[Autechre]

Hello,

I’d replaced both of my sway bar bushings on my 2008 (1.5) Swift yesterday; however, I now hear a squeaking/creaking noise when the car goes over a bump. This was not apparent, at least to this extent, prior to changing them.

The bushings are genuine from Suzuki and I’m pretty sure I’ve aligned them correctly (took pictures before to compare).

Any ideas as to what is causing this?

 

[2013GV]

Did you grease the new bushes with the supplied grease? Drop links tight and spacer rubbers greased?

 

[Autechre]

Did you grease the new bushes with the supplied grease? Drop links tight and spacer rubbers greased?

They did not come with any grease. Factory manual doesn’t state to grease them either. They are meant to go on dry. Drop links are brand new also.

I reckon I may have overtightened the brackets that hold the bushings in place. Is the sway/anti-roll bar meant to move at all? It is rock solid at the moment, which I presumed to be ideal. Perhaps this is the culprit given that the bolts for the bracket only torque 23Nm/17ftlb.

 

[2013GV]

The sway bar by its design moves to reduce roll, similar to a torsion bar in a suspension setup. If the bar is installed correct and the riding surfaces lubricared according to the bushing requirements then it won't make noise. They don't need much on the sliding surface. Torque setting on the clamps is rather critical too tight they squeak, too loose they clunk.

Rubber bushings *(depending on type of compound) are mostly, but not always assembled semi dry as they grip the shaft and move with it ( which is why they tear abd fail faster) any poly based bushings must be lubricated.
If they came in a genuine sealed packet without grease then that's fine, no grease required. My genuine ones had a small packet of grease in each one them for my swift. A light smear of silicone grease on the bar will certainly stop any noise if its coming from the bushes.
You can try spraying water in them, if noise stops you know its the bar moving in the bushings.

 

[aquanaut20]

Also, torque them at ride height, not sitting on jack stands, wheels hanging..

 

[Jeromesr]

Hello,

I’d replaced both of my sway bar bushings on my 2008 (1.5) Swift yesterday; however, I now hear a squeaking/creaking noise when the car goes over a bump. This was not apparent, at least to this extent, prior to changing them.

The bushings are genuine from Suzuki and I’m pretty sure I’ve aligned them correctly (took pictures before to compare).

Any ideas as to what is causing this?

Go and do a four-wheel alignment for the car. Try it.

 

[Autechre]

The sway bar by its design moves to reduce roll, similar to a torsion bar in a suspension setup. If the bar is installed correct and the riding surfaces lubricared according to the bushing requirements then it won't make noise. They don't need much on the sliding surface. Torque setting on the clamps is rather critical too tight they squeak, too loose they clunk.

Rubber bushings *(depending on type of compound) are mostly, but not always assembled semi dry as they grip the shaft and move with it ( which is why they tear abd fail faster) any poly based bushings must be lubricated.
If they came in a genuine sealed packet without grease then that's fine, no grease required. My genuine ones had a small packet of grease in each one them for my swift. A light smear of silicone grease on the bar will certainly stop any noise if its coming from the bushes.
You can try spraying water in them, if noise stops you know its the bar moving in the bushings.

It was indeed the brackets that were too tight. Loosened them up and no more noise.

Go and do a four-wheel alignment for the car. Try it.

Cheers. I fixed the issue yesterday by first greasing the inside of the bushings with some Shin-Etsu and then torquing the bolts holding down the brackets correctly i.e., not ridiculously tight.

 

[2013GV]

It was indeed the brackets that were too tight. Loosened them up and no more noise.


Cheers. I fixed the issue yesterday by first greasing the inside of the bushings with some Shin-Etsu and then torquing the bolts holding down the brackets correctly i.e., not ridiculously tight.

Its amazing how loose those clamps are when torqued correctly isn't it? Glad you found the cure and everything is quiet now.