2 problems with me 2003 Dodge GC Sport

[shorod]

We changed the sway bar bushing this afternoon. After 45 minutes, we had both bushing changed out and the noise is gone! Too bad we did not start with the bushings per just about what everyone here recommends.

-Rod

[OSUCowboy27]

Originally Posted by shorod

We changed the sway bar bushing this afternoon. After 45 minutes, we had both bushing changed out and the noise is gone! Too bad we did not start with the bushings per just about what everyone here recommends.

-Rod

Can you please post a brief procedure on changing the sway bar bushings. It may be easier than I imagine but would like to know what to expect. Thanks

[shorod]

We started on the passenger side. Put a 15mm socket on the head for the bolt, then use a 15mm deep impact socket, 1/2" wobble extension, and about 15 inches of impact extensions. I used a cordless Makita 1/2" impact (one of the best tools I own) to loosen the nut. Remove the bolt and pivot the stamped steel mount out of the way. Then gently move the anti-sway bar down enough to remove the mount.

Insert a flat screwdriver into the bushing to break it free from the sway bar. I found it easiest to slide the bushing down the bar to where I could get a good grip on it and spread it enough to remove from the anti-sway bar. Clean the the loose debris from the bar, then install the new bushing (we used Moog bushings with lifetime warranty for $13 from O'Reilly Auto Parts) on the bar and slide it in to position. Move the bar down enough to insert the pivot into the subframe, insert the long bolt, start the nut straight, and use the impact and extensions to snug it all back together.

The driver's side is basically the same, but we did loose the two 10mm bolts holding what I'm guessing is the EVAP purge solenoid and positioned it out of the way so I could use the same arrangement of impact socket, wobble, and extensions. The rest is the same as above, but remember to re-install the 10mm bolts for what I'm calling the purge solenoid. Since it sounds like this is something we might need to plan on doing every 30k miles, I installed the purge solenoid bolts with anti-seize compound.

The most difficult part was getting the old bushings separated enough to remove them from the bar and the new ones over the bar. Even that wasn't too bad them them slid to where I could get a grip on them.

-Rod