Broken Swaybar Mounting Bracket Concern

[switchlanez]

My passenger side TRD rear sway bar bracket that holds the bushing snapped. The right half of the bar is just hanging there.

Needless to say, I'm replacing both brackets tomorrow when the dealer receives the parts. But I wonder what could have caused this... did I overtorque the bracket bolts? I installed sway bar on the tighter setting onto my endlinks, so that - combined with the cold weather lately - could have been the main factor.

I've been driving around like this for the last 400 miles and I'm concerned if this may have caused any significant wear on other suspension components like the endlinks.

[slidr]

Post a pic of the broken bracket.

[switchlanez]

It's cold and dark right now, but I could snap a pic tomorrow or I could describe it right now:

The two bolts are still holding down the tabs of the bracket and the bar with bushing are hanging right in between the tabs. The damaged bracket looks like this (excuse the crudeness)...

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/4930/bracketrl1.jpg

[Transcend]

Your guess is probably one one of the most probable causes- over-torquing.

[MicaCeli]

Weird, havent seen that before. It should be ok though.

[ekindbest]

wow....how you broke that?

[MicaCeli]

I kinda doubt that it was over-torquing though. It's kinda of a stout part.

[Transcend]

I kinda doubt that it was over-torquing though. It's kinda of a stout part.
There's always unpredictable variables though.

Does the TRD sway kit use poly urethane bushings?

[lpphreakx06]

I kinda doubt that it was over-torquing though. It's kinda of a stout part.
There's always unpredictable variables though.

Does the TRD sway kit use poly urethane bushings?

Yes.

[Transcend]

Yes.
Yeah, polyurethane bushings would put more strain on the brackets (especially if over-torqued and with a bit of aggressive turning), does the kit retain the stock mounting brackets also?

[switchlanez]

yeah the only thing included with the trd swaybars were the urethane bushing. endlinks and mounting brackets are stock. while we're on the subject... is there an easy way for me to lubricate the front sway bushings without having to remove that undercarriage brace? i just bought a torque wrench and want to put it to good use.

[Transcend]

yeah the only thing included with the trd swaybars were the urethane bushing. endlinks and mounting brackets are stock. while we're on the subject... is there an easy way for me to lubricate the front sway bushings without having to remove that undercarriage brace? i just bought a torque wrench and want to put it to good use.
Nope, you're gonna have to pull them off and grease them up... unless you can inject your lube into the area between the bushing and bracket and bar.

[oneblackgts]

just wondering if your car have ever been in an accident? or if any suspension parts are bent?

[switchlanez]

^No accidents or bent parts that I know of except for that bracket. Well I installed a new one with plenty of lube and the correct torque spec, so it should be fine now. Hopefully. :ugh:

[Transcend]

^No accidents or bent parts that I know of except for that bracket. Well I installed a new one with plenty of lube and the correct torque spec, so it should be fine now. Hopefully. :ugh:
^ Should be fine then. A lot of people forget to lube up polyurethane bushings- hence the squeaking sounds and so forth.

[slider1982]

Is there a way to know something is over tighten?? I did my rear sway today with wrench and am afraid that i've over tighten the bracket and endlinks and exhaust...

[switchlanez]

^Only way that I know of is with a torque wrench. Digital ones cost around a hundred. Analog ones can be around 40 bucks. These can be very useful if you will be working on your car. Torque specs can be found on the repair manual somewhere on this forum.

[slidr]

I doubt that was caused by overtorquing. Looks more like a defective bracket.