Sizing Up Front Sway Bar Bushings

[Exproblems]

Does anyone know the easiest way to find out or measure, what size "front sway bar bushings" I may need for my vehicle> 2005 V-6 XLT auto 4x4, 17" rims. I'm looking at changing mine, which are the originals from the factory with 87K on them. I'm going to switch to the greaseable, Energy Suspension Sway Bar Bushings w/brackets, but when I pull up my vehicle specs at the Advance Auto Parts web site, I get a list of sizes for my vehicle that range from 3/4" thru 1 1/4" OD. I just don't know what size I need. I do not own a micrometer. I guess I could pull one of the old ones off first and take it with me to the parts store and have them match the size up, but I'd like to pick up the new ones first, before I begin the replacement. Thanks in advance for any and all info and replacement tips.

 

[swshawaii]

Use a large adjustable crescent or open end wrench if you don't have a caliper.

 

[BigRondo]

Check out this how-to by Nate (AKA NHarris): http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=300402

 

[Exproblems]

Use a large adjustable crescent or open end wrench if you don't have a caliper.

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Thanks for the tip SWSHawaii. I'll use the large adjustable wrench method. Two questions though, I kind of remember you mentioning in a past post that you switched to the Energy Suspension brand bushings for your vehicle. Does the new Energy Suspension, copper colored bushing bracket with the grease fitting replace the factory bushing bracket? From the pics I saw at the Advance Auto Parts web site on the new bushing bracket, this copper colored bracket doesn't look very sturdy, compared to the factory ones. I was just curious about that.
Also, can you measure the sway bar diameter with the adjustable wrench at any point along the sway bar, meaning it's diameter is the same all along it, or do you have to remove the old bracket and bushing first, then measure over the exact spot where the new bushing will sit in? If I can get my measurement that I need for the new bushings at any point on the sway bar, then I could pick up the new parts first, prior to removing the old one. Thanks again.

 

[Exproblems]

Check out this how-to by Nate (AKA NHarris): http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=300402

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Thanks BR, for the link to the post by Nate with the pics. The photos really come in handy and Nate mentions using an adjustable wrench to measure the diameter of the sway bar as SWSHawaii said the same.

 

[Exproblems]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=300402[/url]

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Hey BR,

I see you are at the web site right now and I don't know how soon SWSHawaii will get back to me on this same question here. Do you know if I can measure the diameter of the sway bar at any point along it's length to get the correct replacement bushing diameter? Or do I need to measure it at the exact spot where it mounts to the sway bar? If you know the answer to this,"please" let me know if you get this message within the next half hour. I want to tackle this repair this morning. Thanks again.

 

[Exproblems]

Use a large adjustable crescent or open end wrench if you don't have a caliper.

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To SwsHawaii and BigRondo and NHarris: Update on sway bar bushing replacement:

I jacked up my truck this morning and took the measurement for the diameter of the front sway bar which mine is 1 1/4 " or 31.5 MM. I took the measurement using an adjustable wrench, then measured the gap on the wrench with a tape measure. Worked great. I took the measurement at the middle/straight section of the sway bar where there is no reduction in diameter as in the curved/bend sections of the bar. I then grabbed the sway bar with my hand, and tried to get some loose play in the bar coming from a loose bushing. There was none, no loose play, rock solid and they looked fine.
So, I stopped by my mechanics shop, told him I was thinking of changing the front sway bar bushings and going with the Energy Suspension brand. I also told him I found no loose play in my current ones. He said in the 12 years he worked at a Ford Dealership and the 35 years (23 with his own shop) he has been a mechanic, he couldn't remember ever having to change Ford sway bar bushings on someones vehicle. From his experience he said Fords bushings last forever in city driving conditions. He also told me the Energy Suspension bushings are more for offroad driving, where the vehicle will take a beating on the suspension more often. He said they aren't really needed for city drivng conditions. I told him I liked them because you can grease them with the grease fitting through the new bracket. He told me if my current sway bar bushings aren't broke, don't fix them. So that is where I stand, not going to change them for now. But I have printed up Nate's repair instructions and photo's in case I have to do them in the near future. FYI, Parts store guy said the Energy Suspension Bushing kit comes with OE Custom bushings, even said the bushings are a better quality bushing compared to the OE factory ones, but the brackets are a Universal bracket, not an OE fit. Thanks again for the replies and info.

