Upgrading to greaseable sway bar bushings

[fastblackmerc]

I finally got around to installing the Energy Suspension greaseable bushings for the Addco rear sway bar. I installed the Energy Suspension front greaseable bushings for the Addco rear sway bar a year ago. The front is easy to do as the bushings are a direct replacement.

Parts needed:
Energy Suspension
Front – 9.5165 or 9.5172
Rear – 9.5161R
Two long grease fittings. Got mine in a variety pack from Advance Auto Parts.

Tools needed:
Wrenches, sockets, ratchets, etc to remove and reinstall the brackets. Drill, drill bit and tap for the grease fitting.

Like I said the fronts are an easy swap. The rears take a little more work because the mounting is different. You can't use the brackets that come in the kit.

Picture of rear kit
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u133/fastblackmerc/MM%20Mods/Rear%20Sway%20Bar%20Bushing%20 Upgrade/DSCN0052_zps2e2f0fa6.jpg (http://s167.photobucket.com/user/fastblackmerc/media/MM%20Mods/Rear%20Sway%20Bar%20Bushing%20 Upgrade/DSCN0052_zps2e2f0fa6.jpg.html)

New brackets and OEM brackets
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u133/fastblackmerc/MM%20Mods/Rear%20Sway%20Bar%20Bushing%20 Upgrade/DSCN0056_zpsdd85b8c0.jpg (http://s167.photobucket.com/user/fastblackmerc/media/MM%20Mods/Rear%20Sway%20Bar%20Bushing%20 Upgrade/DSCN0056_zpsdd85b8c0.jpg.html)

As you can see you can't use the shiny new brackets. You need to use the OEM brackets.

Need to drill and tap the center of the OEM brackets to install the long grease fitting. You need the long fitting to reach the hole in the new bushing.

Long grease fitting. I replaced the OEM hardware with SS hardware
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u133/fastblackmerc/MM%20Mods/Rear%20Sway%20Bar%20Bushing%20 Upgrade/DSCN0061_zps9af393fd.jpg (http://s167.photobucket.com/user/fastblackmerc/media/MM%20Mods/Rear%20Sway%20Bar%20Bushing%20 Upgrade/DSCN0061_zps9af393fd.jpg.html)

[fastblackmerc]

If you put the new bushing into the OEM brackets you'll notice that there is a gap and the bushing will not be seated on the axle. The way to fix that is to remove a portion of the original bushing and use it to make up the space.
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u133/fastblackmerc/MM%20Mods/Rear%20Sway%20Bar%20Bushing%20 Upgrade/DSCN0070_zps741d60fc.jpg (http://s167.photobucket.com/user/fastblackmerc/media/MM%20Mods/Rear%20Sway%20Bar%20Bushing%20 Upgrade/DSCN0070_zps741d60fc.jpg.html)

After reinstalling the sway bar with your new bushings, pump some grease in to make sure the hole in the bushing is lined up with the fitting. you should get some grease coming out between the bushing and the sway bar.
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u133/fastblackmerc/MM%20Mods/Rear%20Sway%20Bar%20Bushing%20 Upgrade/DSCN0059_zpsae3ce90a.jpg (http://s167.photobucket.com/user/fastblackmerc/media/MM%20Mods/Rear%20Sway%20Bar%20Bushing%20 Upgrade/DSCN0059_zpsae3ce90a.jpg.html)

Threw some new shocks in while I was at it.....
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u133/fastblackmerc/MM%20Mods/Rear%20Sway%20Bar%20Bushing%20 Upgrade/DSCN0064_zps85cd0f5f.jpg (http://s167.photobucket.com/user/fastblackmerc/media/MM%20Mods/Rear%20Sway%20Bar%20Bushing%20 Upgrade/DSCN0064_zps85cd0f5f.jpg.html)

[crownvic05]

Nice work man. Happen to know part # for the bushings for the stock marauder front and rear sway bars?

[crouse]

Do you know why is there two part numbers for the front?

1 1/4" / 31.5mm 9.5165 9.5172

http://energysuspension.com/products/Sway-Bar-End-Link-Bushings.html

I've been meaning to do this for quite some time. Where did you purchase yours?

[fastblackmerc]

Nice work man. Happen to know part # for the bushings for the stock marauder front and rear sway bars?

No, go to Energy Suspension's website and you can find the stock replacements if you know the diameter of the bars.

[MOTOWN]

I honestly dont see how you can call that an "upgrade" the proper way would be to weld in a steel plate to support the proper Energy Suspension bushing and its intended bracket.

Your setup looks a bit "jimmy rigged" at best, its clear that the ES bushing doesnt fit the oem bracket, and then your solution is to stuff a piece of old rubber in to take up the slack? sorry but if your going to put info out for others to follow it should be done right! that looks like a hot mess!

[crouse]

Looks like the difference between the (front) 9.6165 and 9.5172 is the bracket dimensions.

Part number 9.5165 has a slot that is 1-1/16" long whereas part number 9.5172 is 9/16" long.

Which one works best for our cars?

[crouse]

Would someone be willing to post the center to center bolt dimension on the front sway bar? If not, I'll do that tomorrow

[crownvic05]

Its called ghetto. But, if it works then it works. I dont see no issue with it if its going to do the job.

[massacre]

There's nothing wrong with shimming those bushings in the brackets. I would prefer a piece of aluminum, since the rubber is softer than the poly and will likely flex, kinda negating the poly in the first place.

[BLACKMARAUDER04]

I replaced mine recently with Moog parts from Rock Auto.

[lifespeed]

When I bought the tubular rear Addco sway bar it did at least come with bushings that fit the OEM brackets. They were not greasable, and this was a problem. I drilled and tapped the original brackets for grease fittings, and drilled the sway bar bushing in the corresponding location to allow grease through to the bar as well. This worked fine, no shimming required.

As for replacing the bushings on the original sway bar, this is IMHO neither required nor desirable, as the OEM sway bar bushings are designed to twist rather than slip, so there is no need for grease. It is one rubber bushing that really doesn't get much wear.

[crouse]

I purchased the Energy Suspension part# 9.5165G for the front 1-1/4" sway bar. Piece of cake to change and now they are greaseable.