Front sway bar rubbing on LCA Topic is solved

Stu70 · Post by **Stu70** » 27 Oct 2022, 21:16

I’m still battling with a sway bar that moves so far to the passenger side it rubs on the drivers side lower control arm. I’ve ordered ‘lateral locks ‘ from a suspension company as a hose clip is not strong enough to keep the bar located.only thing that is not new is sway bar and struts - all other bushes, bearings and spring seats are new blue box or oem. Sway bar bushes were poly and slightly worn so I swapped them out for generic rubber - I know the factory bar has bushes vulcanised on. But with the pressure to move this bar I’m sure a stuck on bush would detach fairly quickly.
I’m going to centre sway bar and spend a morning in the garage on stands turning the wheels and compressing the struts to see when and why this is happening. May even suspend an old phone in there and film it while driving.

I’ve googled and found the same questions on many different makes and models and no reason - any one have any clues to why this is happening? Should I be preloading the sway bar or be doing something similar?

I’m really losing patience with the whole thing !

Post by **MoVolvos** » 27 Oct 2022, 22:13

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The rear Mazda Whiteline sway bars came with collars. The first two photos are of another C30 owner but the same bar and collar. Third is of our 08 C30. Make sure the links are the correct ones and in good shape.

Just remembered! Brother got an 850 when I was at Pepboy's in 95. He took his car in for a very small noise and Volvo... Put it on the rack at PB and found the sway bar bracket had broke. Can't really tell unless you use a pry bar.

Whatever is causing it the movement is extremely large. Should be the bar mounting itself or else you would really feel it while driving.

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Stu70 · Post by **Stu70** » 27 Oct 2022, 22:49

White line is where I’ve ordered my collars from. When I changed the bar bushes I had the bar nearly out to inspect - couldn’t find any issues. Of course I wasn’t able to check torsion. I agree it’s got to be a fairly large and obvious force to push it through.

Post by **jonesg** » 28 Oct 2022, 08:24

how are the control arm bushings?
Drop links in good and tightened ?

Stu70 · Post by **Stu70** » 28 Oct 2022, 18:50

Control bar bushings and endlinks are new and torqued to spec. (Endlinks no torque just really tight) But it’s not many pivot points to check.

Success ! ( he says cautiously)…
Car up on stands, jack under each rose going up and down ,wheels side to side . Swapped struts side to side , end links swapped left for right - still pushing bar.
When removing I had marked the end links l and r at the sway bar end, when swapping back I put drivers side ( the side hitting the lca ) back in upside down compared to the other and the bar stayed cantered. Did more uppy downy side to sides and bar stayed.

Test drive ( with full lock and twisty turny bits and all is well,
Cannot find any anything wrong or different with either end of end links, must just be under certain torques and strains it was binding in the joint ?

Thankyou for the suggestions -gave a bit of encouragement to pull the wheels off for the 100th time.

I sort of like the car now.

Post by **MoVolvos** » 28 Oct 2022, 21:42

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That's excellent! Not only did you went all out testing all the variables it resulted in success. Gotta feel great to rid of such a strange and terrible problem that's dogged you for a bit.

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