gone.

So, they ordered a new sway bar and gave me a loaner. They said if FedEx is all good, the part should be in tommorow. We shall see.

What do you guys think? Could a sway bar possibly make that noise by itself? I would say its probably the brackets that the bar mounts onto, since they are modified. But whatever, a new sway bar is always nice (fresh start to keep the rust away!).

Well, I guess I'm the guinea pig then for the Madison four . Until then, I'll be cruisin around in my brown 2002 LX ...

P.S. MP3_TIM, was that you that I saw in the West Towne parking lot about 2 weeks ago coming out of Best Buy?

Chris

 

[Newf]

my guess is that when they put it back on, they didn't put the mounts\or bushings on right. Maybe they weren't tight enough, or they didn't clean and lube them before putting them back on.

I'd say you'll get your new bar, and if they bother to put new bushings and s*** on as well, the noise will go away......for a while.

Keep us informed though.

 

[trobbins]

Doomer, that was me.

I think the clunking is coming from the bars that are mounted at the ends of the sway bar. they move around in a circle and can bottom out when pushed to there limit and kind of make a clunk. That was just when I moved it by hand to put the sway bar back on. I would say that is the problem. But I don't know what would fix it.

At least I don't need to take the bar off again.

Keep us informed Doomer.

Tim


Tim

 

[<DooMer_Work>]

Well, hopefully the new bar will fix it, if that is indeed the problem. I'll let you guys know of course. They claim the bar will be in tommorow if FedEx is running 100% with this winter storm approaching.

Chris