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For those of you with 87-88 TC's that have been wanting the new type of greaseable sway bar bushings, here's some important info.
I recently purchased the GSBB from Energy Susp. which supposedly they had them to fit the TC's.... WRONG!
Do NOT order the following ES part #'s for an 87-88 TC, they will not fit!
Wrong parts listed for 87-88 TC:
- End link kit PN 9.8119 (these fit Mustangs)
- Grease. Sway Bar Bushing Kit PN 4.5161 (these fit Mustangs)
The problem(s):
- End link spacer are too short
- Sway bar inner bracket is too short
NOW FOR THE GOOD NEWS:
After numerous phone calls and packages from Energy Susp., we've got it worked out(I hope). They have not updated the part numbers as of yet, but here's what I know and have currently.
87-88 TC:
- End link kit PN 9.8121
Now for the GSBBushings... ES has a tall inner bracket that is correct and works. You reuse the outer OEM bracket with the new ES inner bracket which has a grease fitting along with the poly greaseable bushing.
87-88 TC:
- ES GSBBushing Tall Bracket PN 15.12.42.39 be sure to ask for 90 degree zerk fittings because you can't get to the straight ones because they are inside the inner bracket.
The guy at ES that I've been talking with has been out of the office for a few days so I have not been able to get all this straight. Hopefully they are putting a GSBB kit together for out cars and eventually updating there application charts.
If you want either of the above end link kit or greaseable sway bar bushing kit from Energy Suspension, you need to do the following before ordering anything!!:
1- measure the end link spacer between the upper and lower bushings. For 87-88's it should be 4 1/8"+/-. If you come up with something different you need to order a kit based on that lenght. Note... this is the way JEG's sells the end link kits, by lenght, not part number.
2- measure the diameter of your sway bar right next to the bushing. Some come up 1 5/16" and some 1 1/4" (which is mine). All bushing kits are ordered by diameter first, then part number.
3- measure the oem inner sway bar bracket height (and width, both side to side and bracket width). Height is the important one. For the 87-88 is should be 2 3/8"+/- tall by 1 7/16" wide and the bracket (or band) width is 1 11/16"
Once you have all your dimensions, call Energy Suspension 949-361-3935 and ask to speak with John in the Tech Dept. and tell him what year car you have, the dim's and what you want. He will give you the part numbers and you can find out where and how to order them.
When you go to install the GSBBushings:
- loose fit everything first
- make sure the zerk's are facing inward towards the opposite side or middle of the car
- install the end link kits loosely
I greased all the bushings and washers too just to avoid sweaks later on.
NOTE: you have to install these with the cars weight on the suspension ((such as on ramps)). Do not jack the car up or let the susp. hang down.)
- once everything is lined up, tighten the end links until the bushing slightly bulge out past the washers, usually about 15-20 ft/lbs.
- tighten the sway bar brackets
NOTE, be certain that the bracket and bushing line up so the zerk fitting lines up with the hole in the bushing
- check everything for fit
- grease the zerks until it comes out the sides of the bushings.
NOTE, be sure to hold the grease gun tip on the zerk with pressure.
For those who don't want to go with Energy Susp. parts, you can remove the OE bracket, drill/tap it and install a 90 degree zerk, then order the greaseable bushings (which come with brackets regardless). You may want to enlarge the bushing hole slightly because the zerk will extend down into the bushing farther than using the ES bracket because theirs are concaved slightly around the zerk on the bushing side.
Lastly, yeah as if this isn't long enough already!
If you find the dimensions, parts, numbers, etc. to be different on your car.... write down all the info and measurements. Then call Energy Suspensions tech dept. and tell them what you have and what you need. Ask them to research it and correct their application charts.
Next, email all that info to me/us so we can post it on the FAQ's Page and Tech Articles Page. And by all means, please post what you find here on the board. With a consorted effort, we can get some of the aftermarket companies straight on parts for our cars.
Hopes this helps someone. I'll keep after Energy Suspension about create a kit for the GSBBushing as well as correcting their application charts.
I recently purchased the GSBB from Energy Susp. which supposedly they had them to fit the TC's.... WRONG!
Do NOT order the following ES part #'s for an 87-88 TC, they will not fit!
