Broken 36mm front stabilizer bar - 2004 Silverado

[mrsilv04]

Just discovered that I have a broken 36mm front stabilizer bar on my 2004 Silverado 1500 Extended Cab 5.3 RWD.

I'm not sure why, but it has a 36mm bar on it (used a caliper to verify), and I can't locate a replacement online. Everything that I'm finding is 34mm... RockAuto, Advance, O'Reilly's, Amazon, NAPA...

This truck does have the factory towing package, so I'm assuming why it has such a big stabilizer bar.

What now? Where do I turn? Dorman has a 927-120 Stabilizer Bar Assembly, but they claim it is 34mm, not 36mm.

 

[cb_13]

Call a dealership. Have them search for the part by your VIN. Get a price AND part number. Then even if you decide not to buy from them you'll have a GM part number to cross reference.

 

[901Memphis]

Maybe you need to look for the 2500 part if it's compatible but I think it's a 38mm part.

 

[Burd]

Call Schrams here in the D, it's a all GM yard.

 

[Trav]

You could do as someone posted and go through the dealer by VIN or get a better quality bar from Belltech, GM OE have had problems over the years (W body bars broke all the time).
This one is 1 3/8" (approx 35mm), check it for your model. Belltech is good stuff.

http://www.belltech.com/belltech-99-06-gm-1-2-ton-2wd-1-3-8-front-swaybar-5402.html

Edit: Make sure you measure the old one in a clean spot, clean it off with some sandpaper for accuracy.

 

[larryinnewyork]

How do you break a Stabilizer Bar that's 36mm / 1.417 inch ? ? ?

I've had broken End Bolts, but they were about 3/8 inch.

 

[Bluestream]

Auto wrecker likely $10.

 

[spasm3]

i might take a walk through the u pull-it yards and measure a few. Look for ones with the tow package.

 

[Trav]

Originally Posted By: larryinnewyork
How do you break a Stabilizer Bar that's 36mm / 1.417 inch ? ? ?

I've had broken End Bolts, but they were about 3/8 inch.


Most thicker one like this are hollow and where the ends are flattened is where they break off or within a few inches of it. You don't use GM sway bars from the bone yard unless its a GMPP model.

 

[Bluestream]

You got 17 years of use from the GM bar, nothing wrong with that...

 

[Trav]

Depends on the roads doesn't it, around here I see them fail at around 5-8 years in some applications, Fords, Toyota and Dodges not so its definitely a GM thing, how old or how many miles are on the one in bone yard, is it close to the breaking point?

 

[Jimzz]

Originally Posted By: Trav
You could do as someone posted and go through the dealer by VIN or get a better quality bar from Belltech, GM OE have had problems over the years (W body bars broke all the time).
This one is 1 3/8" (approx 35mm), check it for your model. Belltech is good stuff.

http://www.belltech.com/belltech-99-06-gm-1-2-ton-2wd-1-3-8-front-swaybar-5402.html

Edit: Make sure you measure the old one in a clean spot, clean it off with some sandpaper for accuracy.



Yep this one will work well and comes with all new end links and center bushings.


https://smile.amazon.com/Belltech-5402-Front-Anti-Swaybar/dp/B007ZDT7WW/

 

[mjoekingz28]

Originally Posted By: cb_13
Call a dealership. Have them search for the part by your VIN. Get a price AND part number. Then even if you decide not to buy from them you'll have a GM part number to cross reference.





Poor advice.

 

[mrsilv04]

I'll contact Belltech and see what they say... I'm sure they'll be able to figure out exactly what I need... and then gladly sell it to me.

I'm starting to wonder if the 34mm unit is what they're selling now (possibly to fit multiple applications across more years). Since it comes as a kit, with replacement bushings as well... it then doesn't really matter what the diameter of the stabilizer bar is, since you're replacing everything together.

 

[Trav]

IS the original hollow or solid? The belltech is solid and high quality, the Dorman might be recycled metal from China.

 

[mrsilv04]

Originally Posted By: cb_13
Call a dealership. Have them search for the part by your VIN. Get a price AND part number. Then even if you decide not to buy from them you'll have a GM part number to cross reference.


Luckily, the GM part number is on a sticker, which is still attached to the sway bar.

 

[Ramblejam]

Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
What now? Where do I turn? Dorman has a 927-120 Stabilizer Bar Assembly, but they claim it is 34mm, not 36mm.

What about 927-121?
Originally Posted By: Trav
IS the original hollow or solid? The belltech is solid and high quality, the Dorman might be recycled metal from China.

"Re-engineered by Dorman with a solid forged design that eliminates the possibility of the ends breaking due to corrosion"

 

[mrsilv04]

The only question now is Jeg's or Summit Racing...

They both have the Belltech 5402 kit in stock, for the same price ($182), and will ship it yet today (via ground for free) if I order in the next 6 hours.

 

[mrsilv04]

For $28 more than Dorman, I went with the Belltech kit from Summit Racing.

If nothing else, the Belltech kit will likely come with better hardware and polyurethane bushings. I would assume that the Dorman kit will come with standard rubber bushings.

And the bar likely won't be stamped "China", as it is with the Dorman bar.

 

[mrsilv04]

Put the Belltech 5402 sway bar on this morning. Everything fit good and all of the components were of good quality. Summit had it to me in two days, they shipped it out of Akron, Ohio.

Of course, UPS tried their hardest to make it look like it had been routed through a third-world war zone. The hardware kit was there and intact, but the sway bar had various places where the sway bar was dented and the powdercoating was chipped or scratched off. Thanks a lot UPS, what a bunch of losers.

Sure tightened up the front end. Glad I went with Belltech versus Dorman.