Sway bar bushings
#1
Launching!
Thread Starter
iTrader: (10)
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Topeka, KS
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sway bar bushings
So I had a funny clunk in the front end of my car and between looking underneath it and reading up here, I attributed it to worn sway bar bushings.
Ordered them and they arrived over the weekend. Finally got around to installing them.
Wow. I could not believe how worn out they were. Before I could literally make it thunk just by pulling on the sway bay and now it's solid as a rock. Have not yet driven it to see if it completely removed the clunk. I'm thinking it will based on how worn the old ones were alone.
Picture for reference. Old ones on the outside, new one in the middle. Same part numbers. I had to verify because the difference was that big.
Oh yeah, 2005, 81k miles, so it's not a high mileage worn out car.
Easy install, took me 45 minutes start to finish for both sides.
Ordered them and they arrived over the weekend. Finally got around to installing them.
Wow. I could not believe how worn out they were. Before I could literally make it thunk just by pulling on the sway bay and now it's solid as a rock. Have not yet driven it to see if it completely removed the clunk. I'm thinking it will based on how worn the old ones were alone.
Picture for reference. Old ones on the outside, new one in the middle. Same part numbers. I had to verify because the difference was that big.
Oh yeah, 2005, 81k miles, so it's not a high mileage worn out car.
Easy install, took me 45 minutes start to finish for both sides.
#4
Launching!
Thread Starter
iTrader: (10)
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Topeka, KS
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Update. Completely eliminated all front end clunk. It actually firmed up the feeling in the front end and also eliminated a slight steering wheel vibration I had.
All in all, if you suspect your bushing are worn out, for $25 and 45 minutes, there's no reason not to change them out.
All in all, if you suspect your bushing are worn out, for $25 and 45 minutes, there's no reason not to change them out.
Trending Topics
#8
I straight-up don't understand why you would replace the stock bushings. Get new sway bars. They come with new bushings and you no longer have that ridiculous body lean.
#9
TECH Regular
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Motor City
Posts: 404
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I constantly hear my sway bar clanking around, especially in the cold. I need to do this so bad. Hopefully it's as easy as you say.
Link?
Link?
#10
If you don't know what you want, I recommend starting with the Hotchkis. The Hotchkis set features high-grade tubular steel construction, which is not quite as stiff as the solid-core Addco set but it's less than half as heavy (I have both--the front Addco bar weighs 28.5 lbs, which is as much as the entire Hotchkis set, including the box!). Both options are vastly stronger than the stock sway bars.
Should you choose Addco first, and decide that you want a more compliant front or rear bar later (to tweak oversteer/understeer), you'll have to buy the entire Hotchkis set--even if you just want to replace the front or rear bar.
http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums...r-options.html
Installation should take you about 30 minutes per bar, once you've got the wheels off.
Last edited by FuzzyLog1c; 03-19-2013 at 10:27 AM.
#11
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (5)
Fuzzy,
Hotchkis' website claims that the p/n for the V is 2280. They list the 2279 or 2280 fitting for the regular CTS. The 2280 has larger bars. Do you have any more info on this?
http://www.hotchkis.net/search.html?...mitForm=Search
Hotchkis' website claims that the p/n for the V is 2280. They list the 2279 or 2280 fitting for the regular CTS. The 2280 has larger bars. Do you have any more info on this?
http://www.hotchkis.net/search.html?...mitForm=Search
#12
Fuzzy,
Hotchkis' website claims that the p/n for the V is 2280. They list the 2279 or 2280 fitting for the regular CTS. The 2280 has larger bars. Do you have any more info on this?
http://www.hotchkis.net/search.html?...mitForm=Search
Hotchkis' website claims that the p/n for the V is 2280. They list the 2279 or 2280 fitting for the regular CTS. The 2280 has larger bars. Do you have any more info on this?
http://www.hotchkis.net/search.html?...mitForm=Search
#13
Launching!
Thread Starter
iTrader: (10)
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Topeka, KS
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
1. I didn't want to have to remove the entire bar.
2. I'm perfectly happy with the handling characteristics of the car stock.
3. I have better things to spend the $525!! extra dollars on in comparison to the hotchkis bars.
#14
Then we live in entirely different worlds. Sway bars fall under the category of major improvements costing minor dollars.
#15
TECH Regular
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Motor City
Posts: 404
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#16
#18
Teching In
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I replaced my stock swaybar bushings on the weekend, went for a spin and damn, it didn't fix the clunk I have. I'm trying some replacement stock endlinks next. If that's not the source of my front end clunk I'm likely not going to be a very happy camper. At least there's still 9" of fresh snow on our city streets here so I've got some time to figure it out before spring arrives.
#19
I replaced my stock swaybar bushings on the weekend, went for a spin and damn, it didn't fix the clunk I have. I'm trying some replacement stock endlinks next. If that's not the source of my front end clunk I'm likely not going to be a very happy camper. At least there's still 9" of fresh snow on our city streets here so I've got some time to figure it out before spring arrives.
#20
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
You lose some of your side to side compliance with stiffer swaybars. That's the point but it really does affect the ride if your roads are uneven. I try to keep them stock or really close on a daily driver. It's just preference.
Has anybody found a urethane bushing for the stock bars? Probably could find some just off pictures and a few measurements.
Has anybody found a urethane bushing for the stock bars? Probably could find some just off pictures and a few measurements.