Sway bar bushings among other steering components

[green55]

Discovered this last night while looking at some other things. Y'all help me out here, but I believe they're my sway bar bushings and uh...they're basically non-existent.

I took a picture of the ends of the sway bar where it connects to the plate on top of the springs. The rubber in that also looks like its toast.

Think I can get away with just replacing the bushings and leaving the ends for now? And if I do replace it all...should I just replace the sway bar too? As you can see, it's got a healthy dose of surface rust (along with everything else under there).

Any recommendations on any brand/products for any of these parts?

 

[green55]

I've also been poking around the site. Looks like tons of people just don't run with a sway bar at all. My truck is pretty much all highway, so no advantage in getting extra flex offroad.

 

[Clark75K5]

Hard to go wrong with Moog, and I'd replace the outer bushings at the same time.
Might as well go to town with a wire wheel and paint it while its out, can't hurt. Structurally I would bet it is still sound.

I'm not surprised some people run without them. Mine is lifted 4" and I don't like the body roll around corners so I got me a quick disconnect kit from ORD.

 

[green55]

The inner ones look very straight forward to replace. Just unbolt the supports, take off the old ones, put on the new ones. Seems like you can do all of this with the suspension loaded too, which is good because I don't have a jack.

Anything tricky about the outer bushings? I'm having trouble finding them, but I may just not know the correct name to search.

And what do y'all usually paint parts with that lasts pretty well to prevent future rust after cleaning them up?

 

[sweetk30]

2 bolt per frame side to swap .

Ends drill out old rubber . Clean hole . Pop in new poly .

I just brush on rustoleum black with a cheep .99 cent brush .

Here is a bushing kit . offroad design is a long time vendor here . Great people.

Swaybar Bushings - Sway Bar Accessories - Suspension

www.offroaddesign.com

 

[green55]

Good stuff. Thanks!

 

[green55]

Alright I got a couple more steering related pics/questions now that I've looked a little closer. Which of these do y'all think I should replace? Can all of these be done without a floor jack by a newbie? Will any of these require an alignment after being replaced? I don't want to replace parts just to replace parts, but obviously want to be safe.

Seems like the steering stabilizer needs to be replaced. Its leaking something...


Also took a look at the tie rod ends. Drivers side is covered in all sorts of crud in the first pic. Not sure if it actually needs to be replaced or if its just dirty as hell. Passenger doesn't look as bad. What do y'all think?


And last thing...I'm actually not sure what this is...looks like it indirectly attaches to the steering box...but looks like it could be in better shape lol what is this and what do y'all think?

 

[Clark75K5]

Looks like something is leaking onto the steering stabilizer but that thing looks ancient. and probably isn't doing anything. Is your steering tight? The steering box to knuckle is the steering arm, and the grease leaks out of the boot, sometimes due to over greasing, then everything in the world sticks to it. If your steering is fine just grease. On anything I get with unknown age, I replace. Could be OE stuff there.

Suspension stuff is easy to do in the driveway. If you replace the tie rods you'll need an alignment.

 

[green55]

Its pretty much all ancient lol. Sat for most of the last 12 years until January.

Def wouldn't say its tight. I can move the wheel between 10-2 with pretty much no steering response, then its fine after that. I got an alignment done when I had tires put on about a week ago and they said my steering box is pretty worn but not bad enough to require immediate replacement, so I figure that would be some of it.

I'll see if I can track down what could be leaking onto the steering stabilizer. It does look fresh...

 

[sweetk30]

Looks like something is leaking onto the steering stabilizer but that thing looks ancient. and probably isn't doing anything. Is your steering tight? The steering box to knuckle is the steering arm, and the grease leaks out of the boot, sometimes due to over greasing, then everything in the world sticks to it. If your steering is fine just grease. On anything I get with unknown age, I replace. Could be OE stuff there.

Suspension stuff is easy to do in the driveway. If you replace the tie rods you'll need an alignment.

X2 .

Steering box arm = pitman arm .
Axle / knuckle arm = steering arm .
Link for both is = drag link .

90% of that grime is old grease that gets purged and dirt stick to it .

Steering dampaner / shock ( not the same as reg shocks tho ) prob is worn and seal leaking . No alignment after swap required . But check above for leak from p/s pump area .

