Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

Howdy fellas,

Been a nice few months since I've posted, been busy getting familiar with my '54 Clipper over the past year. With car season right around the corner up here in the north, I fixed up a majority of my cosmetic and engine issues minus rust belt body rust, however I'm now in the market for a complete set of sway bar bushings. It drives fantastic but the front end rattling and tremendous amount of body roll around corners is beginning to make my boat of a '64 Pontiac feel like a Ferrari; tightening up the front end just a smidge would be fantastic.

I see Steele Rubber offers OEM replacements for a decent penny around $160 combined, though I'm curious if anyone has had luck with alternative parts. Originality is my #1 goal, though I've lurked the forum and other sources and have seen some fantastic alternative solutions and improvements. Admittedly, I am a college student on a budget, though I have access to a friend's shop and a welder-always open to cost-effective solutions. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Call Bob's Packard Parts.

Directory to your left.

I cannot suggest the best place or type of bushings but will suggest you duplicate the proper tool to replace the bushings at the ends that are under the metal clips on the A arms. The clips are hard spring steel, very brittle, and can be a real pain to get them to snap onto the arm. Because they are brittle it is also very easy to have them slip or twist and then break one of the top retaining tabs off which makes the clip useless.




Check out the article on the J-4654 tool in this service counselor You can duplicate the tool with an ordinary C clamp but without the face of the pad being shaped a bit so there is somewhat of a concave surface resting on the rounded clip it will want to slip off. A piece of scrap metal or even a couple of flat blade screwdrivers inserted in the slots will keep the tabs stationary in the slots so all the action will be at the bottom when snapping the edge over the A arm rim.

Ross has some trick with those. I'll have to ask him again as I bought a spare last year.