Sway Bar Bushings

Sway bar bushings for cars, trucks and Jeeps, sized from 14mm to 38mm: polyurethane, greasable and Delrin bushings, plus OE-style replacements. Brands include Whiteline, Energy Suspension, BLOX Racing, BMR, Ridetech and Dorman, and most kits cost $24 to $35. Clunking over bumps? Compare with bad sway bar link symptoms.

Sway bar bushings: what they do and when to replace them

Sway bar bushings are the two rubber or polyurethane blocks that clamp the sway bar to the body or frame. The bar rotates inside them every time one wheel moves more than the other, so they wear, dry out and loosen over time. A worn sway bar bushing lets the bar shift and knock in its bracket, and the bar stops working as well because some of its twist is lost in the slop.

Common signs of worn sway bar bushings are:

  • A clunk or knock from the front or rear over small bumps, speed bumps or driveway ramps.
  • A squeak or creak at low speed, often worse in cold or dry weather.
  • More body roll and a vaguer feel when you turn in.
  • Bushings that look cracked, flattened or oval, or a bar that moves in its bracket when you pry on it.

The same noises can come from end links, so check those too. Our bad sway bar link symptoms guide shows how to tell them apart.

Rubber, polyurethane or Delrin?

MaterialFeelBest forExamples on our store
Rubber (OE style)Quiet and soft, some bar movementDaily drivers at stock heightMost factory bushings
PolyurethaneFirmer, the bar responds sooner, can squeak if dryMost upgrades and lowered carsWhiteline, Energy Suspension, BLOX, most $24 to $35
Greasable polyurethaneLike poly, with a zerk fitting to re-greaseCars driven in rain, road salt or dustGreasable kits from $24.21 to $34.64
Delrin and billetVery low friction, no squeak, more noise transferTrack cars and billet sway bar mountsBMR and Ridetech, $154.99 to $251.96

Polyurethane is the most popular upgrade. It holds the bar more firmly than rubber so you get the full effect of the bar, and it does not perish like rubber. The trade-off is noise: poly needs grease. Energy Suspension notes that squeaks almost always come from a dry install and that the grease should be specific to polyurethane, since generic chassis grease can run off when it gets hot.

How to find the right size

Sway bar bushings are sized by the inside diameter, which must match your bar. Measure the bar right next to the bushing with calipers, or check the size stamped on the old bushing or the bar's listing. A bushing that is too big will knock even when new. Front and rear bars on the same car are usually different sizes, and the same model can use different bars by trim, so measure rather than guess.

Bar sizeListingsPrice range
14mm to 17mm28$16.91 to $53.99
18mm to 20mm33$20.61 to $34.64
21mm to 23mm32$17.82 to $68.99
24mm to 26mm33$17.91 to $48.04
27mm to 30mm17$10 to $48.99
30.5mm and up10$16.99 to $154.99

If you cannot find your exact car, about a dozen universal bushings are listed by size, for example Whiteline universal 20mm and 24mm mount bushings from $24.21.

Sway bar bushings by vehicle

VehicleWhat we listPrice
Subaru WRX, Impreza, Forester, BRZWhiteline mount bushings in many sizes, BLOX WRX front and rear bushings$16.91 to $43.51
Toyota and Lexus, including Tacoma and 4RunnerWhiteline mount bushings, polyurethane sets for the 2005 to 2015 Tacoma and 2003 to 2009 4Runner$17.82 to $70.09
Ford MustangWhiteline 1965 to 1973 bushings in many sizes, polyurethane sets for 2005 and newer cars$20.61 to $54.99
Chevy and GMCamaro, C10, Corvette and full-size bushing sets$24.21 to $58.99
Jeep and trucksWrangler CJ, TJ, JK and JL bushings, Ram 1500 and 2500 sets$22.39 to $53.99
Honda and AcuraWhiteline Civic bushings, BLOX Integra and Civic del Sol rear bushings$9.79 to $26.89
Mini CooperGreasable rear bushing kits in 19mm, 22mm and 25mm$34.64

Installing sway bar bushings

On most cars this is a bolt-off, bolt-on job with basic hand tools. The bar stays on the car: unbolt one bracket, swap the bushing, refit it, then do the other side. On some cars the exhaust or a subframe brace is in the way. Coat the inside of polyurethane bushings fully with the grease supplied, not just a smear, and clean off old rust from the bar first. Replace both bushings on the same bar together. If the bar has collars or clamps to stop it sliding sideways, keep them or fit new ones. Tighten end links with the suspension at ride height.

What else you'll need

Popular picks

Related guides

Sources

Sway Bar Bushings FAQ

What are the symptoms of bad sway bar bushings?
A clunk or knock over small bumps, a squeak at low speed, more body roll and bushings that look cracked, flattened or loose around the bar. Worn end links make similar noises, so check both.
How do I know what size sway bar bushings I need?
Measure the sway bar diameter right next to the bushing with calipers, or use the size on the old bushing or the bar's listing. Front and rear bars are usually different sizes, so measure each one.
Are polyurethane sway bar bushings better than rubber?
For most upgrades, yes. Polyurethane holds the bar more firmly and lasts longer, but it needs polyurethane-specific grease or it can squeak, while rubber is quieter and suits a stock daily driver.
Why do my new sway bar bushings squeak?
Almost always because they were installed dry or with too little grease. Pull the bracket, clean the bar, coat the inside of the bushing fully with polyurethane bushing grease and refit it.
Can I replace sway bar bushings myself?
Yes, on most cars it is a basic hand-tool job. Unbolt one bracket at a time, swap the bushing and refit it, and the bar can stay on the car.
How much do sway bar bushings cost?
Most sway bar bushing kits on our store cost $24 to $35. Greasable kits run $24.21 to $34.64, and Delrin bushing kits for billet mounts cost $154.99 to $251.96.
Should I replace sway bar bushings and end links at the same time?
It is a good idea if both are original and the car has high miles, since they wear together and the job is quick. If only one part is worn, replacing that part alone is fine.