Front sway bushings

Floo420 · Posted: Mon May 25, 2015 10:48 am Post subject: Front sway bushings

I've ordered the bushings for my front sway bar which are the commonly available kit with brackets (which are completely the wrong shape) but the black rubber bushings are too small. There is no way they would have stretched enough to get it over the flared end so I cut it and when the bushing is place over the bar it's like an inch open. I have searched but is there a larger bushing kit?
Help is appreciated in advance.
Sr.
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71 Westy - Sugaree

aeromech · Posted: Mon May 25, 2015 11:11 am Post subject:

I've had trouble with the keeper sllding onto the bracket before. Smashing it with a large C clamp worked for me.
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ccpalmer · Posted: Mon May 25, 2015 12:22 pm Post subject:

Any chance you have a HD sway bar? I think they're 3/4" while standard ones are 1/2"?
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'71 Westy

Floo420 · Posted: Mon May 25, 2015 12:45 pm Post subject:

There is a good chance I am not playing with the standard. Here are some pic's There is no way in the world that this can be right Smile

I know the metal band can be tough to close but this would be impossible. Any idea on where to get the HD bushings? The sway bar does have a VW stamped logo so I thought it was OG.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

[/img]
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71 Westy - Sugaree

ccpalmer · Posted: Mon May 25, 2015 12:54 pm Post subject:

From a few searches I think stock was 5/8" and HDs are 7/8". Maybe contact Bus Depot?
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'71 Westy

rickfox96 · Posted: Tue May 26, 2015 12:02 pm Post subject:

I ordered mine from CIP1.ca and they were for a Brazilian bus. At first it didn't look like the bar would fit through the hole but after putting a little grease on the bar it slide on. The issue I had was there was no way the clamp would fit without trimming a little off the outside of the bushing. I had c-clamps on it but size of the control arm must be bigger on the German buses. I didn't have to trim very much to get the clamp on, maybe 1/8". If I had to do it again I would make sure to get the bushings for a German bus.

Floo420 · Posted: Tue May 26, 2015 1:08 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the reply's. Have been searching but have not found the bushings only for the HD bar for a Westy. They are allusive. I am SURE that the ones I had were too small. Brings to mid the expression that you are not going to cram 10 lbs of flour in a 5 lb bag.
I read an article that referenced some coming from German Supply that were the red ones, but all that is on their site are the same black rubber I see everywhere and look to be the same ones I already ordered in error.
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71 Westy - Sugaree

SGKent · Posted: Tue May 26, 2015 4:00 pm Post subject:

I looked online to see what bushing VW made. As far as I can tell they listed only one bushing for the bay. The splits have a sway bar similar to that one so you might take a close look to see if someone mounted a split sway bar on your bay.

Ratwell Bay standard and HD bar http://www.ratwell.com/technical/EssentialUpgrades.html

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Wildthings · Samba Member Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50332

lintbrush · Posted: Tue May 26, 2015 7:28 pm Post subject:

I just got thru upgrading my front sway bar and bushings. I ordered the clamp kit and it's basically throw away (see Ratwell for more info). About the only thing I kept was the sliding plates with the tab you bend up after sliding onto the clamp. The kit came with what appears to be the correct size bushings for the stock bar. The ones that came in my kit are not split, you would have to grease them and slide them on the end. The only reason I ordered it was I had heard horror stories of removing these clamps. Mine slid off fairly easily.

Another shot of my original:

And here is the hardware that came off when uninstalling. Wasn't expecting the small metal plates where the clamps came together so not sure if they are stock or not.

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Floo420 · Posted: Wed May 27, 2015 4:55 am Post subject:

Thanks for the great info. The standard bushing are too small no doubt. I used a dremel to cut them in order to get them on. I will check out the split bar. That could be the answer. It does have the hole that bolts it arm, I was under the impression the split away had two bushings and brackets like the bug sways. Really I can see the 7/8" bars which is what I think I have its just a matter of finding somewhere that sells the urethane bushings without the bar.
I need to dig deeper.
Thanks
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71 Westy - Sugaree

lintbrush · Posted: Wed May 27, 2015 8:26 am Post subject:

deezal · Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 5:02 pm Post subject:

I just got a pair of HD bushings from ADDCO Manufacturing . They have a website www.addco.net

Hope this helps.

sodbuster · Posted: Fri May 29, 2015 11:48 am Post subject:

Floo420 · Posted: Fri May 29, 2015 5:48 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the tip with ADDCO. A member here stepped up and offered me a spare set he had from there. Great community we have here.
These are not easy to find though, I thought they would have been easier.
Thanks to all!
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71 Westy - Sugaree

airschooled · Posted: Sat May 30, 2015 11:08 am Post subject:

Floo420 · Posted: Sat May 30, 2015 12:18 pm Post subject:

Thanks Robbie
The reason I'm changing them is because the old metal clamps rusted off. So I will have to use new ones. Hopefully they will go on alright. It's sure like anything aftermarket they will illfitting and a pain in the ass.
Thanks for the tips. Never boring...
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71 Westy - Sugaree


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