98PurpleProject

Need a sanity check. I measured my front seat bar and it measures 31mm. This is larger than I have seen for and XJ. It appears more like a ZJ size sway bar.

I need to replace the bushings. Does anyone have experience with a front sway bar of this size on an XJ?

this is a completely stock XJ. Suggestions appreciated.

4.3L XJ

That is larger than the stock XJ sway bar. Probably a ZJ sway bar, or even a TJ which IIRC is about that size

98PurpleProject

That is odd. I got this vehicle from my 90 year old stepfather and he has not modified in any manner. I have all his repair/maintenance receipts since new.

I need to replace the bushings, I guess I will order some ZJ size.

bluejeep2001

If the rubber bushings are jeep chrysler stock....the flats where it bolts to the frame are painted...if any paint left, the dealer can tell you what size bushing and hopefully what size bar

98PurpleProject

Well, I figured it out. A defective digital caliper, was reading 31mm. I called the stealer with the VIN and they gave me a Jeep PN. After some research online I found out that the real diameter is 26mm. I borrowed an old dial caliper and confirmed.

my boys will start front end work tomorrow. This is a project for us, so we expect a few issues along the way.

Ralph77

I kind of figured that was the problem.
Cause there are different sizes for the bushings.
But none as big as 31mm.
Not for a ZJ either. Which I think use the same bushings.
29mm seemed to be the biggest I could find for either Jeep.

cruiser54

A trick is to use an open end wrench to measure.

fb97xj1

I was by myself when i did mine, so to make life a little easier, i removed the brackets and let the bar swing down using the endlinks at the axle as a hinge. Then removed the endlinks, one snapped, so i had to replace them as well. Bushings were shot anyway. My driver side endlink at the axle needed PB Blaster and a prybar to get that one off. Rust in the sleeve. The shaft is pressed in, and splined, IIRC. It doesnt spin. Just the nut. I cleaned up those threads as well. More anti sieze. Installed the end links and swung the bar back up and bolted it down. Chased the threads and cleaned the bolts. Added some antisieze. Took care of surface some rust as well as we all know how that stuff spreads.

When you tighten the endlinks at the bar, go just enough so the bushings are the same diameter as the washers. Thats all they really need. I dont remember what the torque specs were, but the bushings looked they were going to explode. In a couple months they were split just as bad the ones i took off, so i get to do them all over again.