Dano_944

Here's a good one for you tech-ies: When I bought my '87 N/A 944 the front sway bar (stock) was 'shifted' slightly to the right (passenger side). After replacing the bushings on it (All 4 horizontal), I re-centered it and tightened everything down. Two weeks pass and I look at the sway bar as I'm puttin' on the track tires.... low and behold the front sway bar has migrated to the right again. It doesn't affect the ride.... that I can tell.... but I'm just **** enough to want it to stay centered in place. Any suggestions or ideas? And, yes, I've considered upgrading to slightly beefier sways...... Thanks in advance!

jim968

I dunno if the stock bar has this... but when I upgraded my 968's bars to the Cup bars, the front bar has a groove & springy "E" clip near each end, outboard of the outer bushings. These act to keep the end of the bar from pulling into the outer bushing.

I suspect that this is there just to avoid this problem. You might clean the exposed end really well, and see if such a groove exists and is just missing the clip.

Jim, probably not...

Ferd

Put a couple of split washers on inner side of the two inner bushings. You know, the kind that are in two pieces and are held together with hex bolts. You can buy them at any bearing supply type store.

Danno

Yeah, like these:



Check out the links at the end of this thread on where to get them:

Biggest, widest tires/wheels on 1987 944???

Dano_944

Excellent! the end of the rod does not have a grove, but the split washer idea is great! Thanks!

*Rothmans*

Hey Dano, after taking off my sway bars today I can't help but notice the soft rubber bushings (even on the ends too!)
I know that if wear is present on either set of end bushings, it will slide over slightly to one side. There are aftermarket solutions that solve this problem inexpensively (ie.Weltmeister bushings) but you might get the off "squeak" from them. While you're at it change the whole lot, you might be surprised that it "tightens up" your steering feel!

Bob S. 1984 Silver

Here's an even cheaper fix..I had one car that did this. I drilled a hole through the end of the sway bar, installed a large holed washer and a cotter pin.

BTW. I found the reason later for the bar moving....front end (actually damage from the left front side) was hit and the stub frame had been shifted ever so slightly. Body work was done so well the damage was not evident until I did some side to side measurements from under the car. Wasn't mine, thank goodness..owner was not pleased...

Bob S.

Dano_944

Thanks all - Rothmans Challange, all the sway bar bushings are new.... all of 'em. The outer ones were just replaced 2 weeks ago (inners are 6 months old) and the bar re-adjusted. It still moved. Yes, it steers tight... just likes to push the sway bar to the right... based on the apparent paint overspray and slight discoloration of the driver's side front and rear fenders I'd say a possible collision-related situation is possible. I'll look harder at the mounts, etc. Great tip Bob S.!

Luke

I know the popular thing to do is to step up to cup bars but hasn't anybody tried welding supports across the corners of the stock bar? Or how about I smaller bar welded (across)? There is some room.