After changing my rear control arm bushings on my '70 model, the sway bar appears to now need shims. There were none installed before and everything fit tight. There is now about a 3/8 inch gap on each side. Is this change normal when replacing bushings, and if so where's the best place to buy the shims? All parts are original from the factory.

Jim

A lot of things could cause this situation. It could be a slightly different design in the bushing, could be you swapped the arms from either side to the other or something similiar. It's not really problem. Most restoration parts companies sell the sway bar shims, but when you think of what they really are, they seem a bit expensive.

I made my own using some scrap sheet metal I had left over from various other projects. Look in a restoration catalog and you'll get an idea of what they look like and you'll see instantly how you can make your own. Making your own will save you time and money and that means you can have the car back on the road with it's rear sway bar more quickly.

Or simply use a stack of washers under each bolt between the bar and the arm to serve the same purpose. Washers are readily available from any hardware store, cost just a few cents and you don't have to spend any time fabricating anything.

This is a post I made some time ago.
My question at the time was:
The only use I can see for the shims is to align the center of the bar with the center of the Pumpkin.
Answer
FO_FDYFO
Team Member
No, it is so that when you tighten the bolts up , you dont draw the control arms in, binding the bushings. when you hold the bar up there if there is space add shimms. it does not need to be centered

Thanks for the input everyone. I will probably just make my own shims when time permits. For now I might just go the washer route.

Jim