Re: Reply Needed ASAP (archive)

The complete automotive resource for buyers, sellers, and owners like you.

In Reply to: Reply Needed ASAP posted by DJL'82 320i on May 18, 2000 at 19:35:18:

The forward washer on the sway bar is supposed to have a rubber ring made onto the back of it. It's function is to limit the movement.

This and the control arm bushings usually wear. there should be a gap between the washer/rubber ring and control arm about 3-5 mm if memory serves. The bushing in the arm has a metal sleve moulded in the center of it so the two washers sandwich it.

: I've got an appointment at a local tire shot Friday afternoon. I noticed last week that when I was parked, facing down, on a slight (very slight) incline my driver's side front tire was less that a finger width away from the inside of the front fender. I have factory 13 inch mag wheels with standard tires. After noticing this I parked on a flat, concrete surface and took out a measuring tape and measured the distance from tire to fender on both the driver's and passenger's side. The distance on the driver's side was about 1.75 inches and the passenger's was about 2.5 inches. Get this though...the car drives straight as an arrow. So I took it to Les Schwab and they put in on the rack and we looked under it. Like I thought there was some gappage between the stabilizer bar and the control arm. So I figured: replace control arm bushing. Having just bought the car, I didn't know until after I had ordered the parts from BavAuto that they had been replaced back in 1997. So in my driveway I parked with the wheels turned in their extreme positions, left, then to the right. With the wheels turned completely towards the left (left; when sitting in the driver's seat) I went to the passenger side to where now I could see the connection where the stabilizer bar passes through the control arm and there was a gap about 3/8 of an inch between the round plate on the stabilizer bar and the surface of the control arm. Now just so I make sure you know what I'm talking about it's the side of the control arm that faces the front bumper, and there's a disc on the stabilizer arm that butts up against this side of the control arm. And from what I can tell the control arm bushings that are on there are in great shape. And not being all too mechanically inclined I'm assuming the bushings in there are installed right, with the rubber part facing the rear of the car.

: Ok, what's the problem? Is there supposed to be something between the control arm and the stabilizer bar on the front side of the control arm?
: Or the control arms is pressed between the two discs of the stabilizer bar by a nut and plate that screws on from the threaded, rear side of the stabilizer bar...is it just not screwed on far enough? Or is it something else?

Questions, comments, or problems, please visit the Roadfly help desk.