Author Topic: Stupid Question - What does Sway Bar Rubber Sleeve/Clamp do? (Read 12382 times)

Hans L · « **on:** February 06, 2012, 05:02:40 PM »

Ok, restored and re-installed the sway bar sleeve and clamp assembly over the weekend (the round rubber bushing next to the sway bar bracket). So what does this thing do?? Prevent some lateral motion/sliding of the sway bar? Sqeaking?? I don't recall my other GM cars having this ('69 Chevelle).

JohnZ · « **Reply #1 on:** February 06, 2012, 07:16:20 PM »

It prevents lateral motion - keeps the bar centered.

william · « **Reply #2 on:** February 06, 2012, 07:47:38 PM »

I've been at this for a long time and I've never seen a front sway bar the wasn't painted black at the factory.

Hans L · « **Reply #3 on:** February 06, 2012, 07:50:03 PM »

OK. I was suspecting lateral movement. Regarding color - if black is correct, easy to fix. Assume a lower luster black - like "30%"?

DT · « **Reply #4 on:** March 20, 2012, 08:16:40 PM »

I thought the sway bar color was Dark Phosphate ?

william · « **Reply #5 on:** March 20, 2012, 08:43:13 PM »

Nope-dip painted black.

Hans L · « **Reply #6 on:** March 21, 2012, 09:50:06 PM »

By the way, corrected the finish of the sway bar to black, though sprayed, not dipped:

DT · « **Reply #7 on:** March 21, 2012, 10:57:58 PM »

Very nice! Which black did you use on the sway bar ??

Hans L · « **Reply #8 on:** March 21, 2012, 11:06:12 PM »

Not sure how correct, but I used Krylon semi-gloss spray paint, per referencing the following sources & CRG feedback: http://www.67z28.com/finishes.htm

68rs327conv · « **Reply #9 on:** March 22, 2012, 12:27:01 AM »

I believe the sway bar bracket should also be painted black.

69Z28-RS · « **Reply #10 on:** March 22, 2012, 02:51:32 AM »

Wasn't all the parts that were *dipped* in black, dipped in the 'satin black' (like the reconditioning black?).. semi flat is closer than semi gloss.... if you're using kyrlon or the like..

DT · « **Reply #11 on:** March 22, 2012, 02:25:12 PM »

I painted my sway bar phosphate because I was on HeartBeat City's web site and they list the color as phosphate in the sway bar description. So black is it then. Thanks
http://www.heartbeatcitycamaro.com/store/product/18353/Camaro-Front-sway-bar-HD-COPO-13-16-69/

NoYenko · « **Reply #12 on:** March 28, 2012, 12:13:33 AM »

Hans, over the weekend I took my swaybar pieces apart to refinish and noted the 360 degree bushing clamps were dark phosphate on both. See photo. George.

69Z28-RS · « **Reply #13 on:** March 28, 2012, 05:05:22 AM »

Isn't it likely that they were phosphated after manufacture, shipped to the assembly plant, then painted black after assembly onto the subframe?

Sauron327 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 28, 2012, 11:33:01 AM »

Quote from: 69Z28-RS on March 28, 2012, 05:05:22 AM

Isn't it likely that they were phosphated after manufacture, shipped to the assembly plant, then painted black after assembly onto the subframe?

Subframes were not painted as an assembly.

68camaroz28 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 28, 2012, 12:19:58 PM »

George's picture is quite interesting. Both our 68 sway bar and brackets were painted black with the brackets seemingly dipped as many others due to small runs.

Hans L · « **Reply #16 on:** March 28, 2012, 05:50:04 PM »

Interesting. I painted the sway bar brackets a semi-gloss black, same color as the sway bar itself which appears to be correct now.

But the sleeve clamps had light surface rust so I assumed they were natural finish. I don't recollect seeing any paint remanents. Easily could have been phosphated as that does not last long. Also, from the picture posted, the insides appear dark (phosphate). No chance it could just be the black bushing rubber rubbing off on the inside? Does it appear the outer surfaces were phospated as well? I see light surface rust and natural metal, which is why I'm asking.

No expert, so looking for advice as well.

NoYenko · « **Reply #17 on:** March 29, 2012, 02:16:29 PM »

The "U" clamps holding the sway bar to the subframe on my car were definitely dip painted black. But the bushing sleeve clamp was rusted on the outside without paint.
I took it to a wire wheel before blasting it to see if it was silver zinc or black on the outside. It sure looked like it was dark phosphate. The zinc or phosphate blasts off very quick as is thin. A dipped painted part is harder to remove the paint. There were 2 rubber marks from the seam in the bushings that were harder to remove than the phosphate. The inside of the clamp had the rough feel to it like phosphate. George.

randfr · « **Reply #18 on:** October 09, 2012, 03:15:03 AM »

any ideas on where to buy the rubber insulators that go into the metal clamp? or a decent substitution?

an online place that sells the metal clamp suggests "You will need to reuse your old rubber insulators or cut rubber strips to insulate the bracket."

Prackman · « **Reply #19 on:** October 22, 2014, 10:51:34 PM »

"any ideas on where to buy the rubber insulators that go into the metal clamp? or a decent substitution?"

Any updates on a source for the rubber components?

News:

Author Topic: Stupid Question - What does Sway Bar Rubber Sleeve/Clamp do? (Read 12382 times)