#1  
Old 04-18-2022, 06:09 PM
rare4k's Avatar
rare4k rare4k is offline
Chief Ponti-yacker
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Annapolis MD.
Posts: 546
Default Rear sway bar shims

Ok pulling the rear apart in my RA IV Judge, rear sway bar looks to be never removed or played with it had three shims right side Only. So my question is how did they determand that it needed shims ? And how many ? And how they were placed ? Thanks

Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk

  #2  
Old 04-18-2022, 06:30 PM
OG68's Avatar
OG68 OG68 is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Chula Vista, CA
Posts: 1,475
Default

I install the bar after the suspension has settled and all hardware is torqued. Install the bar without shims and run down the nuts to remove the slack . Install the shims to fill the gap between the bar ends and the control arms. Evenly if you like or to center the bar.

__________________
Ed

1968 GTO (Thanks Mom)
2006 Silverado
2007 Cadillac SRX
2015 Chevy Express

  #3  
Old 04-19-2022, 10:42 AM
north's Avatar
north north is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,388
Default

Most 70-72 goats I parted over the years had shims on the rear bar. A related point to watch is a lot of the NOS rear bars floating around today are still available because they were defective. Something wrong with the shape of them that eats the control arm bushings if you install them.

__________________
My Break Away Squad
1969 Fbird (Base, 350 & Sprint Cvt’s - 400HO & TA Hardtops)
1969 LeMans (2dr & 4dr Hardtop and a Cvt)
1969 LeMans Safari 2 seat Wagon
1969 GTO (2 Cvt, 2 Hardtops & Judge Hardtop)
1969 Catalina (3 Cvt’s & a 2dr hardtop)
1969 Ventura 2 Seat Wagon
1969 Executive 4dr Sedan
1969 Bonnie Cvt
1969 Bonnie 3 Seat Wagon (2 of them)
1969 Bonnie Brougham (4dr Hardtop & Cvt)
1969 Grand Prix SJ (2 of them)
1969 2+2 2dr Hardtop (Canadian model)
  #4  
Old 04-19-2022, 12:06 PM
'ol Pinion head 'ol Pinion head is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: INJUN Territory, Red State Merica!
Posts: 9,564
Default

In organizing over the last few years, have been going through parts tubs, box after box, old ziplock bags of small parts. Nearly all pulled in the 80's & 90's. Last week, again, came across 3 more A-body rear swaybar shims. It was very common to pull 3 from between passenger side lwr control arm & the bar on '70-72 GM A bodies.

Can't remember pulling any rear swaybar shims when pulling rear bars & arms from under early 442's ('64 & 65's). '64's definitely had partial boxed lower arms, & the center area of the bar was formed slightly different on those very early 7/8" rear swaybars.

__________________
Buzzards gotta eat... same as worms.
  #5  
Old 04-19-2022, 06:33 PM
Scarebird's Avatar
Scarebird Scarebird is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ABQ, USA
Posts: 4,998
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by north View Post
Most 70-72 goats I parted over the years had shims on the rear bar. A related point to watch is a lot of the NOS rear bars floating around today are still available because they were defective. Something wrong with the shape of them that eats the control arm bushings if you install them.
I wonder if there was a service bulletin concerning this issue?

  #6  
Old 04-19-2022, 06:52 PM
north's Avatar
north north is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,388
Default

I doubt it because those sway bars were produced much later than when the cars were built.

__________________
My Break Away Squad
1969 Fbird (Base, 350 & Sprint Cvt’s - 400HO & TA Hardtops)
1969 LeMans (2dr & 4dr Hardtop and a Cvt)
1969 LeMans Safari 2 seat Wagon
1969 GTO (2 Cvt, 2 Hardtops & Judge Hardtop)
1969 Catalina (3 Cvt’s & a 2dr hardtop)
1969 Ventura 2 Seat Wagon
1969 Executive 4dr Sedan
1969 Bonnie Cvt
1969 Bonnie 3 Seat Wagon (2 of them)
1969 Bonnie Brougham (4dr Hardtop & Cvt)
1969 Grand Prix SJ (2 of them)
1969 2+2 2dr Hardtop (Canadian model)
  #7  
Old 04-22-2022, 12:28 PM
tigertone tigertone is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 12
Default Sway bar shim

I had 1 on the driver's side and 2 on the pass. I checked the assembly manual and it has a note to shim as required, maximum 2 per side. I'm sure they did what they had to on the line to get the fit they needed. Mine were pretty rusted away on the ends, middle was solid. Bolt heads were pitted but I could still make out the SBC head markings, but they were very faint.

Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:04 AM.

 

About Us

The PY Online Forums is the largest online gathering of Pontiac enthusiasts anywhere in the world. Founded in 1991, it was also the first online forum for people to gather and talk about their Pontiacs. Since then, it has become the mecca of Pontiac technical data and knowledge that no other place can surpass.

 




Copyright © 2017