 

[kp02-150]

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So, I stopped by my mechanics shop, told him I was thinking of changing the front sway bar bushings and going with the Energy Suspension brand. I also told him I found no loose play in my current ones. He said in the 12 years he worked at a Ford Dealership and the 35 years (23 with his own shop) he has been a mechanic, he couldn't remember ever having to change Ford sway bar bushings on someones vehicle. From his experience he said Fords bushings last forever in city driving conditions. He also told me the Energy Suspension bushings are more for offroad driving, where the vehicle will take a beating on the suspension more often. He said they aren't really needed for city drivng conditions.

He must have only been talking about the frame mounts, because the cheap end links breaking is extremely common, at least on f150s.

I'm actually interested in replacing mine, because they look dry rotted, and was interested in moving up to greasable poly fittings.

 

[swshawaii]

Exproblems- ES has two different types of the greasable sway bar frame bushings.
I used the wider ones, seemed to be stronger, with more adjustment for bolt spacing.
Also recommend you use the black "G" type with graphite impregnated bushings,
less likely to squeak, unless you must have red. A quick coat of Rustoleum wouldn't hurt.

P.S.- I just saw your reply and was off line all day. Good luck bro!

http://www.energysuspensionparts.com/proddetail.asp?prod=9.5165


EDIT- That's if you decide to replace them. Do agree being greasable is a nice benefit.
They are notorius for making lot's of noise, especially when cold. Not here in Hawaii though. LOL

 

[Exproblems]

He must have only been talking about the frame mounts, because the cheap end links breaking is extremely common, at least on f150s.

I'm actually interested in replacing mine, because they look dry rotted, and was interested in moving up to greasable poly fittings.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Yes, my mechanic was referring to the "sway bar bushings w/brackets" that connect to the frame, he said they tend to last a long time, the bushings. He said he has replaced plenty of broken "sway bar link bolts" in his day. The Energy Suspension Sway Bar Bushings are a better quality bushing than Fords because they are made from Polyurethane, but the brackets they come with, are a Universal bracket, not OE or exact fit. They come with longer, cut out bolt slots to slide the bracket side to side in place, before you tighten them down. I'm sure they work fine, not a lot to them. To check your old bushings to see if still good, grab the sway bar and try and shake it with your hand and see if you get play or movement in the bushings. If you lots of play, they are bad. Mine were solid, no play ATT.

 

[Exproblems]

Exproblems- ES has two different types of the greasable sway bar frame bushings.
I used the wider ones, seemed to be stronger, with more adjustment for bolt spacing.
Also recommend you use the black "G" type with graphite impregnated bushings,
less likely to squeak, unless you must have red. A quick coat of Rustoleum wouldn't hurt.

P.S.- I just saw your reply and was off line all day. Good luck bro!

http://www.energysuspensionparts.com/proddetail.asp?prod=9.5165


EDIT- That's if you decide to replace them. Do agree being greasable is a nice benefit.

They are notorius for making lot's of noise, especially when cold. Not here in Hawaii though. LOL

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Swshawaii,

Thanks again for the info. Advance Auto Parts only carries the "red" ES bushings in store, so if I wanted the black ones, I would probably have to order them specially from the ES web site or some other online supplier. I told my mechanic that my current bushings have no play or movement in them and he said don't fix what isn't broken yet. I'll wait and see what they are like after this winter.
I'm not really getting any noise from the old bushings, what I get is some "squeaking" when the suspension compresses on uphill driveway entrances going slow. He said that noise is coming from my factory struts/spring combo, and is perfectly normal for these Ex''s. He said my struts/springs are fine, still work okay, just that they get a little noisy when older. Common on Ford Explorer's he said.
BTW, don't rub in the weather differences between the area's we live in. While you are polishing up your surf board and lighting Tiki Torches every night, I just fired up my snow plow ATV and my snow blower.
Thanks again for the help, stay cool!