Write-Up: Front/Rear (Addco) Stabilizer/Sway Bar Installation

I greased the bushings before installation to get grease all around. I hit the zerk fittings with the grease gun when I change the wheels in the fall and spring.

Larry: Never Enough Auto drop-ships. They have no control over what goes into the kits. John's address at addco is johnw@addco.net. If he doesn't send you the bushings, let me know. I might have an extra set at home.

Jason wrote:

I greased the bushings before installation to get grease all around. I hit the zerk fittings with the grease gun when I change the wheels in the fall and spring.

Larry: Never Enough Auto drop-ships. They have no control over what goes into the kits. You have John's address correct. If he doesn't send you the bushings, let me know. I might have an extra set at home.

I tried john@addco.net, and it came back rejected. I then e-mailed Nathan@addco.net, and that went through. I'll have to wait for a response. He's the marketing director. Maybe John doesn't work for them anymore? I'm not holding out much hope. I'm probably going to install everything this Friday. I had a friend with a discount order the bushings from GM. If by some chance i get them from NE, or Addco, I'll have an extra set. Thanks for the offer Jason.

I called Never Enough again. They referred me to Addco. I called Addco, and pestered the operator enough, that she gave me John's number. I called and left a message, and John called me back later in the day. John seems like a great guy. I did give him the part number for the GM "orange" bushings, and also referenced the group buy , and the work he did for that group buy. I also asked him to look at Addco's catalog, on page 3. They have a picture of the 2015 bar, and the bushings are also in the picture. Same for Sumitt, and Jegs. They picture the bar with the bushings.

http://www.k2graphicservices.com/ebooks/AddcoSwayBars/index.html

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ACO-2015/

http://www.jegs.com/i/ADDCO/020/2015/10002/-1

That's the one I got and mine from Summit did come with the bushings.

J. Chris Davis wrote:

That's the one I got and mine from Summit did come with the bushings.

Talking with John yesterday, he said he believes that Sumit and Jegs adds them in, as Addco justs ships the bars alone. Were your Bushings the 25666235 GM bushings?

Oh I see. I dont remember the exact number, but they were the orange ones. The correct ones that you want. Maybe Summit can sell you just the bushings.

J. Chris Davis wrote:

Oh I see. I dont remember the exact number, but they were the orange ones. The correct ones that you want. Maybe Summit can sell you just the bushings.

I'm thinking John will do the right thing by me.

yes, 25666235 is the correct p/n for the orange bushing. John's address is johnw@addco.net

Thanks Jason,
I'm waiting to hear back from John. I talked with him on Thursday.

Installed my Addco sway Bars this past Friday along with my Cradle Mounts. I had absolutely no problem getting the old bar out, and installing the new bars. I removed the 4 rear bushing bolts, and loosened the front two. Unbolted the rack, and supported the Cradle with a Jack Stand. Dropped the passenger side tie rod. Had to use some heat on the center bushing bracket bolts. I didn't want to snap them. The bar came out in 5 seconds. New bar went in just as easy.

My impressions? The car handles worlds better. There is almost no body roll now, and the car feels more controllable at all speeds. Transient response is greatly improved, and I think there is less under steer overall. With the stock sway bars, my car would get really twitchy when I put it into a hard turn. That is completely gone now. I really don't feel like the ride changed much. Single wheel bumps are just a bit harsher, as the bar adds to the spring rate on that side. Definitely, a worthwhile mod. These cars will never handle like a little Civic, but there is a very noticeable improvement.

Can't seem to find it on search...
I'm replacing the sway bar end links and want to replace the sway bar bushings...but O'Reilly & Advance Auto don't show them in their system... Are they just a standard size bushing and I just need the size?

I've got a 96 with OEM sway bars...

Gracias amigos!

Most of use use the upgraded sway bar bushings from summit/energy suspension.
You will just need to order based on the diameter of the bar.
If you are talking about the end link bushings then you can use the ES universal kit from autozone for a slightly better product than moog.
The sise and part number should be in the sway bar thread.

Edit: the rear bushings need to come from GM, they are a little more specific.

Energy Suspension part #s for OEM front stabilizer bars:

25 mm = 9.5161
27 mm = 9.5162
28 mm = 9.5163

The diameter of your bar may vary by year. Measure your bar and use the bushing that is equal or slightly smaller than the bar's diameter. I think they got thicker from '96 to '97 year, but not 100% sure.

Energy Suspension part # for Addco 32 mm front stabilizer bar:

31.5 mm = 9.5165

glad to see you're still around Nate. If you buy an Energy Suspension bushing, it will have a flat bottom, as on the pic above yours, so you'll need a little "plate" as on the pic. If you want the stock shape, I think you'll need to go with GM.

Still here!

Took off the part, took to Advance Auto and got the Energy Suspension retrofit.

So far this week I've:
Replaced radiator (old one went out, while up on jackstands I added other things)
Replacing oil pan (old one has always had a dent in it)
Replaced front suspension bushings (did end links two weeks ago)
Replaced rear sway bar links
Replaced all rotors
New rear pads
New themostat

That ought to last me another 100K!

Will these fit the rear addco sway bar? The bar is the 2015 22mm bar. I looked these up on Energy Suspension's website and this part number said it was for 22mm bars, but what about the bracket?

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/ENS0/95158R/N1583.oap?ck=Search_N1583_ENS_1022016_3260&mn=Energy+Suspension&mc=ENS&pt=N1583&ppt=C0106

Not sure about the differences in rear bars. I thought they were all the same. It's possible the OEM rear bar varied in thickness from year to year. I think the 22 mm bar fits all years. My '98 uses the 22 mm bar.

As for the rear brackets and bushings, if you look at the design Rivieras use, it's not the same as the ES set you posted. Our brackets are each held on with a single screw.

Thanks AA, would it be possible to fit these bushings into the stock brackets?

This is what the rear bar bushings look like. 22mm and 17mm.

Jason wrote:

Where did you get those Larry? My addco 2015 bar did not come with anything but the bar.

RidzRiv wrote:

Where did you get those Larry? My addco 2015 bar did not come with anything but the bar.

Mine didn't either. The original group purchase guys got them from John at Addco. I contacted John, and he said he would get me some, but he never did, and I got tired of trying to get a hold of him, so I just ordered them from GM. If you look at the picture, the part number is right there. ( 25666235 ) They are still available.

Thanks Larry! I'll check the dealership on monday to see if they have them in stock, i want to get this bar put on soon!

Anyone know a place that has a good price on the 2015 rear Addco? And is there an energy suspension bushing set known to fit the 2015 or is the GM 25666235 the only mount known to fit?

For the rear bushings, only GM parts are a drop-in fit, but you can modify similar bushings (with firmer material) to fit. Mine are modified Ford bushings. Ford is known for using stiffer bars and bushing materials in their cars.

Personally, I wouldn't use anything firmer with an Addco rear bar. As-is, the back end will come out (oversteer) in certain situations, especially in the wet. You should be careful upgrading only the rear bar, plus using hard bushings. It can make your car unsafe in a hurry, get you killed even. There's a reason almost every modern car comes with understeer built-in from the factory. It's not to make the car less fun, it's to help save you in the event you loose control in a corner.

It you decide to upgrade sway bars on the Riv, I'd do the full set, front & rear.

I wanted to do just the rear first and see what kind of difference that makes in cornering alone. And then move to a front bar if needed. I absolutely must neutralize the full on understeer I have now. Hate it.