Topic: Front sway bar bushing upgrade

[lil goat]

I put the part number on there, put it into the Jegs website or google, It is everything. It includes the bracket, and no it will not work with the stock bracket. It has to include the bracket or it would not be greasable, the zerk fitting is on the bracket. Sorry the link doesn't work, I copied it straight from Jegs website. For black #355-4-5193G #355-4-5193R for red

[DragonSolGXP]

I just did a search for 355-4-5193R and it found the red one. I ordered that for the front and a set of 27mm for the back using the ZOK rear sway bar. Sound about right?

[kwtoxman]

I just did a search for 355-4-5193R and it found the red one. I ordered that for the front and a set of 27mm for the back using the ZOK rear sway bar. Sound about right?

I don't know. My guess would be the 355 prefix is just what jeg's adds to the energy part number in their part system. If you click the more details link in the jeg's window for the part you see the basic energy part number which is 4-5193R. My google search for 355-4-5193R only comes up with an associated jeg's hit which in that case makes sense.

EDIT - add on
Search for 4-5193R or 4.5193R and you'll get lots of pics on the bushing only. On Energy's own website there is no universal 34 mm bushing (greaseable or non-greaseable). I don't think you got greaseable bushings with clamps. I hope you did though.

[lil goat]

Sounds right to me, Snaponbob was going to measure the rear bar bushing as the front one was smaller than spec, (why I ordered the 34mm) but when I installed the 2 sets I have done the 27mm seemed to be right on, just enough movement and not to loose but I did not MIC it.

[kwtoxman]

I just spoke with energy about the front sway bar issues. They didn't want to go nuts with analysis but offered some insights.

Are we sure the front sway bar is round? Or elliptical (aerofoil design like some cars)?

If the bar is round something can be designed. They pointed out that universal bushings may not work well on specific applications (like the 33mm universal on the GXP front sway bar) because it is a general part that was not QA/QC design matched to the car. It all depends on how the sway bar on a specific application measures out in reality.

FYI - 9 as the first # in the part number with energy indicates generic stuff. A 3 indicates 90% of the time it was a specific design application.

They basically recommend not using the universal front sway bar bushing for the GXP if it appears there are issues.

They are looking at doing solstice GXP work but it will probably be a while. It isn't high on the list.

My thoughts....

The energy site has kits for the 2006 2.4 solstice. 27mm front and 24 mm rear sway bar bushings. The part numbers indicate generic bushings. So these are round bars. I'd guess the GXP would be round bars too.....

And since the 27mm generic bushing is recommended for the solstice rear. It should work just fine on the 27 mm GXP Z0K rear. http://www.energysuspension.com/search-result-details.html?id=2422&make=28&year=2006&model=463&partNumSearch=

[lil goat]

The GXP bar is 33.2mm, so in theory a 33mm should be to small, there bushing is a bit over 32 stock so it is definitely to small. I got the 34's because they are cheap and if they don't work, oh well. I have the 33's on there know but there is a small gap in the bushing, and I was shipped the non-greasable anyway. It is just a bushing on a round bar, not going to sweat it. If it was a control arm bushing or something like that it would be a very different matter. I think the 34's will be perfect and who doesn't want Ford Mustang parts on there GXP.

[lil goat]

Well Jegs finally shipped my new bushings, wahoo, now lets see if the fit.

[smartin]

I haven't bought those yet. Let me know if I should.

[lil goat]

I like the way it feels just a bit less vague. That is just my opinion but you know what they say about opinions. The ones for the NA are easier to get. I think they are 27 mm if I remember right. The 34mm for the GXP were on back order.

[smartin]

Ok, will get them in the next week. Who has the sway bars?

[lil goat]

For your car anyone who has taken the factory bar of the front and replaced it with a Z0K on a GXP, if someone donates one to go with the rear one I have for you that is a different size 34mm bushings. For the most part it is the rear that benefits the most from a stiffer bar, but I am not so sure about an NA, might be different the factory setup works pretty well on the GXP. The more I get into this auto cross thing the more I learn the less certain I become. It is kind of a trial and error thing, we all don't like the same thing. I am going for neutral steering, some prefer understeer and some prefer over steer. I believe stiffening up the rear will reduce understeer. It is very funny how you tune the back to fix the front and vice versa. It is that way with tire pressures too. It gets very confusing. If the back has to much grip it will cause the front to plow, so you loosen up the back to adjust the front, that makes sense right? WTF!

