How do I replace Sway Bar Bushings

[warrior17]

Please help.

1. Any pics of sway bar bushings, where they are located and how to tell if they are bad.

2. Where can I get these parts for a 1994 Fleetwood Bounder Ford 460, and how do I order them, what I mean is what info do I give to get correct parts.

Any help would be great....

Thanks

[PHESPE]

Originally Posted by warrior17

Please help.

1. Any pics of sway bar bushings, where they are located and how to tell if they are bad.

2. Where can I get these parts for a 1994 Fleetwood Bounder Ford 460, and how do I order them, what I mean is what info do I give to get correct parts.

Any help would be great....

Thanks

Go to any Auto Supply store - such as Auto Zone, Pet Boys, NAPA etc and tell them you need new "sway bar bushings" for your " 20xx Ford Truck - Model xxx" and they will sell you them.

But how do you know you need them? and which ones? Inner or Outer? And maybe your Ford has both front and rear anti-roll bars (Sway Bars), if so do you need front or rear??

You may want to Google Ford "anti sway bars" and you'll see a lot of adverts from suppliers - I didn't look but there is likely some UTube videos about how to replace them that you can fine by Googleing also.

PHESPE

[warrior17]

Thanks but it's not a truck it's a motorhome...does it matter?

[SPICoaster]

FYI - The rear sway bar bushings for a Ford F53 chassis can only be purchased with the sway bar from Ford. You'll need to go to Ebay so you can buy the bushings after market. If the current rubber bushings are crumbling or when you grab them they leave heavy black marks behind, then it's time to replace them. And yes there is a big difference between a pickup truck and an F53 chassis. BTW full sway bar is about $250-300 but the non runner replacements on EBay run about $50 and will last for ever.

[Ramzfan]

I just finished replacing the sway bar bushings on my 2006 Itasca Meridian. It was an easy job. The way that you tell if you need them or not is to get under the coach and look at the vertical rod that holds the ends of the sway bar. If they are bad you will know by looking. They will be cracked and coming apart. The main bushings that hold the sway bar in the U-brackets are not quite as noticable, but if I were going to change any of them, I would change all of them at once. There are eight small bushings and two large bushings.
The first thing you have to know is what diameter is your swaybar. I ordered mine from Henderson's Line-Up in Oregon.

[winnie32v]

2001 Winnie Adventurer, Rear Sway Bar Bushings.
Attached are photos of my rear sway (aka Stabilizer Bar) bushings....before and after.
The new ones are the harder, more stable polyurethane bushings; NOT the factory soft neoprene ones.
I also was told that I needed to buy the COMPLETE Sway Bar & Bushings form Ford for ~$200.00. No Way....so I did a search and found a set of 2 for my F53 on eBay for $50 delivered to my door. 1/2 hr to install and my unit is really stable, no more swaying and no more truck blow by...
Mine were the ~1 3/8" diameter bar (some use mm for measurement).
Perfect fit.
Having good sway bar bushings are a MUST when travelling.
Bad bushings can cause many problems in handling, steering, etc.
Easy fix, cheap and well worth the time & money.
On eBay, try this link:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/270661240746?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fsch%2F i.html%3F_sacat%3D0%26_from%3DR40%26_nkw%3D2706612 40746%26_rdc%3D1

Note, this seller also has the ~1 1/2 " bushings for the earlier years.

Let us know how you make out.
Regards,
Paul

[J Walker]

Do the replacement bushings go in without removing the mounting brackets?

[George Schweikle]

No. There are lips, or ridges, on the outer edges of the bushing to prevent it from sliding out from under the bracket. Assuming you have some basic tools and mechanical skill, it should be a very simple operation to remove the bracket to replace a bushing.

Originally Posted by J Walker

Do the replacement bushings go in without removing the mounting brackets?

[Chuck13]

Does the front sway bar use the same bushings?

[monkey]

Originally Posted by Chuck13

Does the front sway bar use the same bushings?

Probably not... (not sure on yours) Measure the diameter of each bar, that way you'll get the right size,,

[trode]

Just replaced the bushings on the MH I just bought, 2003 f53 chassis, the original ford ones had essentially melted, and one of the brackets was bent and bolt gone. I ordered complete set with new brackets and bolts and bushings for the links. Very easy fix, slide bushings on bar with some of the grease provided and bolt up brackets, done! Company on net called Henderson's Line Up. Were helpful and prompt.
Roadmaster Bushing Kit for Ford F53 1-5/8-inch Front Sway Bar

[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.

[Quaddinmad40]

Mine were missing entirely on my new to me 97 f53 chassis. Just got the Roadmaster kit yesterday for $125 CDN. Can't wait to get them installed and take it for a drive

[winnie32v]

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.

I recall that I used my small hydraulic jack and a piece of 2X4 to get mine in position.