Hey guys, I have been having that nice thumping noise that generally accompanies worn out sway bar bushings. I did bushings last spring but a noise came back shortly thereafter. Finally got bothered enough/ found enough time to take a look at it and tracked it down to the sway bar again. My right front axle mount has taken damage before and is now all bent up, not allowing the bushing clamp to hold tight to the bushing. Pictures of the issue are below.



Front view of the entire mount.





Rear view showing the sway bar mount plate.

I am unsure what to do about this mount. As you can see it has been pretty messed up by the PO. Any thoughts or ideas on what could be done to fix the issue?

Thanks,

Baatzy

 

oxy/acetylene torch and hammer.....heat and massage until its back into shape.

 

That was my initial thought, I just am not certain I can get the little bracket that goes around the bushing back into a good enough shape that it will hold the bushing tight.

At any rate I won't have access to a torch till March, if I can get enough time off. I haven't noticed any weird effects just driving around town, but is anyone aware of any driving difficulties that might arise from my sway bar laying on the driveway?

Thanks,

Baatzy

 

i run without my front sway bar on a 6" lift.... there's some body roll but its not like its going to tip over in a gust of wind... so in my opinion you will not hurt anything running with out one, just know it will drive a little different at times.

as far as that bracket goes, you more or less have 2 options... message it back into shape, or torch it off and try to weld up a new bracket. that whole part is welded to the axle tube, not exactly replaceable in a bolt on sense.

 

You could always go to the junk yard and get one cut off a dead one. Cut your bad one off and weld the donor on. Maybe someone with a parts axle would cut one off for you and sell it to you.