Rubber mounts for a stock front sway-bar?

[Accelo]

Anyone know of a source for the stock style rubber mount for a stock front sway-bar? I have only been able to source the ones that are more like plastic than rubber. I am not interested in Polyurethane replacements.
Possible a Napa replacement? I inquired at the local store. They had no luck finding them. I'm betting they are out there somewhere.
Thanks

[pjmoreland]

I bought some from GMCPauls.

https://gmcpauls.com/Suspension.htm

They seemed kind of tall to me, so I ended up trimming 3/16" off the flat end.

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=816928

[Richard]

Why does GMC Paul's say 4 are required? Also noticed 4 bushings are included with the poly set? Only one bushing per side in the front as far as I know. Would not trim them myself, Just tighten up.

[pjmoreland]

Two on the frame mounts
Two on the control arm mounts

I didn't like how extremely distorted they got when tightened down.

[Richard]

I see. Please forgive me as I have only owned 4x4's. While 67-72 4x's did not have sway bars the later models use end links.

[Accelo]

Paul's want $5 each + shipping .
His site also listed the same bushing up to 1991.
So instead of asking for a 1972 bushing at the Napa site I looked for 1991 Silverado bushings on Napaonline.com.
I found them there for $23.29 each!
I'll get them from Paul's!
Although they do look tall in the picture. I can trim them like PJmoreland did if I have to.

[cericd]

I'm not sure on the diameter of your swaybar but I used a 1-1/4" bar from a 73-87 2wd pickup and used these bushings from O'reilly, Masterpro K6476. They're rubber and come 2 to a box for $11.99. They look just like the originals, except new and not dry rotted.

[cericd]

Here's a pic from an old How-To thread that shows what the bushings look like. Also, if you have the stock 1-1/8" bar, the O'reilly part # will be K6408 for the MasterPro rubber bushings for that size bar. They're only $7.99 a pair for that size.

[Accelo]

cericd
Thanks, that was just what I was looking for.
Love this forum!

There is an O'Reilly's just seven blocks from home.
The Online price is listed as $20.99 Box of 2.
I can still live with that just fine. And they are in stock, a big plus.
Tying up loose ends like the bushings as they just fell through the cracks.
Just finished installing the Posi carrier.
Installing some temporary exhaust and hopefully its time to start the motor.

[cericd]

$20.99 for a box of two seems steep. I know they weren’t that much when I got them last year in Texas and now that I’m in Colorado, the online price for the K6476’s is $11.99. Not sure where in Washington you’re located but I put Seattle in the Oreilly site and it still shows $11.99 a pair.

[Accelo]

The 6476 is indeed the same $11.99
I wasn't really clear as I was searching the 1-1/8" bar, the O'reilly part # K6408.

[cericd]

Originally Posted by Accelo

The 6476 is indeed the same $11.99
I wasn't really clear as I was searching the 1-1/8" bar, the O'reilly part # K6408.

The pic you show is of the Moog brand, which are urethane. If you scroll down a bit you will see the MasterPro brand which are rubber. For some reason the Moog and MasterPro bushings have the same part number. Here’s a pic.

[BigBird05]

You really should measure the dia. of your bar.

[Tomchev]

Napa has them and Rock Auto also. Just measure the bar size before ordering.

[Classic Bowties]

Originally Posted by Accelo

They had no luck finding them. I'm betting they are out there somewhere.
Thanks

Hi Rick, do you still have our phone number? Feel free to give me a ring on these if still interested in only using OE style rubber bushings, we currently have a few GM NOS sets of these front sway bar bushings available/ready to ship. If needed, we also currently have some GM NOS rear trailing arm bushings on hand/available. Mel

[Accelo]

Thanks Classic Bowties. Almost next door to me. I will make you "first" on the call list. You have been very helpful in the past.

So I got the "almost correct bushings" and modified them to fit. Yes I had to take 3/16" off the bottom to make them function.
Good news is the modification is invisible when assembled. Thanks pjmoreland for the heads up on the fix.

Another thanks to cericd for keeping me on the correct parts track.
and BigBird05 for the reminder to measure the bar to be sure of the size. It's the 1-1/8".
I love the collaboration on this board!


