Walking swaybars driving u NUTS?? Here's a <$3.00 Home Depot Solution... WITH PICS

iwitarsa · 07-14-2007, 11:02 AM

"Walking swaybar" is the phenomena that only occur with aftermarket swaybars (especially the rear one) where it moves left & right which skews the vertical position of the endlinks. Endlinks that are not vertical are prone to cause some noise issues and other problems.

Well... i listened to nhluhr's advice that walking swaybar is not a problem and told him that i'll just ignore it...... BUT i just couldn't resist!

I just had to do something about it!!

I've heard some other people tried fixing it by using a piece of rubber and hose clamps, so that was what i intended to do. So i go to a local HOME DEPOT looking for a hose clamp and a piece of rubber. Asked some dude wearing those orange aprons where can i find hose clamps and he told me the "plumbing section".

So i walked over there scratching my head, looking for the clamp, and to my surprise i found this:

(Well i've taken out the content since i took this pic after i installed them)

It's an all in one solution for my problem!!!! This thing basically contains a rubber pipe that tapers down on one end and 2 clamps. So i paid for it on one of those self check out machines, pick up the receipt:

Well it's $3.22 with CA sales tax. If you're not in CA then $2.97 for you!

Then I rushed to my mechanic friend's shop.

After i get there, i opened the packaging and borrowed a cutting knife (x-acto blade would be the best) from my mechanic friend's wife, and this is what i did to the part:

What's left over should be these 2 pieces

Then get your car up on those rotary lift, center your swaybar, then put on those rubber pipes you just cut along with the clamps on the swaybar.

One piece of rubber pipe + clamp for the left and another one piece of rubber pipe + clamp for the right. Inside or outside the bushing holding

the swaybar is ok, but make sure you only either put both of them outside or both of them inside. Anyway I put mind both on the outside of the bushing holding the swaybar. Make sure the clamps are real tight!!

They should look like this installed:

Left

Right

Took only 10 minutes in the shop.

After i finished i thanked the mechanic that was helping me and the shop owners wife's told me to just call her husband later. She doen't know how much to charge me. And so i left for work.

When i arrived at work i checked under the car, and the clamps are working!! Before, without the clamps the swaybar moved towards the right side more than an inch. With the clamps it only moved less than 1/4" to the right.

So total time it took me about 40 minutes to perform this simple fix (20 minutes round trip drive, 10 minutes at home depot and 10 minutes at the shop). You can even do at home if you have all the right tools and equipment. Happy modding!!

Ian

mxpop · 07-14-2007, 11:09 AM

nice and ingeious solution.

i esp like the included receipt just in case any of us thought you were lying about the price!

btw, you forgot to include the gas receipt for the drive to and from hd!

iwitarsa · 07-14-2007, 11:14 AM

hahaha, yah i forgot about the gas. Probably cost me .5 gallon for the drive. In CA that's about $1.60

Total cost $3.22 + $1.60 = $4.82 still less than 5 bucks!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by mxpop

nice and ingeious solution.

i esp like the included receipt just in case any of us thought you were lying about the price!

btw, you forgot to include the gas receipt for the drive to and from hd!

mxpop · 07-14-2007, 11:21 AM

^^^^^^^^

07-14-2007, 11:02 AM	#1
iwitarsa Junior STI Driver Posts: 144 Join Date: May 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Walking swaybars driving u NUTS?? Here's a <$3.00 Home Depot Solution... WITH PICS "Walking swaybar" is the phenomena that only occur with aftermarket swaybars (especially the rear one) where it moves left & right which skews the vertical position of the endlinks. Endlinks that are not vertical are prone to cause some noise issues and other problems. Well... i listened to nhluhr's advice that walking swaybar is not a problem and told him that i'll just ignore it...... BUT i just couldn't resist! I just had to do something about it!! I've heard some other people tried fixing it by using a piece of rubber and hose clamps, so that was what i intended to do. So i go to a local HOME DEPOT looking for a hose clamp and a piece of rubber. Asked some dude wearing those orange aprons where can i find hose clamps and he told me the "plumbing section". So i walked over there scratching my head, looking for the clamp, and to my surprise i found this: (Well i've taken out the content since i took this pic after i installed them) It's an all in one solution for my problem!!!! This thing basically contains a rubber pipe that tapers down on one end and 2 clamps. So i paid for it on one of those self check out machines, pick up the receipt: Well it's $3.22 with CA sales tax. If you're not in CA then $2.97 for you! Then I rushed to my mechanic friend's shop. After i get there, i opened the packaging and borrowed a cutting knife (x-acto blade would be the best) from my mechanic friend's wife, and this is what i did to the part: What's left over should be these 2 pieces Then get your car up on those rotary lift, center your swaybar, then put on those rubber pipes you just cut along with the clamps on the swaybar. One piece of rubber pipe + clamp for the left and another one piece of rubber pipe + clamp for the right. Inside or outside the bushing holding the swaybar is ok, but make sure you only either put both of them outside or both of them inside. Anyway I put mind both on the outside of the bushing holding the swaybar. Make sure the clamps are real tight!! They should look like this installed: Left Right Took only 10 minutes in the shop. After i finished i thanked the mechanic that was helping me and the shop owners wife's told me to just call her husband later. She doen't know how much to charge me. And so i left for work. When i arrived at work i checked under the car, and the clamps are working!! Before, without the clamps the swaybar moved towards the right side more than an inch. With the clamps it only moved less than 1/4" to the right. So total time it took me about 40 minutes to perform this simple fix (20 minutes round trip drive, 10 minutes at home depot and 10 minutes at the shop). You can even do at home if you have all the right tools and equipment. Happy modding!! Ian This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

07-14-2007, 11:09 AM	#2
mxpop Spec C Club Car: '06 STI Fav Mod: air freshener!!! Location: Santa barbara area Posts: 2,300 Join Date: Jan 2006 Trader Rating: (2)	Re: Walking swaybars driving u NUTS?? Here's a <$3.00 Home Depot Solution... WITH PICS nice and ingeious solution. i esp like the included receipt just in case any of us thought you were lying about the price! btw, you forgot to include the gas receipt for the drive to and from hd!

07-14-2007, 11:21 AM	#4
mxpop Spec C Club Car: '06 STI Fav Mod: air freshener!!! Location: Santa barbara area Posts: 2,300 Join Date: Jan 2006 Trader Rating: (2)	Re: Walking swaybars driving u NUTS?? Here's a <$3.00 Home Depot Solution... WITH PICS ^^^^^^^^ This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.