So I just scored a larger diameter sway bar for the rear of the wagon (03 WRX). Ordered some new poly bushings and it included bushings and sleeves for the end links. I'm reusing the factory end links since the bar is factory (bigger sedan rear) and it's much cheaper at the moment. I'm in the process of pushing in the new bushings. Or trying to at least. Anybody have any secret tricks? It's been a total PITA so far and I haven't even gotten one halfway in. Upon doing a Google, I noticed that some brand sells them in halves. I was like "duh, why don't I just slice them in half and stick one in each side...". I'm assuming the washers that go on the ends anyways would keep them squeezed together just fine. And the inner strength wouldn't really be compromised thanks to the metal sleeve inside, correct? Anybody have thoughts otherwise or have a secret trick to getting them to slide in? Thanks!
Did the bushings come with lube? If so, use it...a fair amount of it. Sometimes prying open the split in the bushing with a flat head can help. Sometimes they are a PITA, but it will go on. If it did not come with lube, I searching one time (for far too long) for the right kind of lube to use for poly bushings. According to my extensive search on the interwebz, but best/easiest stuff to find and use is "Super Lube." Which can be found at your friendly local Harbor Freight. It also looks like Ace Hardware and Home Depot should have it as well. I've used it on a couple sway bars and poly bushings, and I didn't have any noises or noticeable affects on the polyurethane.
Yep, came with 3 little tubes. However, the ones in question are the solid round ones that go in the end links, not the ones that go around the bar itself. They don't have a split seam in them. I was thinking I'd slice them in half (the hamburger way) and put one half in from each side.
I had a 1/2" bolt going through the whole assembly, with big washers on each end. Clamped it in the vice and used the nut to force the bushing in (in place of a hydraulic press). The vice I have is also a little too small to open big enough. Anywho, was smashing the living hell out of it and I couldn't get that first lip to go in for anything. It's gotta compact almost half its size in order to smash through the end link. Definitely not happening with the bolt running through there then.
Mine are the same as these but black. They're the 4 similar ones, with new sleeves. That big ass outer lip on each end has to get shoved through an opening small enough to be tight around the center area. It was pretty interesting last night. Finally gave up about 9:45.
Aaaah ok, now I understand! So I'm guessing you removed the old bushings from the endlinks? I could see how it would be tough to insert the new ones. A press might help, but I'm not 100% sure. In my opinion, I think you would be fine cutting them in half and sandwiching them in there. I've used split bushings like that in the past with no issues, and I don't think the case would be any different for the end links.
Correct. The set I bought for the rear was only available with the end link ones included. I figured it'd be a waste of time/money/resources to reuse the old ones, especially after seeing how shot they were. Thanks. That's basically the 2nd opinion assurance I was looking for. Figured if they sold them that way it had to be feasible. Just thought I'd check and see if anybody had horror stories of something negative.
I could make so many jokes here... But the key is to get them wet, hot and use lots of lube in the hole. Put the bushings in boiling water for a few minutes, they'll become much more pliable, and then dry them off quickly, and press them into the endlinks, which you want to liberally coat with lube beforehand. Don't put anything through the center hole of the bushing, because you want the poly to be able to squish down into that void. A couple of pieces of some hard plastic or metal, one on either side and into the vise. And in case it's not clear, don't put the metal center sleeve in until after the poly piece is in place.
It was a wet, hot, American summer... Well, actually was a dry, rather chilly evening out there. I ended up slicing them in half with a utility knife. Was able to push each side into its little locking groove. Pressed the sleeves in place in the vice. Rest of the install went rather well. Will hopefully have good news tomorrow after the commute to work and back.
