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Last year I had my '51 Packard car towed by a flat bed truck.
I was not there when the driver used a chain to pull the car up the inclined bed. The driver hooked the chain to the RF stabilizer bar where the bushing and the bracket are bolted to the frame. Now I know what that thumping noise is when I go over a bump. The bracket is badly bent and the bushing has been squeezed out. I want to replace the bracket and the bushing. The LF bushing looks very good. Does any one have the bushing or the bracket?
Application: 1951 Packard 200, with a 288 engine.
Hope to be doing business with you Packard fans.

Regards, Steve

1951 Packard 200
1953 Packard Clipper

You're going to bill back the towing company for this screw up, right?

Craig

Steele has the rubbersteelerubber.com/ but brackets -- unless you can find a parts car not suffering the same fate as yours -- might be more difficult. The fact they are usually riveted on makes it even harder to find in good shape. Know some were looking last year and don't think had much success. Also some decided to use an after market product for other reasons. Check out Big Kevs blog, page 5 post 95 for his solution.

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I don't think I'll be going after the tow company, it's been one year and can't see much satisfaction coming my way. I think that if I pick and choose my battles I won't make myself crazy with my unmet expectations.

Good luck trying to find a good bracket. Every parts car I looked at had them bent. I really think those brackets were not one of Packards best designs. Basically the bracket is two "c" channel shaped brackets that are sandwiched around the busing and then tack welded together. Those brackets have to serve two functions; Anchor the sway bar to the frame, and space the bar at the correct distance from the frame. Packard really should have used a solid spacer.

Packard had the bar, and brackets listed as a single part number (assembly).

Because both of mine were bad, I decided to go with a different design. I bought a modern sway bar bracket from Energy Suspensions, and the made a spacer out of a solid block of aluminum. This lines up and mounts using the stock frame bolt holes. I used grade 8 bolts, and hardware. These bolts extend through the frame, spacer, and the new bracket. So it is now a solid unit that is stronger then what was there before. Here are the pictures of mine:

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HH56, thank you for the lead to Steele rubber. When I saw "riveted" in your post I ran out and looked at my set up and found my brackets are bolted to the frame. Thanks again.

For the Bar End bushing, I bought the replacements from Steele.

Hi BigKev, (just a note on the side: I used to live in Yucaipa, just So. of San Bernardino. When I retired I moved to Vancouver WA. This time of the year I know that you're baking your brains out.....It's hot down there hum!!!).

Thank you for showing me your set up, I've got the rubber bushings located (Steele Rubber) and if I can't find a simple solution (stock) I can use your idea. I'm not much at making stuff but I can sure R/R stuff.

Regards, Steve........

Steve,

It's pretty toasty here today. I grew up in Victorville, but have lived in Riverside for the last 10 years or so. So I know the heat well. I suppose that is why very little gets done on the Packard in the summer months.

Does anyone know if these brackets are the same 51-54 and 55-56 (they look to be from the above picture)? If so, I have one I can supply cheap off a 56.

Craig