Sway Bar noise

gpearson26 · 03-30-2020, 10:28 AM

My sway bar (at least I think that's where it's coming from) makes a god-awful creaking noise when turning in any direction. Should I lubricate it? I've seen recommendations that say not to do that.

Jagiven · 03-30-2020, 10:54 AM

What sway bar setup do you have?

Different manufactures have different requirements.

gpearson26 · 03-30-2020, 11:03 AM

https://www.huskytow.com/husky-towin...ribution-hitch

Boooker · 03-30-2020, 12:18 PM

Our sway bar did the same after the 5th trip last year. I was told to not lubricate. I just played around with the tension bolt until I reduced the noise (in a big parking lot).

The rest of the year was pretty quiet and the sway bar did it's thing for us.

Jagiven · 03-30-2020, 12:30 PM

Check out page 24 & 25, regarding maintenance, it is very similar to my Equalizer.

https://www.huskytow.com/husky-towin...ribution-hitch

I grease about every 1500 miles or so, when not in use I cover the ball with a Solo cup, to keep things clean. Some people wipe it down after every trip and re apply before each trip.

I also grease the trunnion pivot points. Equalizer recommends their brand grease, I use some 600 wt rear axle grease I have.

If I get creaking noise it is time to wipe down and grease back up.

Tad · 03-30-2020, 03:27 PM

My sway control is really noisy. Thought it was my WDH I disconnected the sway bar. Noise went away. I heard from several people this is normal. I take it off if I am going through a campground after dark so I don't wake anybody

gpearson26 · 03-30-2020, 04:07 PM

Husky says to use grease on the brackets. I'll try it but I'm also curious about the tension bolts mentioned though i dont know enough about this stuff to start messing with that kind of thing.

Jagiven · 03-30-2020, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gpearson26

Husky says to use grease on the brackets. I'll try it but I'm also curious about the tension bolts mentioned though i dont know enough about this stuff to start messing with that kind of thing.

Dont put grease on the friction surface

RAurand · 03-30-2020, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jagiven

Dont put grease on the friction surface

YES, Don't put grease on the friction surface
BUT....
They do make Teflon plates called sway bracket jackets that can be put on the friction surface and it will dramatically cut down on the noise, and still prevent sway. I do grease my pivot points every couple months and re torque to about 75 - 100 foot pounds.
Here is what I am talking about: Check around and see if they make something for your hitch.

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories...5-01-5150.html

**JFlightRisk** · 03-30-2020, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gpearson26

My sway bar (at least I think that's where it's coming from) makes a god-awful creaking noise when turning in any direction. Should I lubricate it? I've seen recommendations that say not to do that.

Your Husky is very similar to our Equalizer hitch. Besides checking the trunnion bolt torque every season, I do apply a film of grease on the upper and lower surfaces of where the trunnions (bar sockets) rub, before every hookup. The Equalizer manual specifies to do this, under the maintenance section.

Since the trunnion bolts are torqued to 150 ft/lbs, my guess is that's where your noise is coming from.

travelingjw · 03-31-2020, 10:29 AM

I follow Husky's instructions for applying grease. I use wheel bearing grease. I also grease and wipe the ball each time we hook up and disconnect.

gpearson26 · 03-31-2020, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travelingjw

I follow Husky's instructions for applying grease. I use wheel bearing grease. I also grease and wipe the ball each time we hook up and disconnect.

Husky said bearing grease to brackets. I'll check into the jackets and the torque adjustment as well...it's really loud.

**JFlightRisk** · 03-31-2020, 12:20 PM

When we first got our hitch, one bolt was so overtightened I couldn't move the spring bar into position, without bracing against the wall, and using my foot. That first ride home with it was terrible, and after rounding a corner, the truck wouldn't want to go straight. I called Equalizer, and talked to a tech for the torque specs. Re-torqueing, and lubing solved both issues.

If you can't push the bars into position using moderate effort only, they need to wear in a little. With usage, the friction surfaces wear, and loosen up. You'll be able to tell this, as moving the bars will seem too easy.

tbwill · 03-31-2020, 12:32 PM

Another thing to check is the alignment of the sway bars between the hitch head and the "L" brackets on the trailer. My Equalizer was making an awful racket especially when turning in one direction. It turns out the "sway" bar was only contacting the front edge of the L bracket and causing a lot of metal to metal wear. I made some adjustments to the L bracket height and the number of washers used to tilt the head and got the alignment more parallel to the ground so that the wear was taking place along the whole surface of the L bracket and not just along the front edge.

rodpod · 04-08-2020, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gpearson26

My sway bar (at least I think that's where it's coming from) makes a god-awful creaking noise when turning in any direction. Should I lubricate it? I've seen recommendations that say not to do that.

lubricate it if you can and make sure the bolts are torqued to spec.

jpurvis · 04-08-2020, 01:01 PM

There are pads that fit on the bracket that the bars slide on. You can also adjust the pitch of the angle of the ball at the hitch (E-qual-Izer).

Jack N Janet · 04-08-2020, 01:03 PM

Pg 24 of your owner's manual:
The 3/4” trunnion hex bolts come lubricated from the factory re-lubricate if needed with
bearing/axle grease. Do not apply lubrication to the friction surfaces of the top and bottom plates
or on the top or bottom trunnion surfaces as this will reduce the built in friction sway feature.

jpurvis · 04-08-2020, 01:04 PM

You can purchase pads that the bars slide on. You can also adjust the pitch of the coupling on the hitch. It will raise or lower the angle of the hitch with attached to the trailer. This is for An equalizer hitch.

steve.jurnigan · 04-09-2020, 05:52 AM

I use bearing grease on my pivot point of sway bar, not the friction slide that controls sway. I think the factory manual says this. Also on trailer ball. no noise. Messy, watch around clothes. My hitch is 12K Fastway e2. From the manual "The contact points of the head and trunnion knuckles should be kept clean and well lubricated with a good quality lubricant. They should be lubricated before each trip. Check for damage or abnormal wear at the beginning of each towing day and replace if necessary. Use a rag to clean dirt and road grit from all contact points regularly."

Riich · 04-10-2020, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpurvis

There are pads that fit on the bracket that the bars slide on. You can also adjust the pitch of the angle of the ball at the hitch (E-qual-Izer).

If you adjust the pitch of the angle of the ball to manage the noise level, you are doing it all wrong. Just saying...

I personally don't give the noise much thought with my equalizer hitch. It's adjusted properly, it's definitely not quiet, but it's back there doing it's job, and it does it well. I smile when I hear it creaking. Hell yeah!

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