Control arm / sway bar question

[auto_robotics]

Hi, I ordered new control arms for my 1990 Camry because the bushings on the original were completely shot. I also got all new hardware so things would stay rust free for another 22 years!

I installed everything, but I'm not sure I did the sway bar retainers right. These are PNC 48817A on the diagram below (part 48667-32011).



The new parts are a redesign from Toyota and don't look exactly like what I took off the car. Originally the driver's and passenger's side had different retainer styles. I have no idea why and it looks like Toyota did away with that. The car also didn't come with the 48817E spacer.

Old parts and bar:

IMG_0815 by VTCraig, on Flickr

The new ones are shaped like a cupped disk (like a flattened tea cup). They came with a plastic cup snapped on around the "outside" of the cup.

New parts installed:

IMG_0807 by VTCraig, on Flickr


IMG_0806 by VTCraig, on Flickr


IMG_0805 by VTCraig, on Flickr

First, do you think that the plastic cup was just a shipping protector or an actual part of the part? I left it on, but now I'm wondering if plastic probably isn't the best bearing surface pressed up against the bushing.

Second, should the cup face towards or away from the control arm bushing? I installed them so that the cup faces away.

Maybe someone has this style on their car and knows the answer? I think it is a late 1990-1991 part.

Thanks!
- Craig

[dem2757]

clean looking undercarriage.

those retainers look like they should only be to protect the rubber from oil and contamination before assembly. i cant confirm or deny if you need those off though cause i didnt replace my lower control arms, i had a shop do them

[Grego 92]

Those plastic washers are suppose to be there...at least they were on my OEM ones. I used aftermarket control arms and re-used those plastic washer/discs things....the outside or what they sit in is metal right? that's how I remember them being.

['88 All-Trac]

On my All-Trac, the cup faces outward and the plastic shield is in place... OEM style.

[auto_robotics]

Thanks for responding guys! It sounds like I might have done this right.

'88 All-Trac: Just to make sure I understand you ... does your setup look like my pictures?

I MS-painted a 'lil diagram.


Camry Sway Bar Retainer by VTCraig, on Flickr

There's a hole in the center of the plastic cup, so it's not directly pressing on the bushing sleeve.

- Craig

['88 All-Trac]

That is exactly how mine is configured!

You have mad mspaint skills.

[auto_robotics]

Thanks!

I got it aligned after the install because the steering was slightly off to the left. The car feels way better -- probably because I now have a working sway bar in the front. It was just rattling around before thanks to the blown bushings.

A bit of info for future searchers: the spacers (48817E) where the sway bar goes through the control arm are used to set wheel caster. I think adding more spacers must reduce caster (push the wheel back). Even with 1 spacer my car measured +3 degrees which is slightly high.

['88 All-Trac]

Nothing wrong with high caster angles in my book... Prefer the steering feel.