02 Caravan sway bar bushings

I ordered some MOOG bushings for the front bar. Oddly, they offer front
bushings, and rear sway bar links, but no front sway bar links in their
line. Do the rear ones go bad as quickly as the front links? As mic canic
suggested, I'll do the bushings first and see if that fixes the knocking.
Rick

"Mopar Man" > wrote in message
...
> Rick,
>
> Dealership sway bar bushings are available at less than $10. Change them
> out
> first before the links. There are several links in the aftermarket some
> with
> zerk grease fittings with lifetime guarantees. Shop around.
>
> Chrysler as of late 1999 updated the headgasket design with a "multi-layed
> steel" part which seems to hold up much better.
>
> My 2.4 liter gasket failed at 60,000 miles and now I have 120,000 with no
> leaking.....knocking on wood.
>
> Mopar Man
>
> Rick wrote:
>
>> I'm convinced that the knocking sound is coming from these things, but
>> the
>> auto parts store wants $45 each side for an assembly. Does anyone make
>> just
>> the bushings for $4-5 ? Are the connecting rods rebuildable at all? Hard
>> to
>> believe a van with only 45,000 miles needs a bushing rebuild already,
>> reminds me of the 4 cyl. head gaskets which lasted only 45k miles.
>> Rick
>

Rick,

Installing the front bushings is a breeze, just remove BOTH brackets to drop
the bar for access
to insert new ones. Note the shiny part of the bar from the rubbing of the old
ones as reference
for location of new parts.

Sway bar links are easily installed with the help of a pneumatic driver to
loosen the bolts. It's a pain
to use standard wrenches and a large star nut or allen wrench to loosen.
Hopefully, the sway bar bushings are the source of problems. Good luck.

MoparMan

Rick wrote:

> I ordered some MOOG bushings for the front bar. Oddly, they offer front
> bushings, and rear sway bar links, but no front sway bar links in their
> line. Do the rear ones go bad as quickly as the front links? As mic canic
> suggested, I'll do the bushings first and see if that fixes the knocking.
> Rick
>
> "Mopar Man" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Rick,
> >
> > Dealership sway bar bushings are available at less than $10. Change them
> > out
> > first before the links. There are several links in the aftermarket some
> > with
> > zerk grease fittings with lifetime guarantees. Shop around.
> >
> > Chrysler as of late 1999 updated the headgasket design with a "multi-layed
> > steel" part which seems to hold up much better.
> >
> > My 2.4 liter gasket failed at 60,000 miles and now I have 120,000 with no
> > leaking.....knocking on wood.
> >
> > Mopar Man
> >
> > Rick wrote:
> >
> >> I'm convinced that the knocking sound is coming from these things, but
> >> the
> >> auto parts store wants $45 each side for an assembly. Does anyone make
> >> just
> >> the bushings for $4-5 ? Are the connecting rods rebuildable at all? Hard
> >> to
> >> believe a van with only 45,000 miles needs a bushing rebuild already,
> >> reminds me of the 4 cyl. head gaskets which lasted only 45k miles.
> >> Rick
> >

Rick,

Installing the front bushings is a breeze, just remove BOTH brackets to drop
the bar for access
to insert new ones. Note the shiny part of the bar from the rubbing of the old
ones as reference
for location of new parts.

Sway bar links are easily installed with the help of a pneumatic driver to
loosen the bolts. It's a pain
to use standard wrenches and a large star nut or allen wrench to loosen.
Hopefully, the sway bar bushings are the source of problems. Good luck.

MoparMan

Rick wrote:

> I ordered some MOOG bushings for the front bar. Oddly, they offer front
> bushings, and rear sway bar links, but no front sway bar links in their
> line. Do the rear ones go bad as quickly as the front links? As mic canic
> suggested, I'll do the bushings first and see if that fixes the knocking.
> Rick
>
> "Mopar Man" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Rick,
> >
> > Dealership sway bar bushings are available at less than $10. Change them
> > out
> > first before the links. There are several links in the aftermarket some
> > with
> > zerk grease fittings with lifetime guarantees. Shop around.
> >
> > Chrysler as of late 1999 updated the headgasket design with a "multi-layed
> > steel" part which seems to hold up much better.
> >
> > My 2.4 liter gasket failed at 60,000 miles and now I have 120,000 with no
> > leaking.....knocking on wood.
> >
> > Mopar Man
> >
> > Rick wrote:
> >
> >> I'm convinced that the knocking sound is coming from these things, but
> >> the
> >> auto parts store wants $45 each side for an assembly. Does anyone make
> >> just
> >> the bushings for $4-5 ? Are the connecting rods rebuildable at all? Hard
> >> to
> >> believe a van with only 45,000 miles needs a bushing rebuild already,
> >> reminds me of the 4 cyl. head gaskets which lasted only 45k miles.
> >> Rick
> >

