Sway Bar Link Bushes

Nolathane sway bar link bushes replace the worn rubber at each end of a bushed sway bar link with durable polyurethane. Fitted where the link passes through the sway bar eye and its lower mount, these sway bar link bushings remove the knocks and rattles of perished rubber and give the sway bar a firm, immediate connection to the suspension, without replacing the complete link.

Each listing shows the bush dimensions, design and kit contents, along with the vehicle application where relevant, so you can match the bushes to your link before ordering.

Where Sway Bar Link Bushes Fit

Many vehicles, particularly older passenger cars, 4WDs and utes (pick-ups), use a bushed sway bar link rather than a ball-joint link. A bolt or threaded rod passes through a hole in the end of the sway bar, also called the anti-roll bar or stabiliser bar, and through a bracket on the control arm (wishbone) or axle. Bushes sit above and below each of these points, clamped by cupped washers and nuts, often with a spacer sleeve setting the distance between the bar and the lower mount.

Each link typically uses four bush halves: two at the sway bar and two at the lower mount. Together they locate the link, allow a small amount of angular movement as the suspension travels, and cushion vibration from reaching the body.

Common Bush Designs

Sway bar link bushes come in several shapes, depending on the link and the mounting holes:

• Plain bushes: Simple cylindrical or barrel-shaped bushes that sit against the face of the bar or bracket.
• Stepped or locator bushes: These have a narrower spigot that locates inside the mounting hole, centring the link and preventing the bolt from contacting the metal.
• Sleeved bushes: A steel sleeve passes through the bush so the clamping force is taken by the sleeve rather than the polyurethane.
• Top-hat bushes: A combination of a flat face and a locating step, giving a large bearing surface for the washer.

Matching the original design keeps the link centred and correctly clamped, so check the bush profile against the listing.

Signs of Worn Sway Bar Link Bushings

Link bushes are small, but they carry the full twisting load of the sway bar with every corner and bump. Common signs they need replacing include:

• Knocking or tapping from the front or rear over speed bumps, potholes and driveways.
• Rattling over small, sharp bumps or rough bitumen.
• A slight delay or vagueness when turning in, with more body lean than expected.
• Bushes that are cracked, flattened, split or pushed out beyond the edge of the washer.
• Washers that have pulled through the bush or bolts that sit off-centre in their holes.
• Shiny wear marks on the bolt or sway bar eye where metal has started to contact metal.

With the vehicle supported safely, try to move the link by hand. Any free movement between the link, the bushes and the bar or bracket is a clear sign of wear.

Why Polyurethane Link Bushes Last Longer

Rubber link bushes are designed for quiet operation, but the combination of constant compression, flexing, heat, oil and road grime breaks them down. As rubber softens and cracks, it allows the link to move before the sway bar responds, and the noise starts.

Nolathane polyurethane is far more resistant to these conditions. It offers outstanding abrasion resistance, increased tensile strength and resistance to oil, grease, ozone and weathering. It also has superior elasticity and memory, so it returns to shape after each load rather than slowly taking a set. This means the link stays firmly located for longer, and the sway bar?s response stays consistent over time.

Handling and Performance Gains

Because polyurethane resists deflection better than rubber, the sway bar starts working as soon as the body begins to roll. Drivers commonly notice:

• Crisper turn-in and more direct steering feel.
• Reduced body roll through corners and roundabouts.
• More stable behaviour during quick lane changes.
• A quieter suspension, with the knocks of worn rubber gone.

For performance vehicles, firm link bushes help the sway bar deliver its full effect, whether it is a factory bar or an upgraded one. For 4WDs and utes that carry loads or tow, they help keep the body steadier on rough roads and in crosswinds.

Choosing the Right Bushes

For vehicle-specific kits, select your vehicle and check the fitting position. For universal bushes, measure the original bushes or the parts they fit:

• Outer diameter: the bearing face of the bush where the washer sits.
• Inner diameter: the bolt, threaded rod or sleeve diameter.
• Height: the thickness of each bush half.
• Locator diameter and length: the step that sits inside the mounting hole, if present.

Check that your existing cupped washers are flat, undamaged and the correct diameter for the new bushes, and replace them if they are distorted. Compare your measurements with each listing to confirm the fit.

Fitting Sway Bar Link Bushes

Support the vehicle securely. Fitting is simplest with the suspension at normal ride height, such as on a drive-on hoist or ramps, so the sway bar is not twisted as the link is tightened.

Undo the nut and remove the washers, old bushes and any sleeve, noting their order. Clean the sway bar eye and lower bracket, and inspect the bolt or threaded rod for bending and thread damage. Lightly coat the bush contact faces with polyurethane-compatible bushing grease, then reassemble in the original order, with the cupped side of each washer facing the bush.

On sleeved links, tighten the nut until the sleeve is firmly clamped. On links without a sleeve, tighten until the bushes are evenly compressed and the washers are seated, stopping before the bushes bulge excessively. Use a locknut or second nut where specified, and re-check after the first few hundred kilometres.

Limitations and Trade-Offs

Polyurethane link bushes are firmer than rubber, so a little more road texture and vibration can reach the cabin. Over-tightening increases this effect and shortens bush life, so correct clamping matters.

Polyurethane surfaces should be lubricated on assembly; bushes fitted dry may squeak. New bushes will not cure a bent link bolt, an elongated sway bar eye or a cracked bracket, and they do not change the sway bar?s stiffness. Inspect the sway bar mount bushes at the same time, as worn mounts can produce similar noises.

Compliance

Sway bar links help keep the vehicle stable, so any repair must keep it safe and within the standards that apply where it is registered. In Australia, requirements vary between states and territories. In the UK and Europe, suspension components, including sway bar links, are checked at the MOT or periodic roadworthiness inspection. Tell your insurer about any suspension modification.

Nolathane Polyurethane Since 1974

Nolathane has been making polyurethane suspension bushings since 1974, originally developed to replace brass bushes in hillclimb competition. More than 50 years on, the signature red bushings are produced in a range of durometers (hardness grades), each selected for its application. For sway bar links, that means a bush firm enough to transfer roll control without delay, yet compliant enough to absorb vibration and allow the link to move with the suspension.

Lifetime Warranty

Nolathane sway bar link bushes are covered by a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects in material and workmanship, for the original vehicle they are fitted to. Our fitment guarantee means the bushes you order suit the vehicle or dimensions shown in the listing, and a 60-day returns window gives you time to confirm the fit.

Shop Sway Bar Link Bushes

Worn link bushes can be replaced on their own, and full replacements are found in Nolathane's universal sway bar links range.

Select your vehicle or measure your existing bushes, compare them with each listing and choose the sway bar link bush kit that suits your application. Orders are sent with fast shipping, and our local support team can help with bush selection and fitting advice, whether you are silencing a knock, restoring an older vehicle or sharpening handling.