Yes I measured and I have the 28mm bar and the worn rubber bushings are 28mm opening. Energy Suspension lists the 22mm but not the 28mm on the catalogs and sites I checked. I will check Rodney Dickman - Fiero Store doesn't show them on the website.
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09:57 PM
Dec 1st, 2010
fierosound Member
Posts: 15145 From: Calgary, Canada Registered: Nov 1999
Yes I measured and I have the 28mm bar and the worn rubber bushings are 28mm opening. Energy Suspension lists the 22mm but not the 28mm on the catalogs and sites I checked. I will check Rodney Dickman - Fiero Store doesn't show them on the website.
The issue is no one sells poly bushings for the stock 88 front sway bar brackets (they are an odd shape). The ones everyone lists will come with their own bracket, but it does not fit the factory holes... and the greasable fitting will be right up against the frame rail making it useless.
I still have a brand new set of these in a box for these very reasons.
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04:53 PM
fierosound Member
Posts: 15145 From: Calgary, Canada Registered: Nov 1999
The 88 sway bar is that different? The greaseable 22mm sway bar bushings fit fine on my Indy with the included bracket.
The 88 front cradle is significantly different and the sway bar bracket bolts to it (not quite 180 degrees from the pre 88's) and are pushed up tight along the underside of the frame. The brackets are actually flat along the underside of the frame. Also, notice the portion of the cradle the bracket bolts to quickly bends and goes back to the center.. this does not leave much room for sliding the brackets down the cradle and redrilling the mounting points.
Here are a couple more pics of the stock front swaybar mounts:
The rear isn't as bad, but the brackets still do not fit the stock holes:
[This message has been edited by fieroguru (edited 12-01-2010).]
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06:19 PM
fierosound Member
Posts: 15145 From: Calgary, Canada Registered: Nov 1999
The 88 front cradle is significantly different and the sway bar bracket bolts to it (not quite 180 degrees from the pre 88's) and are pushed up tight along the underside of the frame.
The rear isn't as bad, but the brackets still do not fit the stock holes:
Never saw a 88 setup close up. Thank you for pointing out the differences so clearly.
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11:46 PM
Dec 2nd, 2010
Formula88 Member
Posts: 53788 From: Raleigh NC Registered: Jan 2001
If you get the 28mm bushing, you might be able to trim and shape the outside of it to fit inside the stock swaybar brackets... it would be a pain but would allow you to keep stock brackets with poly bushings.
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07:02 PM
Fiero2m8 Member
Posts: 1928 From: Niagara, Ontario, Canada Registered: Feb 2006
Originally posted by fieroguru: If you get the 28mm bushing, you might be able to trim and shape the outside of it to fit inside the stock swaybar brackets... it would be a pain but would allow you to keep stock brackets with poly bushings. I still have a brand new set of these in a box for these very reasons.
Are you willing to sell me yours to experiment modifying to fit the 88 brackets? If so are they red or black (and 28mm) I'd be paying via PayPal (Summit won't take PayPal from a Canadian...)
Ryan
[This message has been edited by Fiero2m8 (edited 12-04-2010).]
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08:56 PM
Dec 5th, 2010
Formula88 Member
Posts: 53788 From: Raleigh NC Registered: Jan 2001
I've seen on other forums (mostly ricer forums) where they've used 3M Window-Weld Urethane Adhesive to make their own poly bushings. I've seen it used to fill motor mounts and worn rubber bushings. Might be possible to take the factory bracket and fill it with Urethane, then trim to fit. If you Google "3m window-weld mount" you'll find tons of forums trying it on various things. It comes in a tube to fit a caulk gun and is available at auto parts stores. I'm getting some to fix the rear window on my Trans Am. I know, crazy using a window product to fix a window, but I'll throw caution to the wind.
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12:16 AM
fieroguru Member
Posts: 12128 From: Champaign, IL Registered: Aug 2003
Originally posted by Fiero2m8: Are you willing to sell me yours to experiment modifying to fit the 88 brackets? If so are they red or black (and 28mm) I'd be paying via PayPal (Summit won't take PayPal from a Canadian...)
Ryan
I can't find the 28mm ones (moved 2 times since I put them on the shelf), but still have the rear 22mm set and no plans to use them.
The rear 22mm bushings are fairly close to the needed size, but are not quite wide enough for their flanges to clear the stock bracket. You could either cut the flanges off or modify the stock bracket to be slightly narrower. Once the width is correct, covering the bushing with some tape or wax paper, then coat the recessed portions of the bracket with JB weld, install the bushing and clamp down to a flat surface. This should allow the JB weld to fill all the voids in the stock bracket and ensure the bushing is properly supported. Once it is dry, then drill the center of the bushing to 28mm and install.
My plan is to make a 2 piece aluminum braket that will accept the stock cradle holes and sandwich the bar between the two halves. This will eliminate the chance for any flexing at the mounting points to the cradle.
If you want the 22mm ones, $20 shipped and they are yours. It would be cheaper to just send the poly bushing and not the steel bracket, but could send them either way.
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09:56 AM
Dec 6th, 2010
Fiero2m8 Member
Posts: 1928 From: Niagara, Ontario, Canada Registered: Feb 2006
