This week I decided to treat myself to Polyflex rear anti sway bar bushes, the 4 washer shaped ones that attach the linkage to the axle/whishbone. They are cheap $23.00 so I decided to give them a try.

Now I had replaced my rear sway bar linkage around 1 year ago. Today when I went to do the "upgrade" I was shocked to find the original bushes were all but disintegrated! I've been riding on metal to metal for who knows how long.

I put the new ones on, a really easy job (hint don't jack the vehicle up - full weight on the wheels - it is a 16mm nut, torque to 44 nm), I took her for a test drive.

I had been feeling more body sway than I liked. It happens so gradually I attributed it to "well this is a GT", and pretty much lived with it. Boy was I wrong. The feeling is back - wow I'd have never thought these 4 little toroidal bushes could make such a big difference. They sure do.

Let me put it this way. If you're thinking of how she used to handle a bit tighter, now it seems like the rear swims around a bit, but you're questioning yourself thinking "ah I'm embellishing it in my mind", well take a quick look at your rear sway bar bushes. I was happily surprised at the differnce having a functioning one can make, let alone having a Poly in there.

Hope it helps you too.

John

 

Thanks for info, please share the supplier or who you purchased the items from and part #'s?

 

kstevusa, Here are the bushings I spoke about. Jaguar XK8 XK8R Rear Anti Roll Bar Link Rubbers

Took her for another drive today, it is not placeboo effect. Big smile on my face.

John

 

Thanks for link. Happiness is !!!!

 

Given that the original bushings were essentially gone, it's not surprising that replacement of any type would make a big difference. Much of the aftermarket supplying poly bushings are now using inferior materials, I'd keep a close eye on the new pieces you've installed to see.

 

I hate to be pedantic, but this "sway bar" thing really gets up my nose. It's NOT an anti sway bar, it's an anti roll bar. Swaying is a side to side movement, the anti roll bar prevents body roll. There are no "bars" that prevent sway, none. That is job of the suspension, and anti roll bars are not load bearing parts, therefor not actually a part of the "suspension", just like shock absorbers. Both shocks and roll bars aid the suspension, but once again are not load bearing parts. You can remove all of them and suspension will not collapse.
In short I don't know what improvement Johken is feeling, but I can assure you replacing anti roll bar bushings will not cure a rear end that is "swimming around".
Sorry, rant over.
Regards,

 

White bear, thanks for the learning, I think this is one for hose terms that get used so much in some places (I'm from the north east USA) that they become acceptable by default. But believe me I understand where you are coming from. [No, "premise" is not the singular of "premises" I always shout inside my head every time I hear it . .]��.

But don't take what I said the wrong way, I was trying to describe the improvement in felt and tried to put into words. No one should think it cured anything. Just a huge improvement for 20 bucks mate.

Thanks again for teach ing us the difference between theach 2 terms, I never realized.

To Mikey's point, I m going to keep an eye on this

 

This is true. Also the bit that covers the engine is a 'bonnet' and the bit at the back where you put your shopping is a 'boot'.

 

In the U.S. "Disc Brakes" are called "Disc Brakes", but the "disc" is called a "rotor".
So why aren't they called "Rotor Brakes"?

 

I think you mean disk brakes.

 

I actually closed a UK jaguar forum in frustration yesterday - I couldn't follow their description about "the hood". In the end I think it's a word for roof, top, convertible...

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panhard_rod


The only 'Americanism' I dont quite get is 'rocker' (='sill'), but that's the beauty of language

Johnken, thanks for the tip. It was a grovelling around the garage floor day today so I checked mine out. Thankfully, still OK, but good to hear it won't cost yet another kidney to replace them when the day comes.

Mike

 

hmm... with early cars people used to strap a trunk on the back (e.g. watch Downton Abbey). I can see why calling it a trunk on today's cars makes more sense than boot!

 

I always thought the area behind the seats in early cars was a Boot, because 1.) it looks like a boot and 2) there was no door or "lid" to access this area.

 

Also The roll bar has turned into the roll cage, but originally was a U shaped bar that kept the driver from being crushed when the car rolled over. Think Audi TT conv.

 

Isn't it there to counterbalance the weight of the Anti Roll Bars?

Graham