Like everything else aftermarket they are not the same as the OEM part. As another example, I just was tightening ball joints and tie rod ends. The bolts are metric as are the threads. Some required a washer underneath time so the cotter would catch the castle nut. Got me wondering what a all aftermarket truck would look like. LOL.

[BigBird05]

Originally Posted by Accelo

Thanks Classic Bowties. Almost next door to me. I will make you "first" on the call list. You have been very helpful in the past.

So I got the "almost correct bushings" and modified them to fit. Yes I had to take 3/16" off the bottom to make them function.
Good news is the modification is invisible when assembled.



Like everything else aftermarket they are not the same. As another example, I just was tightening ball joints and tie rod ends. The bolts are metric as are the threads and some needed a washer underneath time so the cotter would catch the castle nut. Got me wondering what a all aftermarket would look like. LOL.

Makes one appreciate all that GM goes thru to make it right.

[cericd]

Interesting. Mine went together without any mods. Are you using aftermarket clamps?

[Accelo]

Originally Posted by cericd

Interesting. Mine went together without any mods. Are you using aftermarket clamps?

No sir. Mine clamps are OEM but not original to my truck. The replacement bushings were obviously taller than stock. They also were closer to a plastic as the OEM ones are rubber like. Possibly the latter GM clamps will fit the bushing? Might be an interesting comparison.

[cericd]

Originally Posted by Accelo

No sir. Mine clamps are OEM. The bushings were obviously taller than stock. They also were closer to a plastic as the OEM ones are rubber like. Possibly the latter GM clamps will fit the bushing? Might be an interesting comparison.

Yep, could be. My 70 didn't have a sway bar. I picked up my later model bar here off the forum. It came with all the original mounting hardware. This is the thread that i got the bushing info from, https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...ad.php?t=72338.

[the67Beast]

So I just went thru this a couple of months ago. My truck is a 67 and had the smaller diameter front sway bar ( I believe it was 15/16" diameter if I am remembering correctly). Every bushing I sourced was too big. After some research I ended up going with Moog k8792 for a 71 Ford Ranchero, Fairlane. They fit perfectly for my application.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

I installed Energy Suspension bushings, blackened the hardware. So far I'm really happy with them, though I haven't driven it yet☺

[Big Kev-O]

The Moog K6408 are “thermoplastic” which feels a lot like rubber. Bought mine on Amazon for $8. Great quality, unbeatable price. I would be willing to bet they will outlast rubber but still conform when needed.

[cericd]

Originally Posted by Big Kev-O

The Moog K6408 are rubber. Their bushings are blue but they are not poly. Bought mine on Amazon for $8. Best quality, unbeatable price.

Interesting, Oreilly says the Moog K6408 is thermoplastic. See bottom right of pic.

[cericd]

For clarity and future reference for those that prefer to use rubber bushings:

Moog's page for the K6408 is a bit confusing. On the product page they show pics of their blue bushings alongside graphics with black bushings stating "Premium Materials - Made from high-quality natural rubber...".

Here's a link to Moog's page for the K6408 which lists the material as thermoplastic. You have to click the word "Specifications" on the product page.: https://drivcat.com/overlays/part-de...0Bushing%20Kit

Another retailer of Moog parts shows this: https://www.moog-suspension-parts.com/moog-k6408

"... In with the New - Moog makes their sway bar bushings with two materials; rubber and thermoplastic. Moog's rubber bushings are designed to restore your smooth OE ride, getting you back to your original performance. The thermoplastic is stiffer and more durable. With thermoplastic bushings installed your NVH might increase slightly, but your performance will not only be restored, but it will also be improved. So if you're looking to fix up your daily driver, or reduce your lap time, Moog has you covered."

According to that site, black = rubber and blue = thermoplastic. However, even though they say they make their bushings with two materials, I wasn't able to find a page showing a rubber version of the K6408.

I'm not saying either the rubber or thermoplastic is a better product. I have no experience with either since I used a different brand. But I know some folks prefer to run rubber, for various reasons. Just posting this info for clarification.