polyurethane sway bar bushing

[Ronmaf]

I recently swapped my stock sway bar bushings with polyurethane sway bar bushings.
The Job is a bit time consuming due to all the little snaps and bolts to gain access to the sway bar.

These are the bushings I used:
Energy Suspension 9.5158 Universal - Greaseable Sway Bar Bushings - 22mm (0.86 inch) Made by Energy Suspension

The Difference is great! I highly recommend this inexpensive upgrade.

 

[SonicBRO]

Did that size fit perfectly?

 

[KlassKlown]

I need pitures to know how to do this or a step by step guide. I'd end up taking off a control arm if I don't

 

[Ronmaf]

Did that size fit perfectly?

Yes a perfect fit for the RS Swaybar

 

[Ronmaf]

I need pitures to know how to do this or a step by step guide. I'd end up taking off a control arm if I don't

Ya Know I thought about pictures....after I did the job ;-)

 

[Blue Moon Sonic]

I wanna see this. I'm planning on doing a full poly bushing swap for the front sway bar and lower control arms. I need it to be tighter and stiffer.

 

[RMinNJ]

Can you describe how much is in the way to get to the sway bar bushing mounts?
What torque on the bolts? can the mount bolts snap coming off (where-upon one has to drop the whole subframe to fix ?)

 

[Ronmaf]

Can you describe how much is in the way to get to the sway bar bushing mounts?
What torque on the bolts? can the mount bolts snap coming off (where-upon one has to drop the whole subframe to fix ?)

Here is what I did:


1: Jack front of Car and put on jack stands. Ensure both front wheels are off the ground.
2: Remove front wheels
3:Remove wheel well shroud (A bunch of push clips and torx screws etc.)
4:You will now be able to see the sway bar. Follow the swaybar in to the bushings.
5:With a ratcheting open end wrench remove the sway bar bushing bolts (Tight area).
6:Removing the bushing can be tedious. I used a large flathead screwdriver to pry it off. (It can be a bear to remove, and you may need to disconnect the sway bar link to move the swaybar closer for leverage etc.).
7: Pack new Poly bushing with synthetic grease and bolt back in place.

Thats was pretty much what I did to get ehm on and it is well worth the time!

 

[wasteoffilm]

Did you re-use the factory bracket, or use the new one?

 

[Ronmaf]

Did you re-use the factory bracket, or use the new one?

The New bracket.

 

[RMinNJ]

Here is what I did:


1: Jack front of Car and put on jack stands. Ensure both front wheels are off the ground.
2: Remove front wheels
3:Remove wheel well shroud (A bunch of push clips and torx screws etc.)
4:You will now be able to see the sway bar. Follow the swaybar in to the bushings.
5:With a ratcheting open end wrench remove the sway bar bushing bolts (Tight area).
6:Removing the bushing can be tedious. I used a large flathead screwdriver to pry it off. (It can be a bear to remove, and you may need to disconnect the sway bar link to move the swaybar closer for leverage etc.).
7: Pack new Poly bushing with synthetic grease and bolt back in place.

Thats was pretty much what I did to get ehm on and it is well worth the time!

That doesn't sound too bad at all. Thanks.

Now we just need to figure out if:
a.) The LT and RS sway bar are the same diameter? (can we all use this bushing).

b.) Will this increase understeer? (being a stiffer rear bar increases over steer). Will it help one go faster around curves ?

 

[Blue Moon Sonic]

I feel like it would add some understeer but give the car more turning response and stability from torque steer.

 

[Ronmaf]

That doesn't sound too bad at all. Thanks.

Now we just need to figure out if:
a.) The LT and RS sway bar are the same diameter? (can we all use this bushing).

b.) Will this increase understeer? (being a stiffer rear bar increases over steer). Will it help one go faster around curves ?

I do have a stabilizer bar on the back also. The poly bushings evened out the handling to create a more neutral handling experience.

 

[KlassKlown]

That doesn't sound too bad at all. Thanks.

Now we just need to figure out if:
a.) The LT and RS sway bar are the same diameter? (can we all use this bushing).

b.) Will this increase understeer? (being a stiffer rear bar increases over steer). Will it help one go faster around curves ?

a. there's only one way to find out and I might take the bullet next week to buy some for my LT and try it out.

b. since it's in front, I'm pretty sure that it shouldn't put much under steer but a little over steer since you're stiffening up the front but then again I have springs and a ZZP sway bar in the back so if anything I'm just power sliding with the factory hankooks on turns

 

[zippypcs]

Did we ever find out if these fit an LT or LTZ? I am looking at doing this exact thing.

 

[cndctrdj]

That's pretty cool little mod

 

[Blue Moon Sonic]

I know this is kind of a dead thread but I found that between 2012 and 2013 the sonic uses the same front sway bar throughout all the trim levels from LS to RS and also is the same for both manual and automatic transmissions. That part number is 95933270.

The 2014 to 2016 chevy sonic's run a different part number for the front sway bar for the LS-RS trims and also is separate for the transmissions.
The manual transmission front sway bar part number is 94782879.
The auto transmission front sway bar part number is 42362798.

The question now is, what are all the differences between the 2012-2013 model years and the 2014-2016 models for the front sway bar setup.

 

[rojoes]

Nice tighter & stiffer feel with polyurethane

 

[famousas]

I know this is kind of a dead thread but I found that between 2012 and 2013 the sonic uses the same front sway bar throughout all the trim levels from LS to RS and also is the same for both manual and automatic transmissions. That part number is 95933270.

The 2014 to 2016 chevy sonic's run a different part number for the front sway bar for the LS-RS trims and also is separate for the transmissions.
The manual transmission front sway bar part number is 94782879.
The auto transmission front sway bar part number is 42362798.

The question now is, what are all the differences between the 2012-2013 model years and the 2014-2016 models for the front sway bar setup.

So, the ones mentioned in the first post will work with my 2013 LT?opcorn:

 

[skurtov]

So, the ones mentioned in the first post will work with my 2013 LT?opcorn:

Could always get a little dirty and measure it