Sway Bar Bushing Brackets Issue

[LonBon22]

Hello all,

so I have a little bit of an issue I have been trying to resolve for about a month or so. I replaced the sway bar bushings in my 2002 Xterra. However, The bolts were worn and the welded on nuts were rusted so stripped out as well. The weld broke free on the one welded nut so no longer have a nut for that bolt. I have bought replacement bolts from Nissan and have bought some m10 nuts. I have tightened them currently to around 82ft lbs. but have a popping sound from the sway bar moving around. I believe it is from It not being stable. I am not sure what to do in my case other than weld another nut on there. But I am wondering if that would resolve the issue or what would be best to do in my scenario? Any help or someone else's experience would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Prime]

My opinion is that both of my sway bars went into the trash the week after I bought the truck.

If we're talking about the rear one, you can confidently remove it and you will never notice that it's gone. The front one you will notice, but it's not that bad.

 

[LonBon22]

My opinion is that both of my sway bars went into the trash the week after I bought the truck.

If we're talking about the rear one, you can confidently remove it and you will never notice that it's gone. The front one you will notice, but it's not that bad.

Man, unfortunately it is the front sway bar. I might take it off though and just see how things are. I might just have to weld another nut onto it or weld the brackets on

 

[Zack.]

Did you tighten it while it was jacked up or on the ground?

 

[LonBon22]

Did you tighten it while it was jacked up or on the ground?

I tightened it while it was on the ground. I torqued it to 98ft lbs even though it only calls for 96ft lbs since I did the 96ft lbs the first time I tried putting it on. I believe it’s due to not having the welded nuts on the frame which allows it to move under so much tension. I’m afraid to torque it much more than I did because the nuts are eating into the metal frame. I think I might reweld some new nuts on there and see if that works. I talked with a shops about it and they believed that would solve the issue.

 

[Pauly]

I tightened it while it was on the ground. I torqued it to 98ft lbs even though it only calls for 96ft lbs since I did the 96ft lbs the first time I tried putting it on. I believe it’s due to not having the welded nuts on the frame which allows it to move under so much tension. I’m afraid to torque it much more than I did because the nuts are eating into the metal frame. I think I might reweld some new nuts on there and see if that works. I talked with a shops about it and they believed that would solve the issue.

I don't necessarily want to doubt your assessment, but are you sure it's the swaybar?

It may be good troubleshooting to remove the swaybar all together and see if the popping goes away or not.

if not, it could be the end links making noise too.

Good luck either way!

 

[LonBon22]

I don't necessarily want to doubt your assessment, but are you sure it's the swaybar?

It may be good troubleshooting to remove the swaybar all together and see if the popping goes away or not.

if not, it could be the end links making noise too.

Good luck either way!

Yeah, come to think of it, it might be a possibility it is something else too. I just noticed there is a gap at the sway bar link on the passenger side where the bar connects. I’m gonna try tightening that too and see if it makes a difference.

If not, I might just remove the whole thing and see if the noise goes away like you said.

Thanks!