What is a Rear Stabilizer Bar Bushing?
The rear stabilizer bar bushing is a key part of your car’s steering system. It’s pretty simple, but a little wordy, so let’s take this piece by piece.
Let’s start with a stabilizer bar, which is commonly referred to as a sway bar, and occasionally as an anti-roll bar. So, pick the name you like best and stick with it.
Not all cars have stabilizer bars, but yours presumably does. Otherwise, why are you reading this article? Cars that do have stabilizer bars often have two: One in the front, and one in the back. Do I need to tell you where the rear stabilizer bar is located? Good.
So, the stabilizer bar does exactly what the name suggests: It stabilizes. The stabilizer bar runs across the bottom of the car and is connected to the frame of the car on the left and right side. As you turn one way or the other, the car begins to roll in that direction, compressing or extending the wheels in the process.
In essence, the stabilizer bar connects the wheels on either side. This helps the car straighten out after you turn, which, it might shock you to learn, is a little bit important if you want to be able to drive safely. In addition to this, the stabilizer bar helps keep your car stable when driving over bumps and potholes, which also reduces the noise and vibrations that exist in your cabin, so that it doesn’t feel like a rave inside your car.
Okay, that brings us to the bushings. Don’t worry, we’re almost done. The bushings are how the rear stabilizer bar attaches to your car on either end. There’s one on each side, they’re made of a very strong rubber, they’re lubricated, and they hold the bar in place.
As is the sad reality with so many parts of your car, the rear stabilizer bar bushings can wear out over time, causing problems.