Hi everybody. Anybody use polyurethane bushings for the front sway bar? My factory ones are shot-the sway bar is so loose it bangs from side to side.

 

you mean the urethane stabilizer bar mounts..?? if so, energy suspension has a great setup...I used their p/n 9.5161 for my 2006 hhr LT..the bar is approx. one inch....the metal mounts are slotted to ease the install..

 

That is exactly what I am looking for. I called Energy Suspension and they neglected to tell me the holes were slotted-they said I had to measure the sway bar diameter and the bolt distance. But I measured slightly less than one inch. I got 31/32, which is too big for their next smaller size of 15/16 (or 30/32). I assume my 2006 has the same size bar as yours does.

Did you notice any improvement?

Why did you change yours-were your old bushings bad? Last year I had to change my end links which were shot. Last week after doing my brakes, my buddy noticed the clunk when you turned from side to side and found the sway bar was moving due to bad bushings. Guess the NYC potholes will kill your suspension.

Where did you get yours from? ES or aftermarket store?

Thanks again for the quick reply.

 

The bar is supposed to move side to side. If you install the greaseable bushings you will decrease the sidewise friction. The bushings are there to provide a rotational fulcrum.

 

I noticed the grease fittings, but assumed they were more for rotational movement. My bar moves enough to hit the brackets holding the brake lines and make a clunking sound when you steer quickly left and right.

Somebody on the other forum said

Just changed my factory ones for more factory ones after reading that the poly ones by Energy Suspension weren't wide enough rest on the stops on the bar and let it move a little side to side.

 

Did you put 12" links on? That makes for the link rubbing the LCA, and too much sideways movement (geometry). The correct inks are 10" P/N 750012, not the ones that most part books mistakenly list P/N 80252.

Somebody years ago decided that if it has a 12 in the part number, it must be 12" long ergo any 12" long link with the same connectors will work.

The BOOKS are incorrect!!!!!!

 

Sadly I did not think to look into poly for the end links and used the factory replacment ones from Chevy, so I am pretty sure they are the right length.

Also, my friend noticed that the brackets for the brake lines are reversed-the drivers side is marked R and visa versa. I never removed them, so it must have been installed wrong from the factory.

 

Just installed to the greaseable bushing in mine and have not found any issues except it has tightened the front end and eliminated the crunch sound when cold. The bar has a sideway movement of any extra 1/2" max (total) but in no way do the 10" links hit the LCA.

 

Oh, I should add that there are stops on the inner sides sway bar that seem to be moveable.

I was talking about sway bar LINKS not sway bar bushings when discussing 10" vs 12". They have nothing to do with "poly bushings".

I was talking about noises
A) the 12" links bang on the Lower Control Arms and
B) the 12" links cause the sway bar to travel a bit more sideways.
Because of geometry, triangles specifically. and levers.

 

Energy Suspension is a great setup...I used their p/n 9.5161 for my 2007 HHR LT the bar is approx. one inch or 25 MM in diametere....the metal mounts are slotted to ease the install and fit perfectly for me, I do not have a clunk issue I also installed the 10 inch sway bar end links and took out the 12 inchers the dealer installed in error for the original owner and there are marks on the LCA where the end link hit it during bumps and cornering, that issue has been resolved, and have a look at your rear bushing on your LCA, it may be time to change them out.