Sway bar polyurethane bushings, Anyone found some that fit our old celicas?? Options

[samir0189]

I have searched, and searched. No clear answer as to the size of our stock sway bars, but I seem to see that they may be
F: 18mm and R: 16mm, can this be confirmed?

Also, I see that the brand Prothane makes universal poly bushings.


I hope you can see where I'm going with this.

Will these fit? or is the length measurement off? Or Can anyone direct me to some that are known to fit?
I would measure my bushings but they are disintegrated pretty badly to the point I am not sure I would get a proper measurement. Worst case scenario, I buy squishy OEM rubber replacements.

FRONT 18mm

REAR 16mm

[RabidTRD]

Energy Suspension makes a set that fit perfectly. I've got them on my car.

Yes, the rear bar is 16mm. It says it right on the side of the bushing. I haven't changed the front yet, so I can't help you there. But when I go to work, I'll pull out the Energy catalog and give you the part number.

[RabidTRD]

OK, part number that fits perfect from Energy Suspension: 9.5120G or 9.5120R. (The "G" stands for Black bushing and the "R" is Red. You can place either at the end of the part number to get the color you want.)

[easternpiro1]

good stuff, from what i hear this is a great investment for those with swaps, or intend on tracking their car

[samir0189]

OK, part number that fits perfect from Energy Suspension: 9.5120G or 9.5120R. (The "G" stands for Black bushing and the "R" is Red. You can place either at the end of the part number to get the color you want.)

You are more than awesome. Thanks. I am going to try to measure the front sway bar today if I get the chance. Hopefully, since Energy makes one that fits the rear, then the correct size for the front should have a good probability of fitting also.

good stuff, from what i hear this is a great investment for those with swaps, or intend on tracking their car

I'm not doing either. Those rubber bushings just don't last.

[samir0189]

The front sway bar on my car is 20mm. I will look for if energy makes one that size later on.

[samir0189]

Seems like the part number for the front would be 9.5124

I'll report back here when I get them.

[easternpiro1]

OK, part number that fits perfect from Energy Suspension: 9.5120G or 9.5120R. (The "G" stands for Black bushing and the "R" is Red. You can place either at the end of the part number to get the color you want.)

You are more than awesome. Thanks. I am going to try to measure the front sway bar today if I get the chance. Hopefully, since Energy makes one that fits the rear, then the correct size for the front should have a good probability of fitting also.

good stuff, from what i hear this is a great investment for those with swaps, or intend on tracking their car

I'm not doing either. Those rubber bushings just don't last.

agreed, but i hear they are a HUGE P.I.T.A. to put in! ive seen diagrams on here somewhere of points, but i cant find them....

[richee3]

I'm tempted to replace several bushings in my front end in a week or two when I pull my motor out. I'll be curious to see if these fit.

[Malhar95]

how much do these cost avg.? im not tracking or swapping, just looking for a suspension upgrade, kinda. would u guys suggest these?

[samir0189]

OK, part number that fits perfect from Energy Suspension: 9.5120G or 9.5120R. (The "G" stands for Black bushing and the "R" is Red. You can place either at the end of the part number to get the color you want.)

You are more than awesome. Thanks. I am going to try to measure the front sway bar today if I get the chance. Hopefully, since Energy makes one that fits the rear, then the correct size for the front should have a good probability of fitting also.

good stuff, from what i hear this is a great investment for those with swaps, or intend on tracking their car

I'm not doing either. Those rubber bushings just don't last.

agreed, but i hear they are a HUGE P.I.T.A. to put in! ive seen diagrams on here somewhere of points, but i cant find them....

I took my front one out to measure the diameter of the hole. It took 10 mins including getting tools and removing the wheel. The bolt on the back of the sway bar bracket is difficult to access, you just gotta go under the car to reach it. I don't see why the new ones should be any more difficult to put in, but we'll see.

I'm tempted to replace several bushings in my front end in a week or two when I pull my motor out. I'll be curious to see if these fit.

I sure hope they will. Well, I know the rear ones will thanks to Rabid. I'm just hoping the fronts will be the similar. I measured the OEM bracket and the sizes are comparable. Off by 1/16" here and there, should be anything to worry about.

how much do these cost avg.? im not tracking or swapping, just looking for a suspension upgrade, kinda. would u guys suggest these?

I paid $35 shipped for the both front and rear sets from http://www.energysuspensionparts.com/Unive...ar-Bushings.asp

But I suggest you wait a bit, I'll post back here if the ones I purchased fit or not.

I don't know how much of an "upgrade" it is. My sway bar pops and creaks and such; I've been wanting to change these for a while. I understand that steering response should improve and body roll should be lessened somewhat.