I had my 1999 Dodge Caravan Sway bar bushings replaced last week and all
the weird thumps and creaks coming from the front of the van have gone
away.Many thanks to this newsgroup for your knowledge.

Rick Yerke
101 William St
PO Box 392
Moscow Pa. 18444
USA

I had my 1999 Dodge Caravan Sway bar bushings replaced last week and all
the weird thumps and creaks coming from the front of the van have gone
away.Many thanks to this newsgroup for your knowledge.

Rick Yerke
101 William St
PO Box 392
Moscow Pa. 18444
USA

That's great news.
You should attempt to disguise your email address, unless you want spam.
Rick

"Rick Yerke" > wrote in message
...
>I had my 1999 Dodge Caravan Sway bar bushings replaced last week and all
> the weird thumps and creaks coming from the front of the van have gone
> away.Many thanks to this newsgroup for your knowledge.
>
> Rick Yerke
> 101 William St
> PO Box 392
> Moscow Pa. 18444
> USA

That's great news.
You should attempt to disguise your email address, unless you want spam.
Rick

"Rick Yerke" > wrote in message
...
>I had my 1999 Dodge Caravan Sway bar bushings replaced last week and all
> the weird thumps and creaks coming from the front of the van have gone
> away.Many thanks to this newsgroup for your knowledge.
>
> Rick Yerke
> 101 William St
> PO Box 392
> Moscow Pa. 18444
> USA

Do you know who make aftermarket greasable links?

Thanks,
Kevin

"MoparMan" > wrote in message
...
> Rick,
>
> Installing the front bushings is a breeze, just remove BOTH brackets to
> drop
> the bar for access
> to insert new ones. Note the shiny part of the bar from the rubbing of
> the old
> ones as reference
> for location of new parts.
>
> Sway bar links are easily installed with the help of a pneumatic driver to
> loosen the bolts. It's a pain
> to use standard wrenches and a large star nut or allen wrench to loosen.
> Hopefully, the sway bar bushings are the source of problems. Good luck.
>
> MoparMan
>
> Rick wrote:
>
>> I ordered some MOOG bushings for the front bar. Oddly, they offer front
>> bushings, and rear sway bar links, but no front sway bar links in their
>> line. Do the rear ones go bad as quickly as the front links? As mic canic
>> suggested, I'll do the bushings first and see if that fixes the knocking.
>> Rick
>>
>> "Mopar Man" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > Rick,
>> >
>> > Dealership sway bar bushings are available at less than $10. Change
>> > them
>> > out
>> > first before the links. There are several links in the aftermarket
>> > some
>> > with
>> > zerk grease fittings with lifetime guarantees. Shop around.
>> >
>> > Chrysler as of late 1999 updated the headgasket design with a
>> > "multi-layed
>> > steel" part which seems to hold up much better.
>> >
>> > My 2.4 liter gasket failed at 60,000 miles and now I have 120,000 with
>> > no
>> > leaking.....knocking on wood.
>> >
>> > Mopar Man
>> >
>> > Rick wrote:
>> >
>> >> I'm convinced that the knocking sound is coming from these things, but
>> >> the
>> >> auto parts store wants $45 each side for an assembly. Does anyone make
>> >> just
>> >> the bushings for $4-5 ? Are the connecting rods rebuildable at all?
>> >> Hard
>> >> to
>> >> believe a van with only 45,000 miles needs a bushing rebuild already,
>> >> reminds me of the 4 cyl. head gaskets which lasted only 45k miles.
>> >> Rick
>> >
>

Do you know who make aftermarket greasable links?

