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Around March of this year I replaced my rear sway bar in my 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid with a 19mm RSX bar. I loved it so much, but over time I noticed it wore into the trailing arm a little bit, right next to where the three bolts were. The RSX I retrieved the bar from was not rear ended or sustained any noticeable rear damage that may have deformed it.

Now I say loved because earlier this week a woman behind me fell asleep at the wheel on the highway and rear ended me, causing me to swerve off the road and flip, completely totaling my beloved Civic. However, I survived with minor injuries and am now working on procuring a replacement Civic Hybrid.

My question is, has anyone else experienced wearing of the trailing arm due to the rear sway bar? I’d love to replace the rear one on my new Civic, but I don’t want to be replacing the rear trailing arm twice a year. Sadly I cannot share pictures of the trailing arm wear as it was badly warped in the crash. Sorry if this a known issue, but I couldn’t find anything on any forms about this issue.

Thank you for any help!!

 
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If it only wore on one side I would guess that the bar wasn't centered on the car

 
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that's what i thought too, RSX bars don't have flanges like the progress bar i have

 
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Pics would be helpful, not sure if that's possible anymore. Glad to hear you're okay though!

 
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I was able to find a photo from before the crash! The problem area is right next to the three bolts on the left. I can see now that the sway bar does appear to be biased to the left side there, and from what I remember that was the only way it would go in for me. I used stock rear end links, but it appears the bar itself is a problem as it has that weird bulging out along the rear frame there forcing it to the left.

I hope someone has had this problem and fixed it, as RSX are becoming less rare in junkyards near me

 
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you would best get some adjustable endlinks, or at least longer ones. or shorter ones? The left bushing is almost squeezed out

 
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Hmmm interesting ideal with the longer endlinks. That might also allow the bar to shift enough and stop the bushings from squeezing out like that. Do you know of any inherently longer reputable endlinks though? Or any adjustable ones that aren't super expensive? I only ask because

 
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i have a progress bar, so different curvatures. there might be some info online, but aside from the stock CX-5, all my cars have adjustable endlinks.

but others that have used the RSX bar have not reported any issues, so your car could have had some twisted parts or chassis (these cars are old, lots of things to happen over the years - it's enough time for you to be a newborn to a grown-up)

 
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I can't remember what mine looks like right now but is it possible to install the sway bar upside down? Maybe causing clearance issues at the same time?

I have an ST Suspension rear sway bar on my Civic. Says it's a 13/16" bar (~20 mm). Never had any clearance issues.

 
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Hmm I don't think that I installed it upside down. The way the sway bar on these cars wraps around the exhaust makes it pretty obvious which way to install the bar. I'll grab another from the junkyard and I'll see how it fits on. Something is funky with my set up :/

 
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Odd. I glanced at mine yesterday, the design of the ST Suspension one is different. There's no bends around the exhaust, it's basically all flat. Not tons of room between it and the trailing arm but a good inch or so.

 
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[SOLVED]
Just got around to replacing the rear suspension in my replacement car... I put it in upside down
Let this mistake be a learning process for everyone else who does this. IT does fit! even with an extra 200lbs from the battery system weighing the suspension down. You just gotta put it in right!

P.S. Those rear knuckle bushings are a b!tch

 
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I don't mean to toot my own horn, but here we are