Sway Bar Bushing - Front

Replace worn front sway bar bushings on a 2009 Aston Martin DB9 to restore suspension articulation and eliminate clunking noises during cornering.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front sway bar bushing set × 2 — Use OEM specification or polyurethane upgrade
• Sway bar bracket bolts (if corroded) × 4 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Loosen front wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground
3. Raise front of vehicle using floor jack at designated front jacking points
4. Support vehicle securely on jack stands positioned at front subframe rail jacking points
5. Remove both front wheels completely
6. Allow suspension to hang at full droop to relieve tension on sway bar

Procedure

1. 1

   Locate front sway bar and bushing brackets
   From beneath the vehicle, locate the front sway bar running laterally across the front subframe. Identify the two bushing brackets securing the bar to the subframe, positioned approximately midway between the sway bar end links and the center of the vehicle. Each bracket is a two-piece clamp design secured with 2 bolts.
2. 2

   Apply penetrating oil to bracket fasteners
   Spray penetrating oil on all sway bar bracket bolts and allow to soak for 5-10 minutes. These fasteners are exposed to road spray and may be corroded. Clean any loose debris or undercoating from bolt heads with a wire brush to ensure proper tool engagement.
3. 3

   Remove driver side bushing bracket
   Using the appropriate socket (verify exact drive type and size against factory documentation — may be an external hex or internal Torx fastener), remove the 2 bolts securing the driver side bushing bracket to the subframe. Support the bracket as you remove the final bolt to prevent it from falling. Lower the bracket away from the sway bar, noting the orientation of the bracket halves. Note: Using the appropriate socket for the bracket fasteners (verify fastener head type and size against OEM documentation — Torx or hex/Allen may be used), remove the 2 bolts securing the driver side bushing bracket to the subframe. Note: Using the correct fastener tool for the DB9 sway bar bracket bolts (verify exact size/type against factory documentation before starting — do not assume Torx), remove the 2 bolts securing the driver side bushing bracket to the subframe. Note: Exact fastener head type and size (Torx or hex/Allen) for front sway bar bracket bolts on 2009 Aston Martin DB9
4. 4

   Extract driver side worn bushing
   With the bracket removed, rotate the sway bar slightly if needed to access the bushing. The bushing is a split rubber or polyurethane component that wraps around the bar. Pry the old bushing open at its split and slide it off the bar. If the bushing is deteriorated and stuck, use a utility knife to carefully cut it away, taking care not to score the sway bar surface. Inspect the bar surface for corrosion or scoring where the bushing sat.
5. 5

   Clean driver side sway bar mounting area
   Use a wire brush to remove any rust, rubber residue, or debris from the sway bar surface where the bushing sits. Clean the inside surfaces of the bracket halves as well. The bar should be smooth and clean to prevent premature wear of the new bushing. If manufacturer specifies bushing lubricant, apply according to bushing instructions (some polyurethane bushings require grease; OEM rubber bushings typically install dry).
6. 6

   Install new driver side bushing
   Open the split in the new bushing and wrap it around the cleaned sway bar, positioning it in the location where the old bushing was removed. Ensure the bushing split faces downward or rearward (away from the direction of travel) to minimize debris intrusion. The bushing should sit squarely on the bar without twisting. If the bushing has alignment marks or flats, orient them to match the bracket contact points.
7. 7

   Reinstall driver side bracket and torque bolts
   Position the bracket halves around the new bushing, aligning the mounting holes with the subframe threaded holes. Start both bracket bolts by hand to ensure proper thread engagement. Using a torque wrench, tighten the bracket bolts in an alternating pattern to the OEM-specified torque (verify value against Aston Martin service data before final tightening). Ensure the bracket sits flush against the subframe and the bushing is not pinched or distorted. Note: Using a torque wrench, tighten the bracket bolts in an alternating pattern to the manufacturer-specified torque (verify exact value against Aston Martin factory documentation before final tightening). Note: Using a torque wrench, tighten the bracket bolts in an alternating pattern to the factory-specified torque (verify exact value in Aston Martin DB9 service documentation before final tightening).
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Bracket Bolts64 Nm (47 lb-ft)
8. 8

   Remove passenger side bushing bracket
   Repeat the removal process for the passenger side. Using the correct fastener tool for the DB9 sway bar bracket bolts (verify exact size/type against factory documentation before starting — do not assume Torx), remove the 2 bolts securing the passenger side bushing bracket to the subframe. Support the bracket and lower it away from the sway bar once both bolts are removed.
9. 9

   Extract and replace passenger side bushing
   Remove the old passenger side bushing from the sway bar using the same technique as the driver side. Clean the bar surface thoroughly with a wire brush. Install the new bushing around the cleaned bar, ensuring proper orientation with the split facing downward or rearward. Verify the bushing is positioned correctly and not twisted.
10. 10

    Reinstall passenger side bracket and torque bolts
    Position the bracket halves around the new passenger side bushing, aligning mounting holes with subframe threads. Start both bolts by hand. Torque the bracket bolts in an alternating pattern to the manufacturer-specified torque (verify exact value against Aston Martin factory documentation), ensuring the bracket seats flush and the bushing is not deformed. Note: Torque the bracket bolts in an alternating pattern to the OEM-specified value (verify against Aston Martin service data), ensuring the bracket seats flush and the bushing is not deformed. Note: Torque the bracket bolts in an alternating pattern to the factory-specified value (verify exact torque in Aston Martin DB9 service documentation), ensuring the bracket seats flush and the bushing is not deformed.
    Torque spec

    Sway Bar Bracket Bolts64 Nm (47 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Inspect sway bar end links
    While access is available, visually inspect both front sway bar end links for wear, torn boots, or loose connections. Check for play at ball joints by attempting to move the link by hand. If end links show wear or the bushings were replaced due to clunking noises, consider replacing end links as well (though this is beyond the scope of this bushing replacement procedure).
12. 12

    Reinstall wheels and lower vehicle
    Reinstall both front wheels, threading wheel bolts by hand initially to avoid cross-threading. Tighten wheel bolts in a star pattern with hand tools only while vehicle is still raised. Lower vehicle from jack stands to the ground. Once vehicle weight is on wheels, torque the wheel bolts to the manufacturer specification (verify exact value against Aston Martin factory documentation) in a star pattern. Note: Once vehicle weight is on wheels, torque the wheel bolts to manufacturer specification (verify against Aston Martin service data) in a star pattern. Note: Once vehicle weight is on wheels, torque lug nuts/bolts to the factory-specified value (verify exact torque in Aston Martin DB9 documentation) in a star pattern. Note: OEM wheel bolt torque specification for 2009 Aston Martin DB9 Note: OEM wheel bolt torque specification for 2009 Aston Martin DB9", "aiBestGuess": "approximately 150 Nm (verify against Aston Martin factory documentation)

Reassembly

1. No disassembly beyond bushing brackets was required; installation mirrors removal
2. Ensure both bushing brackets are torqued to specification before road testing
3. Verify no tools or parts are left in wheel wells or under vehicle before lowering

Verification

• Start engine and turn steering wheel lock-to-lock while stationary to verify no binding or unusual noises from sway bar area
• Perform a test drive including moderate-speed cornering to confirm elimination of clunking or knocking noises
• After 50-100 km of driving, re-check torque on sway bar bracket bolts to ensure they have not loosened
• Visually inspect for any fluid leaks or disturbed components resulting from the work

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