DodgeCoronet.com

Greetings -

I've had this car practically forever, but it's an original, and I'm taking some of it apart for literally the first time ever. So, lots of this is new to me, and I appreciate the help of those of you who've done this before. I'm putting new anti-sway bar links and bushings on my '67 R/T, and have a few questions.

Since my simple projects typically grow into more involved ones, I decided to remove the bar for restoration while I had the ends unfastened. My intent was to remove the mounting brackets, blast and refinish everything back to original, and install with new end links.

After getting the anti-sway bar out on the floor, it appears that the mounting brackets were factory welded around the bushings and bar. I'm assuming there's no non-destructive way to remove the brackets. Mine are in great shape, and original, so I'm not interested in replacing them. If anyone has a non-destructive removal method, please let me know.

Does anyone know the correct factory finish on the mounting brackets? Mine have a rust finish, so I'm assuming that they were probably either zinc plated or just left bare. Any ideas? Regarding the bar itself, I cleaned a portion of the center with a toothbrush, and found a non-coated, bare heat treated steel finish. Much like the drum brake backing plates, or leaf springs. This is the way I intend refinish the bar itself.

If I can't get the mounts off the bar, then I plan to scoot them back and forth, mechanically strip the bar and components, and refinish everything insitu. This will be harder than being able to disassemble everything and do the parts separately, but is do-able.

Cheers!

JD

Very simple first drill the rubbers do not use too big of a drill bit maybe 3/16 and drill through and reem them out being careful not to hit none of the metal until they're so destroyed just pull right out.
To put them on is a tad more complicated first clean your bar really well if it's got flaked paint or a little rusted you want the bar to have smooth surface to be able to slide the rubbers into the position that they need to be use WD-40 for this process after you get into the position they need to be in take the brackets make sure they're on the correct orientation you're going to notice on the inner edge of where the rubber has to slide into it's has a little sharp edge take the sharpness off I used A grinder to do This at this point make sure the bar is greased where the rubber Will permanently stay and the outside of the bushing also slide the bracket as to start one side in slightly take a set of waterpump pliers and go around and squeeze the rubber into the bracket
As to the original color of those parts that I'm not sure of mine were all painted black

I had the same confusion when I restored ours. I painted all semi gloss black. To get the bushings in I boiled a pot of water and dropped the bushings in. Let them get good and warm and then pressed them into the brackets. I warmed them again and used some soap to slide them over the sway bar. Getting them over the end loop was the hardest part and then they just slid into position. MAKE SURE you pay attention to the way the bar and brackets are mounted. The bends in the bar like which side goes up and how the brackets are orientated. I had a brain fart doing ours and this isn't something you wanna have to take back apart if you don't have to! Take pics! They're free and always help later!

Thanks guys! Guess it makes sense that I'd have to destroy the rubber to disassemble. Not what I wanted to do, but better than cutting off the strap mounts. I've got the bar cleaned up to bare steel now, and have the bracket assemblies moving on the bar freely. I'm familiar with the drilling exercise, because I used that method to remove the front spring hanger bushings in my leaf springs; works pretty good.

If I understand you correctly, to assemble, you slide the rubber bushings onto the bar, then put the brackets on and clamp them together. I'd hate to try and assemble first, then slide over the end of the bar. But, if you did it that way, then I'll give it a shot. I plan to use the factory-style rubber bushings instead of polyurethane, which should make it easier to assemble either method I use.

Thanks!

JD

They went over the loop pretty easy while mounted inside the brackets. Just don't slip and bust a knuckle and use some dish soap! I feel it would be easier that way than trying to squeeze the rubber into that bracket while on the bar. But I didn't try to do it that way so who knows!

67RTBlue Wrote:They went over the loop pretty easy while mounted inside the brackets. Just don't slip and bust a knuckle and use some dish soap! I feel it would be easier that way than trying to squeeze the rubber into that bracket while on the bar. But I didn't try to do it that way so who knows!

Sounds good; I'll give it a shot that way. Now to find the bushings. All I can find are the polyurethane kind. Who sells the OEM rubber style?

Thanks!

JD

Well, I can't find anyone who sells OEM-style front anti-sway bar bushings. All I can find are polyurethane. Can anyone help with a source? Any help is appreciated.

Thanks!

JD

The ones I used were poly and I had to cut the weld and put back together. Poly won't squeeze in like the rubber. I asked a very talented welder to do it for me and they came out fine.

ws27 Wrote:The ones I used were poly and I had to cut the weld and put back together. Poly won't squeeze in like the rubber. I asked a very talented welder to do it for me and they came out fine.

Hoping to avoid that. If that ends up being my only option, I'll just detail things in place, and not take it apart.

Thanks!

JD

One more bump, and then I'm going to just paint everything in place.

Does anyone know a source for OEM-style rubber front anti-sway bar bushings?

Thanks!

JD