ZForce 800 Sway Bar bushing upgrade to Polyurethane
As we 53” Z8 owners are aware, our machines are a bit tippy and unpredictable on hard corners and in power slides. Even myself have had my share of “pucker” moments. From past experiences it is known that the flatter it stays the longer it will stay on all fours. Width is the biggest help but also not allowing the body to roll over as easy or as far to meet that critical point also helps a great deal. For almost 10 years my Brute has had a set of Energy Polyurethane sway bar bushings and that has helped it stay planted on corners and slides like a go-cart on asphalt. With as much slop as the zforce bushings have it’s no wonder that don’t want you to do any broudys, donuts or power slides. They have even set the clutches so it’s harder to do them.. for safety I assume. Well, now that mine wants to do them all the time with a touch of the gas, I though it time she got her own set of bushings. If it helps the Z8 anything like they did for the Brute, the 20 bucks will be some of the best money ever on it spent.
A few measurements and these were the correct ones for the Z8s:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003879TFY?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00
Will need to add a washer to the bolt as these cone with a slot that's a bit wider then the OEs with the hole. And be sure to clean the bar well before installing the new bushing.
One thing I don’t use any more on these is grease. It gets hard and binds over time and the grease track gets blocked. I use weapons-grade graphite. Perfectly smooth for years and no squeaks! The Brutes now have over 4000 miles on hers and they are still as tight as the day they were put on. I think I have cleaned and re-applied the graphite twice in all that time.
So, the same shall be for the Z-8. Can’t wait to get it out on the desert for some HD play.
Here’s a little video I did on this mod.
I would like to also state this modification/upgrade does not eliminate the possibility of a roll-over. It only increases the force required to do so. So don't go out and do donuts on asphalt right afterward thinking you are save...lol
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UPDATE 10/28/15:
OK, here a little video of the testing of the new sway bar bushings. Not the best but at least it will give you some idea of how much more flat it stays in corners and the added control on twisty, whoopee trails.
UPDATE 6/7/16:
After running these for a few hundred miles I found that these fit the bar a little tighter then my Energy bushings do on my Brute Force and as such, moved/worked all the graphite out from between the bushing and the bar making it not only hard to rotate but also squeak a little. For now I took ends loose and greased the fittings with my graphite grease in all positions ,then worked it all in so it was smooth and easy again, then reinstalled. Later I may remove and adjust the fit so they aren't quite as tight against the bar. Although you want no play, you also way no binding.
UPDATE 8/10/16
I was hoping these would wear a little quicker but after twice having to relube because of the tightness against the swar bar I decided to "Help" it wear in by running a round file through them enough for them to fit the bar with no play, but no pressure being exerted from the frame after install. This should help keep lube inside and stop the binding as well as the noticeable wear showing on the bar from being too tight.