front sway bar

00 gp gtp. i just noticed i snapped a sway bar bracket, i belive its called the front mid swaybar bracket. im having trouble finding a replacement. i know junkyards and some junkyard owners on ebay can get them, but apparently theyre vulnerable to rust, so id like to buy new ones. stainless would be nice, but im sure i cant get that lucky. does anyone know 1 where to get them aside from a dealer, 2 what other cars use the same bracket, and 3 what the diameter is of the front sway bar. while im at it i guess i should replace the bushings with some energysuspension poly bushings. also do the brackets need to have zerk grease fittings? thanks for any help

The mount bushings do not require greasing. Most upgrade kits with poly bushings come with new straps. Many companies offer them (Energy suspension, Moog, etc...).

All GM W-bodies share the same mounts (GM#10284149) and stabilizer bar (GM#10284146).
97-03 Grand Prix
97-04 Buick Regal/Century
00-08 Impala/Monte Carlo
98-02 Olds Intrigue
Also, the 05-09 Buick LaCrosse

Make sure you inspect the bar itself, as they are known to crack where the links attach on the ends. My 99 GT is cracked on both ends, so I ordered a complete solid bar kit (the OEM bar is hollow) from ZZ performance. The entire kit including mount bushings, straps, end links and the bar itself is $30 cheaper than just the junk OEM bar itself. I'm just waiting for better weather to install it.

thanks for the help. just checked the sway bar it looks ok ( no cracks). i contacted a few online places and they all say just bushings, i havent found any that come with them. iv only asked about energy suspensions. maybe other brands do? if you know of anywhere that includes brackets with energy bushings that would be very helpful. if not il buy brackets somewhere else and get the energy bushing seperate. do you know what size the sway bar is in case i have to go that route. thanks again

I replaced the sway bar in the wifes car last night (99 SE). Ordered from ZZ on Monday and got the part Wednesday.

The ZZ part is shaped a little differently than the OEM so it was not going to slide in without some extra help.

I removed the passenger side outer tie rod end..not sure if that helped or not.

I ended up using a floor jack with a piece of plywood on the jack table under the transmission pan to move the motor up a bit to get the new sway bar in.

I wish I had thought to do it earlier. I wrestled with the bar for about an hour and a half before trying to raise the motor.

Thats funny. I was able to sneak my g/f's and my stabilizer bar in without any issues other than disconnecting the passenger side tie rod. We also both used GMPP stabilizer bars from ZZP. She has a 2002 SE and I've got the GTP.

To the OP. I thought I saw some energy/suspension greasible polyurithane midpoint pushings for sale on www.pfyc.com. If you order them, make sure to replace the straight grease zircs with 90 degree ones or you'll never get a grease gun in there.

Here they are!

http://www.pfyc.com/pc/WB4005/GPSUSP/Energy+Suspension+Polyurethane+Bushings.html

thanks tor the response. i emailed them and they said its bushings only no brackets. the photo is decieving.

just out of curiosity how noticable was it when you changed to the zz swaybar? also still wondering about the diameter of the stock sway bar?

just out of curiosity how noticable was it when you changed to the zz swaybar? also still wondering about the diameter of the stock sway bar?

There is a noticeable improvement in handling. I only wish I had bought the rear bar as well.

TBLAKE that's funny you were able to sneak the bar in with no problem. I wonder if my wifes 99 SE is made a little differently. I was also on the ground with jack stands and had to raise them a few times to be able to turn the bar and not hit the floor.

Handeling is an improvement.

maybe your 99 se is a 3800? our 2002 is a 3100.

I will see if I can look up the stock size.

You should call them back and see if they know what they are talking about. I;d be willing to bet this "bracket" you are asking them about is included and that they think you are talking about the stabilizer bar end link.

Seems pointless to sell a poly bushing with no midpoint bracket.

that could be. il give it a try. thanks for the help

tblake you were right i searched a few stores today and finally found one that had energysuspension bushings that come with the brackets and zerk grease fittings. they couldnt find what size i needed in the computer, 3 different sizes came up for my car ( cant figure that out). they only had 1 left so i bought it, figuring i can always return it if it doesnt fit. i went to energysuspension.com to see what kit fits my car and they dont even have it listed. grand prix only goes to 88. this is a 1 1/4" kit. and the bracket holes are kind of universal in that its more of a slot than a hole. anyway just wanted to see if anyone found out what the bar size is before i waste my time jacking and removing wheels and rusty as hell bolts only to find its the wrong size. i appreciate everyones help

Stock size is 1 1/16th.

http://www.pfyc.com/pc/WB4001/GPSUSP/Speedbuilt+Sway+Bars+-+W-body.html

"The Speedbuilt Front Sway Bar for most W-body vehicles replaces the 1 1/16" tubular stock sway bar with a 1 1/4" solid bar"

You could give these ones a try.

http://www.zzperformance.com/grand_prix/products1.php?id=528&catid=138

I also have a set of poly endlinks for a GP that I used for about a week. If your interested, let me know. I'll sell them for 20.00 shipped. They are red in color.