WooHoo! No more ringy-dingy noises from the front end! PICS!
02-18-2004, 10:19 AM
#41
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Originally Posted by acg_ssei
The scene is the executive boardroom at Moog Industries:
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD: Gentlemen, I can't understand this. In the past week, sales of Bonneville sway bar links have gone through the roof! We must increase production right away...
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD: Gentlemen, I can't understand this. In the past week, sales of Bonneville sway bar links have gone through the roof! We must increase production right away...
I'll be getting mine in a couple weeks. Can't wait for the results.
02-18-2004, 04:35 PM
#43
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UPDATE:
I was at the local dealer today trying to find the parts to replace my REAR stabilizer links, and discovered the following:
1. The rear links are NOT sold as a kit. You need for EACH SIDE: One bolt, one nut, 2 washers and 3 insulators (these are the little ball bushings). These are RUBBER.
2. The new FRONT link kits are still kits, but are redesigned and are CRAPOLA. Do NOT buy these from the dealer. One of the washers is plastic, and the spacer is plastic. I think this is what Pete has on one side, and they are VERY inferior in design. Buy the Energy Suspension front link kits at Autozone. All steel, and polyurethane instead of hard rubber.
3. If you want to do the rear, the insulators (or bushings) in the front and rear are EXACTLY the same GM part number. So what I would do (and will be doing) is buy the bolt and nut for each of the rears from GM (ordered.....I'll get the PN to you tomorrow), and go buy another set of front link kits from Autozone for the washers/insulators. You'll only need 3 on each side instead of 4.
I was at the local dealer today trying to find the parts to replace my REAR stabilizer links, and discovered the following:
1. The rear links are NOT sold as a kit. You need for EACH SIDE: One bolt, one nut, 2 washers and 3 insulators (these are the little ball bushings). These are RUBBER.
2. The new FRONT link kits are still kits, but are redesigned and are CRAPOLA. Do NOT buy these from the dealer. One of the washers is plastic, and the spacer is plastic. I think this is what Pete has on one side, and they are VERY inferior in design. Buy the Energy Suspension front link kits at Autozone. All steel, and polyurethane instead of hard rubber.
3. If you want to do the rear, the insulators (or bushings) in the front and rear are EXACTLY the same GM part number. So what I would do (and will be doing) is buy the bolt and nut for each of the rears from GM (ordered.....I'll get the PN to you tomorrow), and go buy another set of front link kits from Autozone for the washers/insulators. You'll only need 3 on each side instead of 4.
02-18-2004, 05:26 PM
#44
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Originally Posted by willwren
UPDATE:
I was at the local dealer today trying to find the parts to replace my REAR stabilizer links, and discovered the following:
1. The rear links are NOT sold as a kit. You need for EACH SIDE: One bolt, one nut, 2 washers and 3 insulators (these are the little ball bushings). These are RUBBER.
2. The new FRONT link kits are still kits, but are redesigned and are CRAPOLA. Do NOT buy these from the dealer. One of the washers is plastic, and the spacer is plastic. I think this is what Pete has on one side, and they are VERY inferior in design. Buy the Energy Suspension front link kits at Autozone. All steel, and polyurethane instead of hard rubber.
3. If you want to do the rear, the insulators (or bushings) in the front and rear are EXACTLY the same GM part number. So what I would do (and will be doing) is buy the bolt and nut for each of the rears from GM (ordered.....I'll get the PN to you tomorrow), and go buy another set of front link kits from Autozone for the washers/insulators. You'll only need 3 on each side instead of 4.
I was at the local dealer today trying to find the parts to replace my REAR stabilizer links, and discovered the following:
1. The rear links are NOT sold as a kit. You need for EACH SIDE: One bolt, one nut, 2 washers and 3 insulators (these are the little ball bushings). These are RUBBER.
2. The new FRONT link kits are still kits, but are redesigned and are CRAPOLA. Do NOT buy these from the dealer. One of the washers is plastic, and the spacer is plastic. I think this is what Pete has on one side, and they are VERY inferior in design. Buy the Energy Suspension front link kits at Autozone. All steel, and polyurethane instead of hard rubber.
3. If you want to do the rear, the insulators (or bushings) in the front and rear are EXACTLY the same GM part number. So what I would do (and will be doing) is buy the bolt and nut for each of the rears from GM (ordered.....I'll get the PN to you tomorrow), and go buy another set of front link kits from Autozone for the washers/insulators. You'll only need 3 on each side instead of 4.
Thanks!
02-18-2004, 05:40 PM
#45
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I'll know more specifics (with pics) tomorrow. Bolts are being shipped from Portland for the rear, and I'll buy more endlinks from AZ, kit it up, and take pics (and post numbers).
02-18-2004, 07:43 PM
#48
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Pete, I was looking at your pics again, and you DEFINITELY have the 'newer' GM design on one side. That fatter spacer is plastic. The thinner one, that looks like mine, is the original design.
The parts manager at my local Pontiac dealer was telling me that a large batch of 97 Bonnevilles (including his own) were shipped from the factory with ONE side missing. The whole endlink not installed. In a town of 45,000, they did SEVERAL installs of the newer design. I would think this plastic set would flex more, giving uneven results like yours, even when they were new.
Anyone with a 97 should verify that they have both endlinks on the front stabilizer bar, and that they're not mismatched.
The parts manager at my local Pontiac dealer was telling me that a large batch of 97 Bonnevilles (including his own) were shipped from the factory with ONE side missing. The whole endlink not installed. In a town of 45,000, they did SEVERAL installs of the newer design. I would think this plastic set would flex more, giving uneven results like yours, even when they were new.
Anyone with a 97 should verify that they have both endlinks on the front stabilizer bar, and that they're not mismatched.
02-18-2004, 08:09 PM
#49
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Stll clunking!!!
I replaced my front links last week like my post indicated. Problem was there was still a clunk in the front left wheel. I put the car up on the jacks tonight to have a looky see. Tight like a tiger and the struts are new as well. I got thinking back to the installation of the links and did remember that the left side did seem a little funny. I ended up having to really tighten the link down to get the threads the same length as the right side and it really squished the urethane spacers. As it turns out.... The left link that I bought was 1/2" shorter than the right. RRRRRRrrr. I torqued it down so tight that I flattened the spacers and I think the washers are grinding on the subframe. I hate getting the wrong parts and most of all I hate installing the wrong parts only to find out later. Another 15 bucks dopwn the drain.
02-18-2004, 08:33 PM
#50
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Originally Posted by willwren
Pete, I was looking at your pics again, and you DEFINITELY have the 'newer' GM design on one side. That fatter spacer is plastic. The thinner one, that looks like mine, is the original design.
The parts manager at my local Pontiac dealer was telling me that a large batch of 97 Bonnevilles (including his own) were shipped from the factory with ONE side missing. The whole endlink not installed. In a town of 45,000, they did SEVERAL installs of the newer design. I would think this plastic set would flex more, giving uneven results like yours, even when they were new.
Anyone with a 97 should verify that they have both endlinks on the front stabilizer bar, and that they're not mismatched.
The parts manager at my local Pontiac dealer was telling me that a large batch of 97 Bonnevilles (including his own) were shipped from the factory with ONE side missing. The whole endlink not installed. In a town of 45,000, they did SEVERAL installs of the newer design. I would think this plastic set would flex more, giving uneven results like yours, even when they were new.
Anyone with a 97 should verify that they have both endlinks on the front stabilizer bar, and that they're not mismatched.
Wow. I would assume it would be obvious that one side was missing, just by driving the car straight. That'* crazy! The black rubber one I have is hard as a rock it seems. How far should I tighted these new ones?