hi

just recieved my new 1 1/4 sway bar is Gold-Zinc finished may i paint this? or should i leave it Gold-Zinc finished

i say its your car and you should do what you think is best

you can paint it. Just scuff it up with scotch brite, and clean it real well. I would then sand off any paint where the sway-bar body bushings will ride.

also, dont lose the lube they sent with it. That stuff is for the U-clamp bushings, and is about the only stuff that doesnt squeek.

furthermore, did you read my article about shimming the u-clamp bolts to compensate for the added bar thickness?

Addco's new poly-bushings dont come with a "relief" molded into them. Therefore, the U-clamp now has to try to fit all that added thickness into the mount.

see here:
http://www.markviii.org/~blackicelsc/sway-bar%20diagram.JPG



it's a diagram I drew up after I broke a U-clamp. I didnt shim it enough. You have to use 3-6 washers for the 1-1/4" addco rear bar. Trust me...if you dont, there will be a day when the clamp goes SNAP...and they arent available at Ford anymore.

Wow thanks that was helpful


you can paint it. Just scuff it up with scotch brite, and clean it real well. I would then sand off any paint where the sway-bar body bushings will ride.

also, dont lose the lube they sent with it. That stuff is for the U-clamp bushings, and is about the only stuff that doesnt squeek.

furthermore, did you read my article about shimming the u-clamp bolts to compensate for the added bar thickness?

Addco's new poly-bushings dont come with a "relief" molded into them. Therefore, the U-clamp now has to try to fit all that added thickness into the mount.

see here:
http://www.markviii.org/~blackicelsc/sway-bar%20diagram.JPG



it's a diagram I drew up after I broke a U-clamp. I didnt shim it enough. You have to use 3-6 washers for the 1-1/4" addco rear bar. Trust me...if you dont, there will be a day when the clamp goes SNAP...and they arent available at Ford anymore.

you could paint it but it will just get coverd in dirt after a few months, so if you do just clean it up evey so offen