Control Arm Bushings & Sway Bar

[kornjulio]

So now it's my turn to do these jobs. Yay....

Got the old parts off. The sway bar was the typical fracture at the end on the driver's side. Bushing on the driver side wasn't too bad; the passenger had complete separation of the rubber from the metal housing.

Book says I need to orient the bushing a particular way. Other than that, any tips for the job?

[bugman742002]

was it the sway bar bushing or the control arm bushing taht seperated? if it was the con arm you can get the whole assembly for about 10 dollars more than the bushings and ball joint sperately.

[merc81]

This is a strange problem that I've never fully understood on these vans. Replacing the bar is an OK job, but my question is why that is necessary.
Here is the original sway (stabilizer) bar:

Its shaped with a slight upward bend in the center near where the exhaust pipe would normally be (in this case the photo is from an engine I had out for repairs).
Look below at the end of the bar where it attaches to the support arm:
This is the driver's side end. The top of the bar has separated so perfectly it looks to me as if it were made that way.
Here is the passenger side view:

Again, the bar end has come apart into two halves. Now my question
is why would that happen so perfectly, and even after it did, what difference does it make to the function of the bar? After all, the bar is still firmly attached to the arms on both sides, its not like its getting to move around anywhere. What difference does it make if these ends come apart like that? I used to think that the two pieces slapped around and made a noise driving over bumps, but I'm not so sure that was the case.

Here is the replacement bar installed:

and a closer view of the bend in the center:

The new bar is shaped to bend downward at the center near the exhaust while the original was shaped to bend upward. Unless the new bar is designed to fit AWD models (which I've never seen) and needs clearance to fit around a driveshaft, it comes uncomfortably close to the exhaust pipe when intstalled--I can just fit two fingers between the exhaust and the bar.
Here are the two, new and original side by side:

After installing the new bar, I don't really notice any change in the van at all.
Just my 2 cents here.

[bugman742002]

it does look like the ends were made in 2 separate pieces. and it was just bolted together instead of being welded like it should have been.

[merc81]

Originally Posted by bugman742002

it does look like the ends were made in 2 separate pieces. and it was just bolted together instead of being welded like it should have been.

I've worked on several of these vans and they all looked just like this one.
I can't see a reason to make 'em that way and I can't see a reason to change 'em either.

[bugman742002]

now i am going to have to check mine out. but due to the single piece holding it to the end link it could cause a stress fracture and premature failure of the bar at one of the ends and cause stability problems if it breaks in a hard turn. on a side note how hard was it to drop the entire front subframe?

[merc81]

I don't think its very hard at all. It takes me about 2 hours to pull one apart like that. I've had practice, so it may take you 4 hours

See my recent post over on the olds silhouette forum: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul....php?t=1049830

[lesterl]

My drivers side was like that, just welded the tab back, been fixed like that for 15k now. Much easier and cheaper than replacing the bar.

Merc, sure you got it in the right way (upside down?) Does it go the other way.

[merc81]

"Merc, sure you got it in the right way (upside down?) Does it go the other way."

You mean because of the way the bar bends up? Yea, the new one has this white bold lettering along the bottom side of it that says: "Warning this side down on driver's side" so there's no way to mistake it.

[lesterl]

Ah, cool, figured it must have had some way to orient it...... Maybe the Chinaman who put the label on the swaybar couldnt read english and supposed it was supposed to be on top? :-)

[merc81]

I should have taken a picture of the ends on the new bar--those are NOT made with a separation, its just molded flat from the bar stock.

[lesterl]

Nice, IDK why they did it that way, but is sounds like you have a much better bar than stock. :-)

[pjw73nh]

Korn,

Getting into the forum for the first time in a while. Just saw your post.

Take a look here. I did these jobs last spring (with your help I might add). There are part numbers etc throughout the thread.

I replaced the control arms with Dormans. They came with BJ and bushings already installed. It was a very easy process.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=975478

Best....

[bugman742002]

and only a few dollars more than all of the bushings and ball joints separately

[534BC]

My conclusion after repairing mine was that when the hollow bar was smashed flat , the two sides cracked open and started out all as one single piece. http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...9&postcount=12