I have the swaybar and it's original brackets from a late '70's Z28 with new Energy suspension bushings. The channel that the bracket fits in is too narrow for the stock bracket.
I know this is a popular swap. What did you guys do to solve this problem?

What bushings did you guys use? I'd like to use poly bushings but will use rubber MOOG if I have to. Thanks.

Matt

 

"the channel that the bracket fits in is too narrow for teh stock bracket"

No clue what that could possibly mean?

There are two holes on the bottom of each frame horn... the sway bar bracket bolts to those holes.

Are you saying the holes are too close together? that is common- squeeze your bracket together in a vice a bit, and hog out the holes with a grinder.

The engergy suspension bushings should have their own mounting brackets, they don't work with the original rubber bushing mounting brackets.

Unless you are saying something else altogether...

Like the saying goes- a picture is worth a 1000 words.

 

The energy suspension bracket will not line up with the holes in the frame. When I tried to use the bushing with the stock z28 swaybar bracket the energy susp bushing won't fit b/c the bushing has a raised ridge on either side that forms the channel the bracket fits into. This channel fits the aftermarket bracket but not the OEM Z28 bracket.


So what do you guys use for this swap?

 

Ok- this makes more sense & its fairly common.

Do as i mentioned above and squeeze the bracket in a vice to pinch it together a little bit.
Then Hog out the holes a little bit on the bracket so they can go inward a bit if they are not already- they will need to be almost flush with the center "rise" in the bracket.
If you have washers, grind one side flat so it can tuck in closer to the center.

When you install the bolts, start both bolts at the same time with the bracket hanging totally loose- turn them each in a bit at a time and they will squeeze the bracket into shape as they go into the frame.

I've had to do that on most of the 1 1/4" upgraded swaybar bushing housings i've installed to get them to go on.
The one for the huge 1 3/8 Hotchkis swaybar was the hardest, but even it eventually went on with the factory holes.

 

Ben,
Thanks. I did what you suggested earlier and we were able to make it all work. We got the grand cherokee box in once we adjusted the rag joint.

Matt