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#458057 - 05/16/08 01:16 AM Sway bar bushings
Stewart Offline
Platinum Member
Luke Skywalker

Registered: 10/23/03
Posts: 1584
Loc: South Pasadena Ca -Grand Forks...
I need to replace the bushings in the front sway bar on the 73 and for thoese who have done it how bad of a job is it? Both bushings are pretty bad on the right side has a bolt stuck firmly in place.

I was going to replace the sway bar to keep both my 75 and 73 the same but moss is out in all sizes for at least 3 weeks or more as they are waiting for a new manf. to produce new bars. Anyone have any alternate sources for a 5/8th sway bar?
_________________________


1975 Titanium Grey Metallic MGB.
1973 Red and Black MGB.
Restoration of the 75B Click here

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#458058 - 05/16/08 01:39 AM Re: Sway bar bushings [Re: Stewart]
Steve_S Offline
Yoda

Registered: 06/28/04
Posts: 8181
Loc: Los Angeles Area
It's a piece of cake. Four screws hold the bar to the chassis, and four nuts hold the links on between the sway bar and a-arms. Once those are all out, the sway bar drops off. Watch yer toes!
_________________________

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#458066 - 05/16/08 05:20 AM Re: Sway bar bushings [Re: Steve_S]
Bruce74B Offline
Jedi Knight

Registered: 09/25/02
Posts: 1179
Loc: Harrisburg PA
A little PBBlaster the night before and it should be an easy job to do while you have your morning coffee. If you need to raise the car to get under there, support the weight by the suspension and avoid any torque on the bar and it comes out easier.

Bruce

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#458117 - 05/16/08 08:51 AM Re: Sway bar bushings [Re: Bruce74B]
Stewart Offline
Platinum Member
Luke Skywalker

Registered: 10/23/03
Posts: 1584
Loc: South Pasadena Ca -Grand Forks...
I'm talking about the bushing at the ends of the bar. The metal/rubber ones.
_________________________


1975 Titanium Grey Metallic MGB.
1973 Red and Black MGB.
Restoration of the 75B Click here

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#458133 - 05/16/08 09:39 AM Re: Sway bar bushings [Re: Stewart]
bwurgler Offline
Freshman Member

Registered: 06/10/05
Posts: 6
Loc: Minnesota
Hi Stewart - I just did this two weeks ago. I used two sockets - one larger than the outside diameter of the bushing on one side of the bar, and the other slightly smaller on the other side. Cinched them up in my vise, and cranked away, forcing the bushings out.

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#458187 - 05/16/08 11:43 AM Re: Sway bar bushings [Re: bwurgler]
Steve_S Offline
Yoda

Registered: 06/28/04
Posts: 8181
Loc: Los Angeles Area
That's how I've done it. The sway bar end isn't the most precise thing (and doesn't need to be) so one bushing may go in and out easily and the other may be difficult. Lining it up straight with the hole is the only real challenge.
_________________________

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#459135 - 05/19/08 04:50 PM Re: Sway bar bushings [Re: Steve_S]
Stewart Offline
Platinum Member
Luke Skywalker

Registered: 10/23/03
Posts: 1584
Loc: South Pasadena Ca -Grand Forks...
Just got back from st louis and ups left the bushings and they are in. Not as bad as I feared. I did end up using a gear puller and a socket to press out the bushing then a vice to start the bushing and the gear puller and socket to put it into position. Now I can start putting stuff back together.
_________________________


1975 Titanium Grey Metallic MGB.
1973 Red and Black MGB.
Restoration of the 75B Click here

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#459394 - 05/20/08 12:38 PM Re: Sway bar bushings [Re: Stewart]
Stewart Offline
Platinum Member
Luke Skywalker

Registered: 10/23/03
Posts: 1584
Loc: South Pasadena Ca -Grand Forks...
WOHOOO front is done!!!! Holy cow its sits low to the ground. All the pain was worth it as even before an alignment its driving way better than before. 35 years old rubber bushings and 1 working shock make one very poor driving mgb.

Now for the back end.
_________________________


1975 Titanium Grey Metallic MGB.
1973 Red and Black MGB.
Restoration of the 75B Click here

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#459395 - 05/20/08 12:41 PM Re: Sway bar bushings [Re: Stewart]
vping Offline
Gold Member
Yoda

Registered: 12/17/05
Posts: 4886
Loc: Farmingdale NY
Start PB blasting now. The front spring attachments were a pain to get out. I had to resort to using the smoke wrench in order to coax it out. Luckily I did not have to use the reciprocating wrench to do it.
_________________________
1952 TD - Gloria
1967 MG B/GT Special x 2
1974 MGB - ZOSO
1990 535I - "Beemer from the Black Lagoon"
1991 Ford Ranger
2000 Harley Davidson Softail
2004 Ford Expedition

"There are things known and there are things unknown and in between are the Doors."

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#459470 - 05/20/08 04:20 PM Re: Sway bar bushings [Re: vping]
Stewart Offline
Platinum Member
Luke Skywalker

Registered: 10/23/03
Posts: 1584
Loc: South Pasadena Ca -Grand Forks...
Been soaking them for the last week. I have everything needed unless the axle is somehow bad so if a part fights me its off with its freakin head.
_________________________


1975 Titanium Grey Metallic MGB.
1973 Red and Black MGB.
Restoration of the 75B Click here

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#459483 - 05/20/08 04:37 PM Re: Sway bar bushings [Re: Stewart]
vping Offline
Gold Member
Yoda

Registered: 12/17/05
Posts: 4886
Loc: Farmingdale NY
Hold onto the wheel and turn the front plate where it attaches to the Driveshaft. It should only have a little play. Leaking is another tell tale that you need to do some extra work to it.
_________________________
1952 TD - Gloria
1967 MG B/GT Special x 2
1974 MGB - ZOSO
1990 535I - "Beemer from the Black Lagoon"
1991 Ford Ranger
2000 Harley Davidson Softail
2004 Ford Expedition

"There are things known and there are things unknown and in between are the Doors."

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