Rep Power: 0

hey all,

just installed my rsx-s 19mm sway bar today on my 04 Civic EX (stock 13mm rear sway). havn't taken it out for a spin yet but I"m kinda worried about the bushings....

1) I am getting a wide gap on the side clostest to the middle of the bar (right next to the U indent) as illustrated in the photos




2) The part of the bracket where the lower bolt goes doesn't seem to touch the subframe very well as seen in this photo.



really concerned because I mounted everything the way told in instructions bushing part seems off...... and i heard that if the bushings don't fit too well it might tear off the entire bracket damaging the subframe.....

desperately in need of help...... thx very much in advance,

 
Rep Power: 412

1) You used 19mm bushings correct?
2) You screwed the bracket bolt in all the way?

I wouldn't be too worried. The car can run fine without a rear sway bar, but it doesn't look like that huge of a deal. When you get some time pull that one bracket off and reattach it just to see if that helps.

 
Rep Power: 0

yup, its 19mm bushings off an rsx-s.
i torque wrenched the bolts down to 16.5 ft-lb as designated by many installation manuals.... would that be enough to screw the bracket down all the way?

i just came back trying to reattach them and its same problem. i did use quite a bit of grease inside and the rsx-s bushings are in used condition before i put them on.... would this be another factor?

and would it be safe to drive with the bushing/bracket like that? kinda troubled right now cuz i need to drive to work tomorrow.... ~slaps head~

 
Rep Power: 412

Safe..yes.
Ideal..probably. If the sway is held down tightly enough it will do its job. Even if one bracket comes off, it isn't going to hurt your car. You can disconnect the sway bar from the endlinks and leave it on the car, and still function fine. I wouldn't be too worried. Drive around, push it occasionally, look at it once a month and take pics to compare each time. just keep an eye on it, but after awhile if you don't see anything then it is fine.

 
Rep Power: 0

thanks robbclark

i took a look on hotchikis's rear sway install guide and noticed that the gap is present in one of their pictures with one of the bolts off

just wondering if it is my stock bracket (for stock 13mm sway bars) is causing the problem.

just to confirm, i can get stock brackets and bolts from honda dealerships if I break them right? and is there any chance this problem might cause my subframe to sheer since i am using a much thicker rear sway bar now?

thx

 
Rep Power: 412

subframe will be fine, the 13mm brackets are the same as the 19mm brackets and you can get them from the dealer if you want, but they shouldn't break.

 
Rep Power: 0

so are the gaps i'm seeing with my bushings normal then? its really strange. i am using used bushings but on the bushing side towards the middle of the bar for both bushings there's a gap. the other side seals shut.