Front sway bushings: which ones?

[Austin Healey]

On most of the parts sites, I'm finding two different designs of end link bushings (the rubber/thermoplastic part) for the front sway bar.

I ordered a set that have a "lip" on one end of the bushings (which is what most of the sites list) and they don't fit properly at all on my '97. The narrower end is far too big for the holes in the bar and suspension bracket.

The other type of bushing available is more of a conical cone, which seems like it's the right one.

However, before I order, would like some assurance that I've got it right. I do have uprated links w/ a larger diameter bolt -- is that the reason for different bushings? I had to cut off my old bolts because the nuts were rusted solid.

 

[swshawaii]

Are you replacing bushings for the OE or aftermarket front end links? If aftermarket, what bolt diameter?
IMO, polyurethane FTW. (Energy Suspension, Prothane, etc.)

Scroll down to "Grommets Only".
Universal Sway Bar End Links | By Size | Energy Suspension

Bulletproof.
Sway Bar Links

 

[swshawaii]

http://www.moogparts.com/pdf/problemsolver/english/MOOG_PS_Bulletin_213006_Sway_Bar_Link_Eng.pdf

 

[koda2000]

Polyurethane bushings are much more durable and perform better than OE, however they tend to squeak if not kept greased. I've seen Energy Suspension sway bar bushing kits that include a new bracket which has a grease fitting in it. That would be the way to go IMO.

Example:

 

[swshawaii]

Tried the ES universal frame brackets with grease fittings. Great idea, but they are about half the thickness of the stock brackets and bend very easily. Decided to drill and tap the stock front brackets to install 1/4-28 zerks. Would have done this before buying the ES brackets if I had known the OE bushings had square "pockets" to retain grease. Rear brackets are a different design and the bolt spacing is wider than the fronts so the ES universals won't work.

 

[toypaseo]

One popular Moog endlink with bushings might have changed their design...

Moog PS End Link Bushings Downgraded?

 

[J_C]

Yeah I wouldn't buy the Moog PS end links again. They're still there on mine, but I'm getting tired of checking to make sure they're still there (paranoid about them).

I'm not quite clear on what you mean by the lip too big vs conical type, can you picture or link examples of these and what you have?

What is the diameter of your larger bolt? Usually people just get a set that includes all hardware including the bolt. The old set I had on mine were Autozone Duralasts with a 7/16" bolt. I think that's about the largest bolt that'll fit with bushings that have the extended lip on them while the Moog (and factory OEM IIRC) were only 3/8" bolts or 5/16", I forget which.

The warranty replacement Duralasts that I got in case the Moog fail, do have bushings with the lip on them with the 7/16" bolts and fit my '98 fine. They're essentially just like the following Quicksteers at RockAuto, except these only cost $2.80 each, FAR cheaper than at Autozone:
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=5672397&cc=1119697&jsn=592

The O.D. of the lip on those is 5/8". Any larger than 5/8" probably won't fit.