Wheel Tire Camber

[steveg]

Welcome back Randy!!

If the lower inner bushings are rubber, they should not be lubed. They should work by flexing, not by rotating.

If they're the stock rubber bushings and they aren't perished, they won't be squeaking.

If the lower inner bushings are not the problem, the lower outer, upper outer and sway bar bushings are all easy to lube..

 

[AUSMHLY]

I noticed the sway bar's end travel is hindered (on both sides) by the spring bar assembly. It's denting it.
What's the best way to correct that? Could I place a shim under both of the sway bar bushes to allow more travel?

 

[Bob_Spidell]

That shouldn't be happening. Looks to me that the sway bar is rubbing against the bumper bracket; you should be able to adjust some clearance in there. You might want to try polyurethane bushes, they will stiffen up your suspension a little.

Edited: Didn't see the first photo.

 

[red57]

Place shims (pieces of 1/8" or 3/16" flat-bar w/holes for the mounting bolts) under the swaybar mounting brackets to give a bit more clearance and replace the rubber bushings.

 

[AUSMHLY]

Place shims (pieces of 1/8" or 3/16" flat-bar w/holes for the mounting bolts) under the swaybar mounting brackets to give a bit more clearance and replace the rubber bushings.

Wanted to confirm that adding shims was ok. Sometimes fixing one problem may cause another problem somewhere else. As mentioned, I have replaced with new poly bushing about 6 months ago. Not sure why I didn't notice this.

 

[AUSMHLY]

That shouldn't be happening. Looks to me that the sway bar is rubbing against the bumper bracket; you should be able to adjust some clearance in there. You might want to try polyurethane bushes, they will stiffen up your suspension a little.

Edited: Didn't see the first photo.

Hey Bob, there is no adjustment for clearance. The bracket has oblong holes which lets it slide forward/back only. The bracket needs to be higher. Adding shims to lower the sway bar seems to be the fix. I'm wondering why I have this issue if most do not.

........Speaking of photos, I can't seem to upload them correctly. Once uploaded, they somehow get rotated. I've rotated this photo on my desktop all 4 ways. Loaded all 4 and BCF will rotate it to every position but the one I want, straight up like I took the photo. Is there a way to rotate the photos here once uploaded?

 

[red57]

While you're at it, check to see if the metal strap of the mounting bushing is bent. In your first picture above, the outer flat part of the metal strap does not look to be parallel to the bar like it should be, and the bushing looks like it is distorted some. Could just be camera angle?

 

[AUSMHLY]

While you're at it, check to see if the metal strap of the mounting bushing is bent. In your first picture above the outer part of the metal strap does not look to be parallel to the bar like it should be, and the bushing looks like it is distorted some. Could just be camera angle?

I appreciate your eagle eye. I'll make sure it's not bent and straight. I'll post some more clear photos. Thank you.

 

[John Turney]

Are the ends of the anti-sway bars horizontal, or do they rise as they go to the end links? Compared with the bottom of the frame, it looks like it turns up. You might have to have longer end links. I made new, longer links using a 6" grade 8 bolt and 1/8" pipe for a spacer between the inner bushing washers. Also, the bushings look distorted.

 

[steveg]

For a couple of years, I've been running such shims made from 1/8" x 1" aluminum bar stock from the hardware store.

 

[BoyRacer]

You said you replaced the bushings with poly about 6 months ago. Those sway bar bushings look like rubber... not poly. They look distorted and cracked.

 

[steveg]

From the pic above, besides being stressed rubber as Richard says, it looks like the front of the frame rail may have been bashed in. If so, an adapter plate could be made to move the sway bar out away from the bumper mounts.

If it's flat like this dwg, just shim it enough to get the clearance you need.

 

[AUSMHLY]

You said you replaced the bushings with poly about 6 months ago. Those sway bar bushings look like rubber... not poly. They look distorted and cracked.

Sorry, I didn't clarify when I said I replaced the rubber bushing. I replaced the eight anti-roll bar link assembly bush links, 6 months ago with polyurethane. I need to replace the center sway bar rubber bushes.

 

[AUSMHLY]

From the pic above, besides being stressed rubber as Richard says, it looks like the front of the frame rail may have been bashed in. If so, an adapter plate could be made to move the sway bar out away from the bumper mounts.

If it's flat like this dwg, just shim it enough to get the clearance you need.

View attachment 61984

Practicing your engineering drawing skill I see. Nice.
As pointed out, because that area is dented, I've made plate shims out of stainless. I'll end up with a flat mounting surface, like it's suppose to have.

 

[red57]

I'll bet the squeak will be gone when you have the bar shimmed so it doesn't rub on the bumper brackets anymore .

 

[AUSMHLY]

I'll bet the squeak will be gone when you have the bar shimmed so it doesn't rub on the bumper brackets anymore .

I was hopeful of that too. Once removed, I pushed on the fender, squeaks still there. I bought a mechanics stethoscope to help isolate the squeak. Again hopeful. Everything the stethoscope touched, had a squeak sound.

 

[roscoe]

Have you tightened all your fender attach bolts (especially any that are really hard to reach)? Not likley but remember, it's always the last thing you poke at that fixes the problem.

 

[AUSMHLY]

Have you tightened all your fender attach bolts (especially any that are really hard to reach)? Not likley but remember, it's always the last thing you poke at that fixes the problem.

I have not considered that, but will.

This project is perplexing. I'm going to start a new thread.