Wrong parts listed for 87-88 TC:
- End link kit PN 9.8119 (these fit Mustangs)
- Grease. Sway Bar Bushing Kit PN 4.5161 (these fit Mustangs)
The problem(s):
- End link spacer are too short
- Sway bar inner bracket is too short
NOW FOR THE GOOD NEWS:
After numerous phone calls and packages from Energy Susp., we've got it worked out(I hope). They have not updated the part numbers as of yet, but here's what I know and have currently.
87-88 TC:
- End link kit PN 9.8121
Now for the GSBBushings... ES has a tall inner bracket that is correct and works. You reuse the outer OEM bracket with the new ES inner bracket which has a grease fitting along with the poly greaseable bushing.
87-88 TC:
- ES GSBBushing Tall Bracket PN 15.12.42.39 be sure to ask for 90 degree zerk fittings because you can't get to the straight ones because they are inside the inner bracket.
The guy at ES that I've been talking with has been out of the office for a few days so I have not been able to get all this straight. Hopefully they are putting a GSBB kit together for out cars and eventually updating there application charts.
If you want either of the above end link kit or greaseable sway bar bushing kit from Energy Suspension, you need to do the following before ordering anything!!:
1- measure the end link spacer between the upper and lower bushings. For 87-88's it should be 4 1/8"+/-. If you come up with something different you need to order a kit based on that lenght. Note... this is the way JEG's sells the end link kits, by lenght, not part number.
2- measure the diameter of your sway bar right next to the bushing. Some come up 1 5/16" and some 1 1/4" (which is mine). All bushing kits are ordered by diameter first, then part number.
3- measure the oem inner sway bar bracket height (and width, both side to side and bracket width). Height is the important one. For the 87-88 is should be 2 3/8"+/- tall by 1 7/16" wide and the bracket (or band) width is 1 11/16"
Once you have all your dimensions, call Energy Suspension 949-361-3935 and ask to speak with John in the Tech Dept. and tell him what year car you have, the dim's and what you want. He will give you the part numbers and you can find out where and how to order them.
When you go to install the GSBBushings:
- loose fit everything first
- make sure the zerk's are facing inward towards the opposite side or middle of the car
- install the end link kits loosely
I greased all the bushings and washers too just to avoid sweaks later on.
NOTE: you have to install these with the cars weight on the suspension ((such as on ramps)). Do not jack the car up or let the susp. hang down.)
- once everything is lined up, tighten the end links until the bushing slightly bulge out past the washers, usually about 15-20 ft/lbs.
- tighten the sway bar brackets
NOTE, be certain that the bracket and bushing line up so the zerk fitting lines up with the hole in the bushing
- check everything for fit
- grease the zerks until it comes out the sides of the bushings.
NOTE, be sure to hold the grease gun tip on the zerk with pressure.
For those who don't want to go with Energy Susp. parts, you can remove the OE bracket, drill/tap it and install a 90 degree zerk, then order the greaseable bushings (which come with brackets regardless). You may want to enlarge the bushing hole slightly because the zerk will extend down into the bushing farther than using the ES bracket because theirs are concaved slightly around the zerk on the bushing side.
Lastly, yeah as if this isn't long enough already!
If you find the dimensions, parts, numbers, etc. to be different on your car.... write down all the info and measurements. Then call Energy Suspensions tech dept. and tell them what you have and what you need. Ask them to research it and correct their application charts.
Next, email all that info to me/us so we can post it on the FAQ's Page and Tech Articles Page. And by all means, please post what you find here on the board. With a consorted effort, we can get some of the aftermarket companies straight on parts for our cars.
Hopes this helps someone. I'll keep after Energy Suspension about create a kit for the GSBBushing as well as correcting their application charts.
NATO Member
3 - 88 TURBOCOUPES www.turbotbird.com/showroom/nk_88tc.html
90 Mustang LX 5.0L Notch
Cars I wish I still owned:
69 Coronet 440
70 Torino 351C
79 Bronco 351M/400 on 35's
79 Trans Am 403 (6.6L)
88 Cougar XR7 5.0L
93 F150 Flareside Mark III Custom 5.0L
3 - 88 TURBOCOUPES www.turbotbird.com/showroom/nk_88tc.html
90 Mustang LX 5.0L Notch
Cars I wish I still owned:
69 Coronet 440
70 Torino 351C
79 Bronco 351M/400 on 35's
79 Trans Am 403 (6.6L)
88 Cougar XR7 5.0L
93 F150 Flareside Mark III Custom 5.0L