Front sway bar bushings for '82

[Rob Carnegie]

I have an 1982 Collector Edition with a 1 1/8" front sway bar and the standard (non-gymkana) suspension. I want to replace the sway bar (frame) bushings with factory style stock rubber units but I am having trouble finding the correct part number. The dealer looked up the number and the only bushings they found were for the "Heavy Duty" suspension. I reluctantly ordered them fearing that they may be for the gymkana suspension but when they came I discovered that the hole in the middle was only 1" in diameter. Does anyone know the correct part number of the bushings for a car with a 1 1/8" sway bar? Does my car have an upgraded sway bar?

Thanks in advance.

Rob Carnegie

[Joe L.]

Re: Front sway bar bushings for '82

Rob-----

The correct bushings for cars with the 1-1/8" front sway bar are GM #351595. These are likely the ones that your dealer sold you and ARE the correct ones. The bushings are designed to compress around the bar when the mounting bracket is tightened down. In fact, you may find that it is difficult to tighten down the bracket when installing the bushings since the bushing must compress AROUND the bar and INTO the u-shaped bracket. But, this is how you have to install the bushings.

I'm not sure if just FE-7 cars for 1982 got the 1-1/8" front bar or if all 82s got it. At least, I can find no reference to any other bar having been used. If your car has the rear sway bar, then I think that would indicate that your car is equipped with FE-7. In any event, I really doubt that anyone changed the front bar on your car. So, if it's got the 1-1/8" bar, I'm confident that's the one it came with.

[Rob Carnegie]

Re: Front sway bar bushings for '82

Thanks for the info Joe-

You are correct about the part number that GM supplied. My car has no rear sway bar and has a fiberglass rear spring so I understand that this means that it isn't an FE-7 car. It is also completely un-modified in all other respects so I'm pretty sure that this was the stock bar. I just assumed that the part was wrong because the new bushings look taller than the worn out old ones.

-Rob

[Joe L.]

Re: Front sway bar bushings for '82

Rob-----

You are correct; configured as your car is, it's definitely not an FE-7 optioned car. However, you have essentially confirmed for me that the "standard" suspension 82s apparently used the same front stabilizer bar as the FE-7 cars. I couldn't figure out for sure which one was used for standard cars since I could find no reference to any other being used.

As far as the bushings are concerned, your wonder is shared by just about everyone else that sees what the new bushings look like. It just doesn't seem as if the will fit. But, those are the same ones used originally. So, if someone got them installed the first time around, you should be able to do so the second time around.

[George C.]

Re: Front sway bar bushings for '82

Agree