Anti-Roll Bar Bush Buying Guide
Last updated: 24 April 2026
Anti-roll bar bushes (stabiliser bar bushes) locate the anti-roll bar to the vehicle's subframe or body, allowing the bar to rotate slightly as the suspension compresses on one side during cornering. Worn bushes cause knocking or clunking from the suspension on uneven roads and allow the anti-roll bar to move out of its correct position.
What anti-roll bar bushes do
The anti-roll bar connects the left and right suspension on an axle. When one wheel is pushed up (e.g., in a corner, when body roll tries to raise the outer wheel and drop the inner wheel), the bar twists, transmitting the load across the axle and reducing the difference in compression between the two sides. This resists body roll and keeps the vehicle level in corners.
Bushes at the central mounting points allow the bar to rotate in its clamps as it twists, without transmitting high loads into the body. Worn or dried-out bushes crack and split, losing the ability to cushion vibration and allowing the bar to knock against its clamps.
Failure symptoms
A knocking or clunking noise from under the front or rear of the vehicle when driving over speed bumps, through dips, or on rough road surfaces is the most common presentation. The noise is often more pronounced when cornering. The sound can be difficult to distinguish from worn drop links — the anti-roll bar end links — which fail more frequently and should always be inspected at the same time.
Excessive body roll in corners — more pronounced than expected for the vehicle type — can also indicate worn anti-roll bar bushes, though this is a less reliable indicator since many factors affect body roll.
- Knocking or clunking over bumps or cornering
- Noise worse in cold weather (hardened rubber)
- Visible cracking or splitting of the bush
- Excessive body roll in corners
- Bar clearly displaced from its central position
Replacement
Anti-roll bar bushes are a simple and inexpensive repair. The central mounting bushes require the anti-roll bar to be freed from the drop links (which is usually the more involved part of the job on corroded underside hardware). Polyurethane bushes are available as an upgrade to rubber — they are more durable and firmer, improving handling, but can transmit more noise to the cabin on rough roads. Use the registration lookup to confirm the correct bush size and inner diameter for your anti-roll bar.
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Worn anti-roll bar bushes cause clunks and body roll — polyurethane vs rubber, sizing, and fitting guide.
Related guides
- Anti-Roll Bar Link Buying Guide
Knocking over bumps? Anti-roll bar drop link wear symptoms, replacement tips, and how they affect handling.
- Ball Joint Buying Guide
Clunking suspension and inspection failures — press-fit vs bolt-on ball joints, wear signs, and replacement advice.
- Boot and Bonnet Gas Strut Buying Guide
Tailgate or bonnet not staying up? How to measure force rating, strut length, and ball-end fittings — and why cheap gas struts fail quickly.
- Control Arms Guide
What control arms do, symptoms of worn bushings and ball joints, and when to replace them.
Related Guides
Knocking over bumps? Anti-roll bar drop link wear symptoms, replacement tips, and how they affect handling.
Ball Joint Buying GuideClunking suspension and inspection failures — press-fit vs bolt-on ball joints, wear signs, and replacement advice.
Boot and Bonnet Gas Strut Buying GuideTailgate or bonnet not staying up? How to measure force rating, strut length, and ball-end fittings — and why cheap gas struts fail quickly.
Control Arms GuideWhat control arms do, symptoms of worn bushings and ball joints, and when to replace them.
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