This post has been edited by samir0189: Dec 5, 2011 - 1:53 PM

[RabidTRD]

One thing I will suggest, and highly recommend doing is sanding down the sway bar. Clean it up and paint it, especially where the bushing contacts. Urethane creaks... I didn't clean mine off and OH MY GOD is it loud now lmao. I want to get a sticker for my window that says, "Yeah, I creak. But I'll destroy you in a corner."

The urethane on the rear bar makes a HUGE difference. When jacking my car up, I notice it then even. If I'm jacking up my front right tire where the jack is suppose to be positioned on the frame rail, the whole rear lifts with the front. the car will teeder lol. It's pretty awesome.

I'm planning on doing the whole rear in urethane and then work on the front. I'm auto-crossing though.

[samir0189]

I received the bushings today actually. I'll post some pics and such in a few.

I'll see about the sanding and painting, seems like it'd be a bit difficult for where it is located (without removing the whole bar). I'm definitely gonna clean it up with some degreaser or brake cleaner as its got the funk all over it. They did send me some lube (giggity) to prevent the squeaking/creaking. I don't imagine it would last long under there exposed to all the water etc, but we'll see. Regardless, I have so many noises it will just add to the mini orchestra I have going on. I'll just play the radio louder if anything.

I'll be sure to take pictures of fitment for the front and rear when I install it (for reference here since there is little to no information) especially for the front. This could be a pretty good upgrade for those who don't want to go all out and put the ST sway bars.

[RabidTRD]

I'd say to take a piece of sand paper and wrap it around it and just work it back and fourth. Better than nothing.

The... lube... is REALLY tacky. It doesn't come off... anything lol. Make sure you've got plenty of degreaser around for your hands.

Very interested to know how that front one works because I need to put one in there as well.

This post has been edited by RabidTRD: Dec 8, 2011 - 8:08 PM

[samir0189]

Well. They were a bit of a pain to install, yes. Only because the material has absolutely no give to it. The lubricant is also very tacky; it is disturbing.

20mm fits the front perfectly.

As far as the rear goes, I would see if maybe a 17mm could fit on there. I did get the 16mm to go on, but it remains with the slightest gap where the bushing is split after install. The OEM bushing has a wedge shape to sit against the frame, whereas these do not. I don't know if that is what makes the difference. I didn't get a picture of the rear due to the thing we call "night." May get one tomorrow if anyone wants it.

I have no opinion on how they feel as of yet, but I'll report back when I drive the car.

Front fitment:

[RabidTRD]

Omg your bars have absolutely no rust on them at all lmao.

The rears were tight? Really? Mine slid on perfectly with no gap and were the same part number as those. That's odd. Maybe your sway bar is larger? Did your bushings have a stamped 16 on the side?

The rears should be shaped just like the fronts that you put on, just 16mm. What do you mean they weren't wedged? Is it possible the part is wrong?

This post has been edited by RabidTRD: Dec 10, 2011 - 11:19 PM

[Ted95]

nice work! anxious to hear how the car rides with them now

[samir0189]

Omg your bars have absolutely no rust on them at all lmao.

The rears were tight? Really? Mine slid on perfectly with no gap and were the same part number as those. That's odd. Maybe your sway bar is larger? Did your bushings have a stamped 16 on the side?

The rears should be shaped just like the fronts that you put on, just 16mm. What do you mean they weren't wedged? Is it possible the part is wrong?

Rabid, my bushings had no legible markings on them. To give you an idea of the shape they were in, the passenger front bushing came out in pieces. My rear oem bushings had a wedge shaped base, the new ones were shaped just like the front, like a "D" turned 90* counterclockwise. I don't know if that played a part in the gap, but I was just making known the observation.

It isn't a huge problem, it is still holding the bar well, the gap is minimal. but for anyone looking to get these, I'd suggest double checking the diameter by whatever means possible, because I'm really not sure if there are differing sizes amongst our cars or not.

nice work! anxious to hear how the car rides with them now

I have had a few days with them, and I must say, these are a great upgrade for the cost. If you have ever driven a car with worn struts and put on new ones, ... that feeling you get after driving on the new struts, is very similar to the feeling of these.

The car feels like it is sitting up higher; its a firmer feel all together. The steering response is much more precise. Also, I'm not sure how to describe it, but the "turn-in" is greatly improved. I can take a sharp corner faster and more on the inside line than I was able to before.

Body roll has been reduced by at least 50%. the car sits almost level on some serious turns, in comparison to before.

The rear end has a rock-solid feel to it. The Celica's tendency to over-steer doesn't change much, but these bushings do give a lot more feedback as to the cars capabilities and where that "let-go" point is, giving the driver much much more confidence in a corner.

Overall, for $35, I would say... why are you still reading this and not putting them on your car?!?!?



This post has been edited by samir0189: Dec 14, 2011 - 5:23 PM

[SupraKid]

Samir why did you get red bushings appose to black ones? The black ones are self lubricating for the same price.

[RabidTRD]

Do the colors really make a difference? I got black because I don't want my car getting solen.