Sway Bar Bushing Orientation

[davidf]

I am fitting Moog sway bar bushings to the sway bars on a 95 Camry V6. The bushings have a split to allow them to be fitted over the sway bar. Does it matter in which direction the split faces? If so, what direction is it for the rear bushings and which direction for the front bushings? (The Moog part# is AXXK90253 or 4500218777 for the rear.)

[DxElite]

I just installed a Whiteline RSB 2 weeks ago and I put the bushings on with one facing front and the other facing back. I tightened both sides up and then I noticed that the one facing front actually opened up instead of squeezing closed like the one facing back. So I took it off and turned it around and it closed up.

I didn't think it mattered since the bracket would clamp down on it, but it seemed I was proven wrong.

So I think that the rear bushings should have the split facing back.
Not sure about the front, but you can always try it one way and the other, that way if one is wrong, you only have to redo one.

[davidf]

Thanks DxElite - good advice! I eventually got through to Moog tech support and they said orientation doesn't matter. However I installed in line with DxElite's suggestion (with the split facing rearwards) as studying the geometry of the bar it seemed reasonable that there would be more thrust expereinced towards the front facing part of the bushing from the sway bar so I wanted the solid part of the bushing placed to take any of the load in that direction.