02 Caravan sway bar bushings

I'm convinced that the knocking sound is coming from these things, but the
auto parts store wants $45 each side for an assembly. Does anyone make just
the bushings for $4-5 ? Are the connecting rods rebuildable at all? Hard to
believe a van with only 45,000 miles needs a bushing rebuild already,
reminds me of the 4 cyl. head gaskets which lasted only 45k miles.
Rick

 

There are links and bushings in the system. The bushings are relatively
cheap but the links are a little high. THey are not rebuildable but I
believe NAPA sells ones made by MOOG that are greasable.
Larry

 

The factory has changed this part design twice and it still is not
dependable. Stick with a good aftermarket part.

Richard.

 

the bushing 's gets elongated on how they fit the bar and then move in the
oversize causing the klunk
the bushings are cheap the links are more money

 

Rick,

Dealership sway bar bushings are available at less than $10. Change them out
first before the links. There are several links in the aftermarket some with
zerk grease fittings with lifetime guarantees. Shop around.

Chrysler as of late 1999 updated the headgasket design with a "multi-layed
steel" part which seems to hold up much better.

My 2.4 liter gasket failed at 60,000 miles and now I have 120,000 with no
leaking.....knocking on wood.

Mopar Man

 

I ordered some MOOG bushings for the front bar. Oddly, they offer front
bushings, and rear sway bar links, but no front sway bar links in their
line. Do the rear ones go bad as quickly as the front links? As mic canic
suggested, I'll do the bushings first and see if that fixes the knocking.
Rick

 

Rick,

Installing the front bushings is a breeze, just remove BOTH brackets to drop
the bar for access
to insert new ones. Note the shiny part of the bar from the rubbing of the old
ones as reference
for location of new parts.

Sway bar links are easily installed with the help of a pneumatic driver to
loosen the bolts. It's a pain
to use standard wrenches and a large star nut or allen wrench to loosen.
Hopefully, the sway bar bushings are the source of problems. Good luck.

MoparMan

 

I had my 1999 Dodge Caravan Sway bar bushings replaced last week and all
the weird thumps and creaks coming from the front of the van have gone
away.Many thanks to this newsgroup for your knowledge.

Rick Yerke
101 William St
PO Box 392
Moscow Pa. 18444
USA

 

That's great news.
You should attempt to disguise your email address, unless you want spam.
Rick

 

Do you know who make aftermarket greasable links?

Thanks,
Kevin

 

Chrysler engineering did it to the backyard mechanic again.
The sway bar bushing bracket on the passenger side is barely accessible thru
holes in the bottom plate, forget the one on the drivers side. They mounted
some device behind that one, and they suggest removing the bottom plate - 10
bolts to access it. The bushing brackets on my 96 van were in plain view,
right up front. The 2001 bracket is held by only one bolt and a nut.
I'll see if a garage will install these Moog bushings for me.
Rick

 

You can still get to it, just go over the cradle to access the bolt on the
driver side, or you can remove the 2 -10mm bolts to put the leak detection
pump to the side, it is easy to do

 

You were right, it took about 45 minutes. Fixed the knocking problem, too.
Cost, about $15.
Rick

You can still get to it, just go over the cradle to access the bolt on the
driver side, or you can remove the 2 -10mm bolts to put the leak detection
pump to the side, it is easy to do

 

I finally got the Moog sway bar bushings installed. You were right, it wasnt
that hard going over the cradle. I did move the pump too, and getting that
bolt back into the hole on the drivers side was a real bear. Took all of 45
minutes. You need a 15mm deep socket, some long extensions, a 15mm box
wrench, and a 10mm wrench to move the pump.
Thanks for the encouragement. It fixed the banging noise.

I now know of four people who own DC vans or durangos around 2001 year that
need bushings already at 50-60k miles. DC probably didnt do any testing for
durability here.
Rick

You can still get to it, just go over the cradle to access the bolt on the
driver side, or you can remove the 2 -10mm bolts to put the leak detection
pump to the side, it is easy to do

 

Hi
I have an 03 Grand Caravan and I am getting the knocking in front over
bumps. I believe it is the sway bar bushings also. Were did you buy the Moog
bushing and what type are they. What diameter for the sway bar did you
specify. I think it is 1" 1/8.
Thanks

 

http://www.autopartsgiant.co
is where I got mine. Look up the car make model and year to get the right
ones.
Rick

Hi
I have an 03 Grand Caravan and I am getting the knocking in front over
bumps. I believe it is the sway bar bushings also. Were did you buy the Moog
bushing and what type are they. What diameter for the sway bar did you
specify. I think it is 1" 1/8.
Thanks