Thanks,
Kevin

"MoparMan" > wrote in message
...
> Rick,
>
> Installing the front bushings is a breeze, just remove BOTH brackets to
> drop
> the bar for access
> to insert new ones. Note the shiny part of the bar from the rubbing of
> the old
> ones as reference
> for location of new parts.
>
> Sway bar links are easily installed with the help of a pneumatic driver to
> loosen the bolts. It's a pain
> to use standard wrenches and a large star nut or allen wrench to loosen.
> Hopefully, the sway bar bushings are the source of problems. Good luck.
>
> MoparMan
>
> Rick wrote:
>
>> I ordered some MOOG bushings for the front bar. Oddly, they offer front
>> bushings, and rear sway bar links, but no front sway bar links in their
>> line. Do the rear ones go bad as quickly as the front links? As mic canic
>> suggested, I'll do the bushings first and see if that fixes the knocking.
>> Rick
>>
>> "Mopar Man" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > Rick,
>> >
>> > Dealership sway bar bushings are available at less than $10. Change
>> > them
>> > out
>> > first before the links. There are several links in the aftermarket
>> > some
>> > with
>> > zerk grease fittings with lifetime guarantees. Shop around.
>> >
>> > Chrysler as of late 1999 updated the headgasket design with a
>> > "multi-layed
>> > steel" part which seems to hold up much better.
>> >
>> > My 2.4 liter gasket failed at 60,000 miles and now I have 120,000 with
>> > no
>> > leaking.....knocking on wood.
>> >
>> > Mopar Man
>> >
>> > Rick wrote:
>> >
>> >> I'm convinced that the knocking sound is coming from these things, but
>> >> the
>> >> auto parts store wants $45 each side for an assembly. Does anyone make
>> >> just
>> >> the bushings for $4-5 ? Are the connecting rods rebuildable at all?
>> >> Hard
>> >> to
>> >> believe a van with only 45,000 miles needs a bushing rebuild already,
>> >> reminds me of the 4 cyl. head gaskets which lasted only 45k miles.
>> >> Rick
>> >
>

Chrysler engineering did it to the backyard mechanic again.
The sway bar bushing bracket on the passenger side is barely accessible thru
holes in the bottom plate, forget the one on the drivers side. They mounted
some device behind that one, and they suggest removing the bottom plate - 10
bolts to access it. The bushing brackets on my 96 van were in plain view,
right up front. The 2001 bracket is held by only one bolt and a nut.
I'll see if a garage will install these Moog bushings for me.
Rick

"MoparMan" > wrote in message
...
> Rick,
>
> Installing the front bushings is a breeze, just remove BOTH brackets to
> drop
> the bar for access
> to insert new ones. Note the shiny part of the bar from the rubbing of
> the old
> ones as reference
> for location of new parts.
>
> Sway bar links are easily installed with the help of a pneumatic driver to
> loosen the bolts. It's a pain
> to use standard wrenches and a large star nut or allen wrench to loosen.
> Hopefully, the sway bar bushings are the source of problems. Good luck.
>
> MoparMan
>
> Rick wrote:
>
>> I ordered some MOOG bushings for the front bar. Oddly, they offer front
>> bushings, and rear sway bar links, but no front sway bar links in their
>> line. Do the rear ones go bad as quickly as the front links? As mic canic
>> suggested, I'll do the bushings first and see if that fixes the knocking.
>> Rick
>>
>> "Mopar Man" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > Rick,
>> >
>> > Dealership sway bar bushings are available at less than $10. Change
>> > them
>> > out
>> > first before the links. There are several links in the aftermarket
>> > some
>> > with
>> > zerk grease fittings with lifetime guarantees. Shop around.
>> >
>> > Chrysler as of late 1999 updated the headgasket design with a
>> > "multi-layed
>> > steel" part which seems to hold up much better.
>> >
>> > My 2.4 liter gasket failed at 60,000 miles and now I have 120,000 with
>> > no
>> > leaking.....knocking on wood.
>> >
>> > Mopar Man
>> >
>> > Rick wrote:
>> >
>> >> I'm convinced that the knocking sound is coming from these things, but
>> >> the
>> >> auto parts store wants $45 each side for an assembly. Does anyone make
>> >> just
>> >> the bushings for $4-5 ? Are the connecting rods rebuildable at all?
>> >> Hard
>> >> to
>> >> believe a van with only 45,000 miles needs a bushing rebuild already,
>> >> reminds me of the 4 cyl. head gaskets which lasted only 45k miles.
>> >> Rick
>> >
>