Can't Find Simple Part - Out of Commission for Almost Two Weeks

[Plutocracy]

Had a slow transmission leak that ate away at the front left sway bar bushing.
C360_2012-10-19-17-56-38 cropped.jpg
Mechanic buddy tacked down the leak but the problem is we can't find the hunk of rubber that goes in there around the sway bar anywhere.
Are we using the right term? Anyone know a source?

[purg3d]

That picture scares the crap out of me. Get some energy suspension bushings. Grind the poly to fit the festiva's bracket. Do not use the ES bracket because it will move.

[Bert]

They do exist and someone here can or will enlighten you (hopefully). I'll be watching this post as my sway bar could use new ones too. Might as well replace both while you're at it. On the other hand if you're stuck I would think some sort of hard rubber wrap or maybe 1 inch ID (inside dia) ABS pipe (which will have to be split) will suffice.

[gtalbot]

Do this:
http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...y-bar-bushings

[Plutocracy]

That picture scares the crap out of me. Get some energy suspension bushings. Grind the poly to fit the festiva's bracket. Do not use the ES bracket because it will move.

Do this:
http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...y-bar-bushings

Is there something I can get that's more OEM for right now? I'm paying someone for labor (I've never worked on a car in my life) and time is an issue now. I just need my wheels on the road.

[zoom zoom]

I don't know how far apart you are but I'd try getting ahold of Eurotiva.

[bravekozak]

I would like to know what happened to the old one. I didn't think they could disintegrate and pop out so easily. Is it true transmission fluid can eat it up?

[TheresGabe]

Their website says there are a BUNCH of O'Reilly's in Florida. They can have this there even special order by tomorrow

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/ENS0/95112G/N1584.oap?ck=Search_sway%21s%21stabilizer+bar+bushings+non-greasable_1128192_2851&keyword=sway%21s%21stabilizer+bar+bushings+non-greasable

[Plutocracy]

I don't know how far apart you are but I'd try getting ahold of Eurotiva.

South Florida vs. Central Florida. Not next-door but really only an afternoon's drive if it comes to that.

I would like to know what happened to the old one. I didn't think they could disintegrate and pop out so easily. Is it true transmission fluid can eat it up?

I had seen the bushing twice in the past seven months. The first time I saw it, it was more or less solid, but dripping with transmission fluid from when the hose at the base of the radiator split from age/overtightening and sprayed everything with the stuff.

The second time I saw it was four months later when I got under there (brave, I know) to tighten the hose again because of a bad drip that had developed. That second time the bushing looked as if it had been attacked by ants. I filed that in the back of my brain as being due to age and something I’d have to take care of around the start of next year when I plan to go full time on the car. Being so car illiterate is frustrating!

Took the car in to a mechanic for steering pull and rattling front driver’s side, and the bushing was simply not there anymore. The LCA that side doesn’t have a bushing anymore either, probably from when it got sprayed.

Their website says there are a BUNCH of O'Reilly's in Florida. They can have this there even special order by tomorrow
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...+non-greasable

Site's giving me crap but it's looking like this is my only bet to get running anytime soon. I’m slowly finding out no one makes the front to frame bushing anymore. There aren't any close to me but I'll investigate them more when I'm not at work, thanks for the link!

[Bert]

I had seen the bushing twice in the past seven months. The first time I saw it, it was more or less solid, but dripping with transmission fluid from when the hose at the base of the radiator split from age/overtightening and sprayed everything with the stuff.

The second time I saw it was four months later when I got under there (brave, I know) to tighten the hose again because of a bad drip that had developed. That second time the bushing looked as if it had been attacked by ants. I filed that in the back of my brain as being due to age and something I’d have to take care of around the start of next year when I plan to go full time on the car. Being so car illiterate is frustrating!

Took the car in to a mechanic for steering pull and rattling front driver’s side, and the bushing was simply not there anymore. The LCA that side doesn’t have a bushing anymore either, probably from when it got sprayed.
!

You came to the right place. Someone here will steer you in the right direction to help you out with part numbers and suppliers, and seeing as to where you live, maybe even offer to help. She'll be back on the road 'good as new' in a bit. Don't be looking for freebies (labour-wise) but there are decent folks down your way (I keep forgetting that Florida is a 'really big town') that are intimately familiar with Festys. Maybe while you're not looking a B6 or an 8 will suddenly appear in the engine bay round about the same time.

[scitzz]

Maybe while you're not looking a B6 or an 8 will suddenly appear in the engine bay round about the same time.

From whut I hear tell bout them Florida chaps, is thats you have to keep a keerful eyeball on your exhaust, cuz turbos sprout from them things like nobodies bidness. Must be the salt in the air...

[navdoc101]

RhodeStiva posted this find: from JC Whitney- Swaybar frame bushings, SKU# 1JA584251 , mfr# 17624; replacesE8BZ5A486A & F4BZ5A486A. $23.99. Don't know if they will work, worth callin' to find out. Good luck!!

[Festivame]

I had some trouble finding ones to fit my 2000 Workhorse step van. I found them by size on the Moog site and then had O Reillys order them. Try this Moog link and see if it helps.

http://www.moog-suspension-parts.com/Universal-Sway-Bar-Bushings.asp

Also found this at JC Whitney, says it fits my 92 GL. Edit: Opps looks like that is the end bushings not the ones you need.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/suspension-stabilizer-bar-bushing-kit/p2018322.jcwx?filterid=d618y1992g8j1

Festivame

[Plutocracy]

RhodeStiva posted this find: from JC Whitney- Swaybar frame bushings, SKU# 1JA584251 , mfr# 17624; replacesE8BZ5A486A & F4BZ5A486A. $23.99. Don't know if they will work, worth callin' to find out. Good luck!!

I'm stunned. That seems to be it. The shipping turnaround is a bit of a pain but hope is hope. Thanks all! Hopefully they don't have to be shaved down too much and spare my mechanic some headache.

(Rare Parts Inc, I chuckled)

[gtalbot]

Worst case I think i have a couple of used OEM ones that you can have for the cost of shipping...