[jonymac]

You guys STILL talking about bushings!?

[lil goat]

Where the heck you been college boy, and yes we are still talking about bushings. We have gone from GXP/RL to NA a whole new subject.

[smartin]

DRM (Derek) says I can have his FE3s.

[lil goat]

I know that already, he he. You can either get new bushings 34 mm greasable ones from Jegs for the front 355-4-5193R FRT SWAYBAR BUSHINGS S197 $16.99 plus shipping, you have the back ones, or we can use the stock ones I have a set and so does Derek. The rear bar I have for you is an FE3.

[smartin]

Thanks, I guess use what we have. Appreciate it.

[lil goat]

My saga continues with these stupid bushings, JEGS sent me some 34mm bushings, no bracket. I ordered the greaseable ones, they have to have the bracket with the zerk fitting or they are not greasable. The good news is JEGS told me to keep what they sent, and they will work with the brackets I already have for the 33mm, and they are drop shipping the correct one's from Energy Suspension for free. I like free, free is good. So now I have a pair of non greasable 34mm urethane bushings to use until the right ones get here. I already know of a good home for them when I get the replacements.

[lil goat]

OK back to this again but with pictures.


The black one is stock, the red one is the 33mm replacement I ordered. The difference is obvious. The new 34mm looks exactly like the stock one except it is polyurethane, it fits in the stock bracket perfectly and fits the bar perfectly. There is a slight preload on the bar when you install it, I would imagine this is there with the stock one as well but you don't notice as it is a softer material and easy to compress. The 34mm that fits is a sway bar bushing for a 2005 up Mustang Jegs part number 355-4-5193G. They goofed and sent me just the bushing, the bushing and bracket should be exactly like the stock bushing and bracket except polyurethane. I will take a picture when they get here.

[Uranium-238]

Slight preload? My understanding is that if the wheels are at the same height there shouldn't be any tension on the sway bar.

[lil goat]

You are correct, that is why I mention it. I do mean very slight, I had to put in all four bolts before I could tighten them down. I tried putting on one side then the other and  could not get the bolt in. The car was only jacked up on one side so that probably had an effect, I was being lazy.The new bushing are exactly the same size as stock so it is only because they are stiffer. I can correct it with adjustable end links but it is so minor I  think just normal wear will take care of it. I may get the end links anyway just because they are all metal and heim joints. We will see, if it is not raining to much tomorrow I will test the new ones.

[kwtoxman]

My saga continues with these stupid bushings, JEGS sent me some 34mm bushings, no bracket. I ordered the greaseable ones, they have to have the bracket with the zerk fitting or they are not greasable. The good news is JEGS told me to keep what they sent, and they will work with the brackets I already have for the 33mm, and they are drop shipping the correct one's from Energy Suspension for free. I like free, free is good. So now I have a pair of non greasable 34mm urethane bushings to use until the right ones get here. I already know of a good home for them when I get the replacements.

So basically this is exactly what I told you they would be earlier in the thread. Bushings onlys for fitment on the stang. Sigh.....

[lil goat]

No as the matter of fact you are wrong, as I explained it was a mistake by Jegs, Jegs is shipping the correct parts at no charge, and I got to keep the ones they sent, so I installed them, it states quite clearly in the part description that it is a greasable bushing with zerk fitting, the zerk fitting is in the bracket so it kind of has to be included like I said, and like I told Jegs. The part number I posted is for the bracket with zerk fitting and the bushing, the greasable bushing is also different it has channels in the bushing for the grease. There is nothing wrong with just getting the bushing, it fits and works perfectly with the stock brackets, I just want greasable bushing as they at some point will undoubtedly squeak just like the stock ones did, I don't have to remove them to lube them with the greasable ones, that's what I have on the back now.

[kwtoxman]

You just don't get it. The link is Jeg's and it's pretty obvious they have the wrong info in the first box; the info below in the second box is the correct data. Energy's own website discusses the part as being bushings only.  

I've waste enough time here with the obvious so I'm done. There's nothing else to add.

[snaponbob]

MOD "mode" on !!! 

Everybody     please.

MOD "mode" off.   

[spicy3480]

Deep breath in, now exhale LOL.