03 LeSabre Part Help...Refurbishing Vehicle
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Just received my bushings from Buick...of which they are VERY proud of....and they are correct! So now I know that this vehicle has some OEM parts not duplicated by any Aftermarket companies. And they are so soft and squeezable...lol...thanks guys for all inputs!
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Unfortunately no...those generics will not operate properly because they are flat on the bottom. Original is "keyed" to fit into the recessed area of the frame. If I put on of these on it (with the flat bottom) then the bottom of the bushing will have NO surface to resist against...IOW as the sway bar pushes against the frame the bushing will give way at the bottom as it flexes and fills the recessed area of the frame. I need this SHAPE and haven't been successful yet. Maybe I should be looking in Canada since the part was manufactured there?
I installed those ES bushings myself without the plate. Didn't notice the recessed part. I'll check on the car when I get home tonight. Might end up making myself a plate as well. I can make anyone here a couple as well if it works out decently enough.
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BILLBOOST37, I thoroughly researched the part...yes MOOG has a replacement bushing THEY say fits a 2003 LeSabre HOWEVER it is not the correct bushing...it is blue and is shaped so different that it will not fit in the bushing bracket...I bought them, and returned them. IF MOOG does have this version PLEASE send me a part number so I can eyeball it. I would much rather put the MOOG on since they are poly vs. rubber and they'll color match my sway bar links from MOOG...lol...other wise it appears to be OEM or VIN specific.
Also, I can understand the idea of putting a flat peice of steel under the generic bushings HOWEVER, being a RETIRED degreed electro-mechanical engineer I have a very deep rooted philosophy...If it ain't broke, don't re-engineer it. IOW, there is a reason in a mechanical engineer'* mind of exactly why there is a recessed area for the bushing to fit in, why the bushing has a large footprint, why it is shaped and secured the way it is....sooooo, I only put the parts in it was designed for. I don't know the exact dynamics involved in the design therefore I can not make an informed decision as to what modifications I can safely make without changing the fundamental dynamics of the car. It is like....this vehicle comes with two sway bars...28mm and 30mm...one for "comfort ride" and one for "handling ride"
Does that mean that if I drive this car in a "handling" kind of fashion my sway bar will bend or break? Does another 2mm in diameter increase the force resistance that much? Why didn't they just put a 30mm bar on all of them? See? Too many variables and unanswered questions so I look at this as a Repair and Refurbish and not as an engineering exercise.
Also, I can understand the idea of putting a flat peice of steel under the generic bushings HOWEVER, being a RETIRED degreed electro-mechanical engineer I have a very deep rooted philosophy...If it ain't broke, don't re-engineer it. IOW, there is a reason in a mechanical engineer'* mind of exactly why there is a recessed area for the bushing to fit in, why the bushing has a large footprint, why it is shaped and secured the way it is....sooooo, I only put the parts in it was designed for. I don't know the exact dynamics involved in the design therefore I can not make an informed decision as to what modifications I can safely make without changing the fundamental dynamics of the car. It is like....this vehicle comes with two sway bars...28mm and 30mm...one for "comfort ride" and one for "handling ride"
Does that mean that if I drive this car in a "handling" kind of fashion my sway bar will bend or break? Does another 2mm in diameter increase the force resistance that much? Why didn't they just put a 30mm bar on all of them? See? Too many variables and unanswered questions so I look at this as a Repair and Refurbish and not as an engineering exercise.
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Randy Edens
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