ripley987

iTrader: (1)

Hey guys,

So right now I have the Hotchkis front and rear sway bars, but I am considering changing the front bar to H&R because I am tired of the noise of the polyurethane bushings on the front Hotchkis bar. I was just wondering if this would have any negative effect on handling, as I want to dial out as much understeer as possible and I'm worried that the thicker front bar will actually increase understeer. The rest of my suspension is stock except the endlinks and the rear (Hotchkis) bar is set to Medium.

Thanks for your help

dcains

iTrader: (15)

Damn, I thought I was the only one. I hate that fawking noise, and a few weeks ago I finally took off the Hotchkis bar and put the OEM front bar back on. I've tried all kinds of grease, and just bought a can of Marine bearing grease I thought Id try as a last resort.

terrasmak

iTrader: (8)

I only got noise from mine when set too stiff. I even installed a grease zerk, but have only used it once or twice

ripley987

iTrader: (1)

Personally, I have noticed that when it's warm it doesn't make any sound and when it's cold (below about 48 degrees F, but depends on humidity, etc.) the front bar makes a hellacious racket whenever the car goes over any type of serious road imperfection or speed bump.

But back to the point, what would be the effect of putting the H&R bar in the front in place of the Hotchkis?

dcains

iTrader: (15)

I'm in FL, so it doesn't get very cold here, and mine is noisy all the time. It's as if there a resonance in the system of the bar, the bushings, and the Powergrid endlinks. If I could find some rubber (like the OEM) bushings to fit, I'd try those.

ripley987

iTrader: (1)

Absolutely, I agree, if anybody knows where I can get rubber bushings for the Hotchkis front bar let me know please.

dcains

iTrader: (15)

There are two options I can think of. The first it to grind out the OEM bushings, with a Dremel, for example. The other is to find some other bushings to fit, and swaybar bushings are fairly generic. Trucks often have large bars, so perhaps a set of bushings from a Nissan Armada or Titan might be close? It would just take some effort, and perhaps a friend at a parts counter, to find something suitable.