Freightliner sway bar bushing cheat

[xzostd]

Just did front sway bar bushings on my newly acquired 03 Fleetwood Discovery.
I bought the high density (generic) bushing kit from Auto Zone (in stock) . I had to open up the bushing holes slightly by sliding them over a heated 7/16 bolt. I heated the bolt to the melting point of the bushing then spun the bushing on to the threads and pulled it back off. Save the washers with the big holes to reuse. I pushed up the sway bar slightly with a jack to compress the upper bushing on the install. Used 9/16 wrench on top nuts and turned the shaft with a pipe wrench.

[ret60sp]

Originally Posted by xzostd

Just did front sway bar bushings on my newly acquired 03 Fleetwood Discovery.
I bought the high density (generic) bushing kit from Auto Zone (in stock) . I had to open up the bushing holes slightly by sliding them over a heated 7/16 bolt. I heated the bolt to the melting point of the bushing then spun the bushing on to the threads and pulled it back off. Save the washers with the big holes to reuse. I pushed up the sway bar slightly with a jack to compress the upper bushing on the install. Used 9/16 wrench on top nuts and turned the shaft with a pipe wrench.

Does this fix the "pop" sound I have occasionally when hard braking or going over a hump? I have the Freightliner 2002 XC chassis.

[xzostd]

Originally Posted by ret60sp

Does this fix the "pop" sound I have occasionally when hard braking or going over a hump? I have the Freightliner 2002 XC chassis.

Maybe🤔...when I inspected mine one of the bushings was missing (2nd from the top) Other bushings had cracks . Since my 72k mile 03 unit were bad I have to believe that there are LOTS of bad bushings driving around out there

[FIRE UP]

Originally Posted by ret60sp

Does this fix the "pop" sound I have occasionally when hard braking or going over a hump? I have the Freightliner 2002 XC chassis.

Ret60sp,
On many Freightliner chassis’s , at least of yours and our era, a “pop” when braking, especially at slow speeds, is normally attributable to non lubed air brake actuation parts. Specifically the S-cam rollers and immediate area of contact. Many Freightliner drivers have experienced that pop.

A lost or severely damaged sway bar bushing is normally associated with a banging sound and feel, during a cycling of front suspension over really rough pavement, concrete seams, some speed bumps etc., without application of brakes.

I had all those symptoms and one day, Dave under the front of the coach and found one end of the connector link missing it’s bushings!

I’ve also had that slow speed “clunk” when braking in parking lots, intersections etc. I serviced those brake parts I mentioned and all has been good ever since.
As far as the bushings for my sway bar, I figured it took almost 85,000 miles and 14 years to wear out the original set so? I just bought the original ones from Freightliner.
Scott

[xzostd]

Originally Posted by FIRE UP

Ret60sp,
On many Freightliner chassis’s , at least of yours and our era, a “pop” when braking, especially at slow speeds, is normally attributable to non lubed air brake actuation parts. Specifically the S-cam rollers and immediate area of contact. Many Freightliner drivers have experienced that pop.

A lost or severely damaged sway bar bushing is normally associated with a banging sound and feel, during a cycling of front suspension over really rough pavement, concrete seams, some speed bumps etc., without application of brakes.

I had all those symptoms and one day, Dave under the front of the coach and found one end of the connector link missing it’s bushings!

I’ve also had that slow speed “clunk” when braking in parking lots, intersections etc. I serviced those brake parts I mentioned and all has been good ever since.
As far as the bushings for my sway bar, I figured it took almost 85,000 miles and 14 years to wear out the original set so? I just bought the original ones from Freightliner.
Scott

I like the tips . !! The get underneath and look part is the key. I don’t like suspension noise.