Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Suspension to replace the front/rear sway bar clamp bushing..

do the front and rear sway bars have to be removed inorder to replace the old clamp bushing with new ones?

No, the new bushings should be cut to go around and you just cut the old ones off if they cut already.

-Andy

andy
do crossmembers insulators wear out and are they difficult to replace and how many are there?

The rear cross memebers likely have bushings, not insulators. The easiest way to replace them is probably to replace the whole member, I don't believe they are that expensive. You need to get under the car and look at everyhing. You can't guess from driving characteristics. You dont' seem to know what you are doing so you should have a professional look at it.

-Andy

yeah i just replaced the front and rear bushings with energy suspension replacements along with the rear endlinks. The bushings come pre-cut to slip around the sway bar. The rear is a piece of cake. The fronts are a little more challenging if you use the energy suspension units because of how rock solid they are. What helped in the front is if you unhook the sway bar from the endlinks. This gives u some more movement but still a pain in the butt since you cant take the bushing clamp off completely.
Oh yeah the energy suspensions do a great job. there is much less slop at turn in. much tighter feel to the suspension. i also replaced the front endlinks a few months ago with moog units. those are like twice as thick as the stockers and greasable. my rides so nice now along with the eibach springs.

" You dont' seem to know what you are doing so you should have a professional look at it."

how correct you are to be so obvious for that is why I post the question within this forum.

front suspension blowup

rear suspension blow up

within the above websites there is the mention of the word insulator.

They only mention insulators on the sub frame mounting bolts, i.e. non moving parts. Bushings are used on moving parts. Insulators reduce vibration. Bushings help control motion and vibration.

-Andy

Andy are you familiar with this part

"F5RZ-5A103-B frt ins. list price $15.43 your price $11.57 ea"

And if so how much do you think a shop would charge to install it? Also how many do our cars have.

Just a question, how hard is it to replace the "rear sway bar links and bushings"? I was told by a mechanic that my tour needs these. I am fairly competent with working on my tour and have access to to most likely all the tools I would need (I think). Also, what would be the best brand to buy (I have a stock suspension)?

Thanks,
Sean