MasterofDisaster
Senior Member
My GT has just over 150k on it, and I thought I should replace the panhard rod and rear sway bar bushings. I changed them yesterday, 3apr25.
The sway bar took a little over two hours using a lift and with a friend helping. The link bar bushings are fairly easy to remove once you cut off the flange. A single edged razor works great for that. A box cutter works well too. The Energy Suspension bushings were very hard to slide onto the bar. I had to spray some silicone onto the bar in order to slide on the poly. I used the prothane grease at the final location. It was only 50º outside, but I had to remove my hoodie because I had to man handle those bad boys.
The panhard rod was a major pain the glutes. The old bushings have a metal sleeve that is pain to remove. Once you cut out the bolt sleeve and the rubber, you can make a cut into the bushing sleeve. Then you have to beat or press the sleeve out of the bar. Once you have one sleeve out, you can use it to beat or press out the other. The Energy Suspension bushings were easy to install. Don't forget that Ford wants to you remove & install the rod with the suspension at ride height. The right down link interfered with the smooth installation of the right panhard rod bolt.
Energy Suspension gives you plenty of prothane grease. That stuff is highly tacky.
You hear every road noise with polyurethane, but it's quieter and you don't have all the rattles and squeaks. The ride is firmer, but so is control. I'm glad I changed those worn out rubber bushings.
The sway bar took a little over two hours using a lift and with a friend helping. The link bar bushings are fairly easy to remove once you cut off the flange. A single edged razor works great for that. A box cutter works well too. The Energy Suspension bushings were very hard to slide onto the bar. I had to spray some silicone onto the bar in order to slide on the poly. I used the prothane grease at the final location. It was only 50º outside, but I had to remove my hoodie because I had to man handle those bad boys.
The panhard rod was a major pain the glutes. The old bushings have a metal sleeve that is pain to remove. Once you cut out the bolt sleeve and the rubber, you can make a cut into the bushing sleeve. Then you have to beat or press the sleeve out of the bar. Once you have one sleeve out, you can use it to beat or press out the other. The Energy Suspension bushings were easy to install. Don't forget that Ford wants to you remove & install the rod with the suspension at ride height. The right down link interfered with the smooth installation of the right panhard rod bolt.
Energy Suspension gives you plenty of prothane grease. That stuff is highly tacky.
You hear every road noise with polyurethane, but it's quieter and you don't have all the rattles and squeaks. The ride is firmer, but so is control. I'm glad I changed those worn out rubber bushings.
