Is AC Delco # 45G0650 the correct stabilizer bushing for the late-1970s Firebird 1.25" stabilizer bar and bracket? That's the part number that I keep coming up with for a late-1970s firebird, but this bushing is too tall by a half inch when using original firebird bracket? I'm installing this bar on my 1970 GS, having pulled it from a late-1970s firebird, along with the brackets. I'd like to use the firebird brackets, as they're a direct fit verses the 'one size fits all' universal ones that I've found. The universal kit pictured (QuickSteer K7326) at $10 works, but again I'd really like to use the GM factory bracket. At this point I don't really care if the bushing is rubber or poly, I just want something that will fit!
Energy suspension works fine; you might find that allen-head bolts work best. That's what Pontiac found.
I remember I used the original brackets from my small bar so I didn't need to drill new holes. The Summit ones look like a wider screw pattern. You can also cut some off the rubber bushing base as required. Its a nice tight fit.
You should be able to bolt up the TA/Firebird rubber just fine. They are rubber and will compress quite a bit though I usually get the poly ones as they stiffer.
I ran into this exact same issue when trying to use the 1-1/4" bar with WS6 brackets and black rubber. I ended up cutting the ones like you have shorter.
I thought the Pontiac bar from 70 was 1 1/8 . And JC Whitney had the correct bushings. It’s been 20 yrs since I bought mine
I think 1 1/4 is ws6 in later 2nd gens. I have 1 1/8 from a 76 ta. I used energy suspension. Lost my original bushing brackets. Energy suspension fit fine w slotted hole. I did find i had to put end link bolts pointing down as they hit calipers pointing up. Tight fit. Need to test drive still.
I think mysway bar touches my tie rods slightly. Just a tiny bit Gives me Anxioty. But I have not had any issues. Would like to solve this problem. But my Swaybar idler arms are the same that everyone recommend. As far as the length .
Is it touching at the bottom of the bar? If so, you need longer end links. If you have the old sway bar links, you could try just using an extra washer on each end of the spacer tube. That will gain you about an 1/8" more. I used these on my 71 GS with a TA bar and it has plenty of clearance. https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/driveworks-suspension-sway-bar-link-kit-dw-k8265/15510351-P
Thanks to Scott and BadBrad for the necessary tips to get the AC Delco # 45G0650 stabilizer bushings to work with the late-1970s Firebird 1.25" stabilizer bar and bracket. The bushings needed to be shortened and shaped to fit the Firebird brackets, and allen-head bolts were necessary when using the Firebird brackets. ScubaSteve suggestion is worth checking out too, as I see JC Whitney does sell these bushings WITH BRACKETS, under the same part number that I ordered years ago, AC Delco # 45G0650, which would save time by eliminating the need to grind down and trial fit the bushings. When I bought AC Delco # 45G0650 from Rock Auto some years ago, the box just contained two black bushings and no brackets. Now, according to JC Whitney, that part number gets you a box of two blue polyurethane bushings with brackets. By the way, when I say "late-1970s Firebird" I meant "1970-era", e.g. 1970 thru 1979, as I don't remember the exact years that my 1.25" bars came from. I simply walked down a row of 1970-era Firebirds in the junk yard measuring their bars, found two that were 1.25" and pulled them.
Another tip with the bigger bar I just remembered after replacing my tie rod ends, rotate the adjuster slave clamps to the bottom for more clearance.