Drag link ends replaced = YOU CAN ADJUST and not need alignment . This part only centers the steering wheel.

Tie rods to the wheels can be set with tape measure toe set . Read up on this . Or pay FULL price at a shop for a toe set . Caster & Camber require special parts and labor NOT included in a std alignment for our style parts on these trucks .

 

[Clark75K5]

A lot of that slop in your steering wheel can be either rag joint or gear box related. (or both!) OR from a cracked frame horn where the steering box mounts. (probably all 3!)
@sweetk30 I had an alignment done very recently and they said they needed special shims they couldn't get anymore to get any camber in it - and the best they could do was get it to zero.

 

[sweetk30]

@Clark75K5 the shims go between the spindle and knuckle face . so the whole out side of each axle has to be torn down to do this . and if they get it wrong since you can clock them you need to do it ALL over again .

all the axles i have torn down and been in i might have seen less than 1/2 dozen shims in 20+ years . few off set ball joints but there is problems with them also .

i watch caster and tie on our old trucks more than anything .

 

[green55]

Ok thanks for the info guys. I’ll clean all the crud build up off of the steering arm and tie rods and see how they look.

Really hoping I don’t have a crack in my frame. I’ve read in here that can be an issue. Whenever I replace the steering box, I’m going to put on the ORD support brace. Don’t know I’ll be able to do the steering box myself, I’m sure I’ll be starting a thread about that down the road lol

If I need an alignment when I replace the tie rods, I may just hold off in that.

Sway bar bushings and the steering dampener seem straight forward. Mainly just bolt on stuff, so I think I’ll tackle those first and see how it goes. Easy wins hopefully

Going to go with the bushing set you sent above and this steering stabilizer. https://www.offroaddesign.com/bilstein-steering-stabilizer.html

Don’t know if it’s worth the extra money for the bilstein, but planning on doing bilstein shocks so I guess it’d be nice if they all match in the end. I think that’s the right one, they only have 1 size listed on their site

 

[green55]

Actually shipping is $25 for the already more expensive Bilstein from them. So going to get the bushings from them, but go a different direction with the steering stabilizer. Not sure what yet though

 

[green55]

Alright I decided screw it. I’m going to do the tie rod ends and drag link while I’m messing with all of it. So that’ll be all sway bar bushings, steering stabilizer, tie rods and drag link connecting the pitman arm to the steering knuckle. Couple more questions now though.

what grease should I be using?

anything else I should look at after replacing all this before I get an alignment done? Trying to avoid paying for extra alignments

 

[sweetk30]

Why do all the rod ends if there is nothing wrong with them . ? Have you checked them for play ?

Have you checked the frame for cracks at the box area ?

Have you checked the rag joint going to steering box ?

Have you checked ball joints ? Or know how to correctly with a jack and BIG LONG prybar ?

And what grade of new parts do you plan to use ? There is a LOT of cheep a$$ sh!t out there these days that is basicly bad out of the box or in a few tho miles.

 

[green55]

Why do all the rod ends if there is nothing wrong with them . ? Have you checked them for play ?

Mainly because I have no idea how long they been in there. At least 15 years because I know they haven’t been replaced since the first time I drove the car. It seems like the boot has failed on a couple of them, but maybe they’re fine. I’ll look closer today. If I can’t get play by hand, then they’re probably good?

Have you checked the frame for cracks at the box area ?

I have and didn’t see anything. I’ve heard sometime you can’t see it until the steering box is out though?

Have you checked the rag joint going to steering box ?

How do you check this?

Have you checked ball joints ? Or know how to correctly with a jack and BIG LONG prybar ?

I don’t have a jack so can’t check. I live in an apartment and just have no room for one.

And what grade of new parts do you plan to use ? There is a LOT of cheep a$$ sh!t out there these days that is basicly bad out of the box or in a few tho miles.

I was going to go with Moog

 

[green55]

Alright took a closer look. I have a little play in the tie rod ends. First video is the passenger side. Drivers side was about the same.

drag link ends have a ton of play. That’s second video.

 

[green55]

I think the rag joint is good. It doesn’t seem to have any play to me.

 

[Wes Harden]

idk if me or what, but I don't see the video's, just the play bar at bottom of what would be a video window.