Rear Sway bar bushings

[rover3l]

Changed my fronts a few weeks ago and they were badly worn and wedge shaped. Looking at the rears (4 each side on active model) they look in reasonable shape. Is the wear usually obvious without taking them off the car and could worn bushings cause a knocking noise at the rear over rough roads which I can't seem to find any other cause for?

[fxjackso]

No the wear is not as obvious until you remove them. And yes the rear bar will be noisy with worn bushings. I found my active Q just destroyed bushings . I thought it had to do with the increased travel. If you see another active (yeah, right!) drive beside it and watch how the wheels move throughout their travel at cruising speed-with the body floating along undisturbed.

Energy Suspension makes poly bushings that last forever, but they squeak.

[Q45tech]

Usually get 2-3 years [30-45k] out of rear sway bar bushings........the bar can only move +- 0.875" at extreme because shocks only have a +- 3.5" total range.

Must treat rubber with something like "tire dressing" to protect against ozone or salt.

Just part of prorated $2,500-$3,000 per year [non active] in maintenance and repair to keep things as new.

[rover3l]

Wow I hope that is the cause of my elusive knocking noise. On advice from others I have checked and double checked the security of the muffler system and it is rock solid. It could be water hammer noise as I have only changed 4 out of 9 accumulators but I will proceed to rehab the rear sway bar with all 10 bushings. Even if it does not cure the noise it can only improve the handling

[qship96]

how do you change the bushings on the front bar-car on ramps or lift with wheels off the ground?how difficult is this,and anything to look out for?