How do I replace Sway Bar Bushings

[Ramzfan]

Originally Posted by J Walker

I should inspect my bushings on my Freightliner XCS chassis. The chassis and bushings are 12 years old so it is likely that they have deteriorated and worn. The plastic replacements are much better than rubber and should last indefinitely. In my case the anti sway bar is so heavy that I wonder if I could maneuver it into place if I removed a bracket.

You shouldn't have to remove the entire sway bar. Mine is a Freightliner chassis as well and I did it all with the coach up on its jacks and lying flat on my back. Remove each of the nuts that hold the verticle rod in place at the ends of the sway bar (one end at a time) remove and replace the bushings and tighten the nuts again. The large bushings that fit into the U-shaped brackets around the bar itself need to be done together, but with the ends of the bar already finished and bolted into place, it doesn't allow the weight of the entire bar to drop much. A pretty simple job. The one place I had a problem was with the small bushings being too thick and not being able to get the nuts and washers back onto the vertical rods. I called Henderson's and they told me to hack-saw them down to a lesser thickness. I did that, cutting about a 1/4" piece off of each of them, and along with some sanding on my table sander and they fit perfectly.

[Windsurferlady]

I'm so excited I found this Post. I have a 35U Adventurer and discovered the black bushing in my driveway. I tried to see where it came off of and now I know what to look for. I live in Kingston, Ontario and there are very few people to work on these units and I think I'll be able to replace it myself. The Ford dealer here wants 50.00 a piece Cdn. for this bushing. I'm going to try your link. I'm hoping I don't have to take the whole stabilizer bar off. Thanks for you post.
Windsurferlady
35U Adventurer
Kingston, Ont.

[RRR]

You guys also need to check out the thread regarding the bushings too.
https://www.irv2.com/forums/f23/atte...ad-305445.html

And skuterdude on e-Bay is where you need to go.

[EyezOpen]

https://www.suspension.com/products/ford_f53_2wd_1996

[Dav L]

1) Lift the RV so you can get under it
2) put rated safety stands under the chassis and on firm, solid ground (pavement / cement)
3) spray some anti seize on the sway bar ends and bushing bracket bolts...let this sit a day or so
4) Loosen the bar end links. If you are replacing the bushings, the remove them. If they are in good shape, just loosen them.
5) Remove the brackets. Don't get hit in the head when the bar drops
6) Remove the old bushings
7) Use sandpaper and clean the bar where the bushings ride
8) Get new bushings from scooter (see above link) Poly is better than the original rubber.
9) Put some grease on the bar where the poly will glide. The poly kit might come with it. I can't remember.
10) clean the brackets and give them a shot of paint to clean them up. Let dry.
11) replace the brackets. wire wheel the bolts so they are clean. Use some blue Lock tite. Torque to the rated tightness (I can't remember off hand)
12) Retighten the bar links. The reason you loosened these is it makes it easier to remount the bar without having to use jacks et al to get everything realigned.
13) Do a visual inspection to make sure all is right in the world.
14) Drop the rig and double check things. Go for a test run.