Ever hit a bumpy section of trail and hear that annoying clunk… clunk… clunk from the front end of your rig? Or maybe you’ve noticed your General feels a bit “wallowy” and less precise in the corners, leaning more than it used to. You’re not imagining things. That nagging sound and sloppy feel are classic signs that your Polaris General front sway bar bushing set has likely seen better days.
We’ve all been there. You invest in a machine built for performance and control, but over time, small wear-and-tear items can seriously degrade the experience. The good news? This is one of the most satisfying, affordable, and impactful DIY jobs you can tackle in your own garage.
We promise this guide will walk you through everything you need to know. We’ll cover how to spot the problem, the tools you’ll need, a step-by-step replacement process, and pro tips to make your new bushings last. Get ready to restore that tight, responsive handling and enjoy a blissfully quiet ride.
What Exactly is a Polaris General Front Sway Bar Bushing and Why Does It Matter?
Think of your sway bar (also called an anti-roll bar) as the unsung hero of your General’s suspension. It’s a simple torsion bar that connects the left and right sides of your front suspension. Its one and only job is to counteract body roll when you’re cornering or navigating off-camber terrain.
When you turn, the outside of your vehicle wants to dip down, and the inside wants to lift. The sway bar twists to resist this motion, keeping your General flatter, more stable, and more predictable. This is where the bushings come in.
The Polaris General front sway bar bushing is the critical link that holds the sway bar firmly to your machine’s frame. These simple rubber or polyurethane mounts allow the bar to pivot and twist as needed, but they also have to absorb immense forces. They are the buffer that prevents metal-on-metal contact, dampens vibration, and ensures the sway bar can do its job effectively.
When they wear out, that solid connection becomes a sloppy one, leading to noise, poor handling, and a less confident feeling behind the wheel. Understanding the benefits of a polaris general front sway bar bushing in good condition is key—it’s all about control and quiet.
Telltale Signs: How to Spot a Worn-Out Front Sway Bar Bushing
Your General is pretty good at telling you when something is wrong, you just have to know what to listen and feel for. Worn bushings have a few distinct symptoms that are hard to miss once you know what they are. This is one of the most common problems with polaris general front sway bar bushing sets, so keep an eye out.
The Dreaded “Clunk” or “Rattle”
This is the number one complaint. You’ll hear a hollow clunking or a rattling noise coming from the front end, especially when going over smaller, repetitive bumps like washboard roads or even just pulling into a driveway with a curb. The sound is caused by the sway bar moving around inside the worn, oversized bushing and hitting the metal bracket.
Sloppy Handling and Excessive Body Roll
Does your General feel less “sharp” on turn-in? Does it seem to lean or “roll” more than you remember in sweeping turns on the trail? This is a direct result of worn bushings. They are no longer holding the sway bar securely, which reduces its effectiveness at controlling body roll, making the machine feel less stable.
A Simple Visual Inspection
Sometimes, the best diagnostic tool is a flashlight and your own two eyes. Safely get a look at the front sway bar where it mounts to the frame (it’s usually located low and toward the front of the machine). Here’s what to look for:
- Visible Gaps: You should not see a significant gap between the sway bar and the inside of the bushing. If you can easily see daylight, it’s worn out.
- Cracked or Deformed Rubber: Look for cracks, dry rot, or a bushing that looks squashed or oval-shaped instead of round.
- Movement: With the machine safely parked, try to move the sway bar up and down or side-to-side by hand near the bushing. You shouldn’t feel any significant play or hear a clunk.
The Ultimate Polaris General Front Sway Bar Bushing Replacement Guide
Ready to get your hands dirty and fix this yourself? Fantastic. This is a straightforward job that requires basic hand tools and an hour or two of your time. Following this how to polaris general front sway bar bushing guide will make the process a breeze.
Tools and Parts You’ll Need
Gathering your tools first makes any job go smoother. You won’t need anything too exotic for this.
- Floor Jack and Jack Stands
- Wheel Chocks
- Socket Set (a 13mm or 15mm socket is common for the bracket bolts, but verify for your model)
- Torque Wrench
- Lug Wrench
- Pry Bar or large flathead screwdriver (optional, but helpful)
- Shop Towels or Rags
- The Right Grease: This is critical. Use a silicone-based or specific polyurethane-safe grease. Do not use petroleum-based grease, as it will break down and destroy the new bushings.
- Your new set of Polaris General front sway bar bushings!
Step-by-Step Installation Process
Let’s get that clunk silenced for good. Follow these steps carefully, and always prioritize safety.
- Safety First: Park your General on a flat, level surface like a garage floor. Put it in park, engage the parking brake, and place wheel chocks behind the rear tires for extra security.
- Lift and Support Your Machine: Use your floor jack to lift the front of the General until the front tires are off the ground. Place jack stands securely under the frame on both sides. Never work under a vehicle supported only by a jack.
- Remove the Front Wheels: Use your lug wrench to remove the front wheels. This gives you wide-open access to the sway bar and its bushings.
- Locate the Bushings and Brackets: Follow the sway bar from the suspension knuckle toward the center of the vehicle. You’ll see two U-shaped metal brackets holding the bar to the frame. Those are your targets.
- Remove the Old Brackets and Bushings: Using your socket wrench, remove the two bolts holding one of the brackets in place. Once the bolts are out, the bracket will come off. The old bushing, which is split on one side, can now be easily pried or pulled off the sway bar. Repeat for the other side.
- Clean Everything Up: This is a key step many people skip. Use a rag to thoroughly clean the area on the sway bar where the old bushing sat. Also, wipe down the inside of the metal bracket and the frame where it mounts. A clean surface ensures a perfect fit.
- Grease and Install the New Bushings: Take your new bushing and apply a liberal amount of your poly-safe grease to the entire inside surface. Don’t be shy here—more grease is better than not enough. Open the split in the bushing and pop it onto the sway bar in the exact same location and orientation as the old one.
- Reinstall the Brackets: Place the metal bracket over the newly installed and greased bushing. Hand-thread the two bolts to get them started, ensuring you don’t cross-thread them.
- Torque to Spec: Use your socket wrench to tighten the bolts down evenly. Finish them off with your torque wrench, tightening them to the factory specification. This is important—over-tightening can crush the bushing, while under-tightening will allow movement and noise.
- Final Checks and Test Drive: Repeat the process for the other side. Once both new bushings are installed and torqued, reinstall your wheels. Lower the General off the jack stands and use your torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts to spec in a star pattern. Now for the best part: take it for a test drive over some familiar bumps and enjoy the silence!
Choosing the Right Bushings: OEM vs. Aftermarket (and a Note on Sustainability)
You have a choice when buying new bushings, and the right one depends on your needs. This is a core part of our polaris general front sway bar bushing guide.
OEM Rubber: The Factory Feel
Factory bushings from Polaris are typically made of a softer rubber compound. They provide a comfortable ride and are a direct, guaranteed-fit replacement. However, they are more susceptible to wear and tear, especially from mud, water, and hard off-road use.
Aftermarket Polyurethane: The Performance Upgrade
Most aftermarket options (like those from brands like SuperATV or Energy Suspension) are made from polyurethane. This material is significantly firmer and more durable than rubber. It resists chemicals, abrasion, and degradation far better, offering a much longer service life. The trade-off is a slightly firmer feel, but the improvement in handling response and longevity is well worth it for most riders.
A Word on Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Choices
When we talk about a sustainable polaris general front sway bar bushing, it’s less about the material itself and more about the lifecycle. Choosing a high-quality polyurethane bushing that lasts three or four times longer than the OEM rubber part is an inherently eco-friendly polaris general front sway bar bushing choice. You’re consuming fewer parts and creating less waste over the life of your machine.
Pro Tips and Best Practices for Long-Lasting Bushings
Want to get the most out of your new parts? Follow these polaris general front sway bar bushing best practices and tips from the pros.
- Grease is Your Best Friend: We can’t say it enough. The number one cause of squeaking from new polyurethane bushings is a lack of proper grease. Use the supplied grease or a high-quality, waterproof silicone paste.
- Inspect Periodically: As part of your regular maintenance, take a quick peek at your bushings. Look for signs of the grease washing out or any new cracks forming. This simple check is the core of any good polaris general front sway bar bushing care guide.
- Clean Your Undercarriage: After a muddy ride, take the time to wash down your suspension components. Caked-on mud and grit can act like sandpaper, accelerating wear on any moving part, including your new bushings.
- Check Your End Links Too: While you’re working on the sway bar, inspect the sway bar end links (the parts connecting the ends of the bar to the suspension arms). Their bushings can also wear out and cause similar clunking noises.
Frequently Asked Questions About Polaris General Front Sway Bar Bushings
Why are my new polyurethane bushings squeaking?
This is almost always due to one of two things: not using enough grease during installation, or using the wrong type of grease. Polyurethane requires a special silicone-based, waterproof grease that won’t wash away and won’t degrade the material. If they start squeaking, you may need to loosen the brackets and work more grease into them.
Can I drive with a bad sway bar bushing?
Technically, yes, but it’s not a good idea. You’ll have to put up with the noise, and more importantly, your General’s handling will be compromised. The increased body roll can make it feel unstable and less safe, especially during emergency maneuvers or on challenging terrain. It also puts extra stress on other suspension components like the end links and shocks.
How often should I replace my sway bar bushings?
There’s no set mileage or time interval. It depends entirely on your riding conditions and style. A machine that sees a lot of mud, water, and aggressive trail riding might need them every couple of years, while one used for light-duty work on flat ground could go much longer. The best approach is to inspect them annually and replace them at the first sign of wear.
Replacing your Polaris General front sway bar bushing set is a game-changer. It’s a simple, affordable fix that silences annoying noises, restores crisp handling, and makes your machine feel new again. It’s one of those high-reward DIY projects that gives you a real sense of accomplishment.
So grab your tools, follow the steps, and get ready to enjoy that solid, quiet, and controlled ride you deserve. Happy wrenching, and stay safe out there on the trails!
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