How easy is it to replace front anti-roll bar parts?

[UK Carrera]

Hi, another trivial question.

I'm just about to dive in and replace my front strut inserts. I also need to replace track rod ends due to really poor quality gaiters.

Looking under the car tonight I'm struck by the surface rust appearing on the protective plate that covers the rack. Looks as though this uses some of the anti-roll bar mounts to secure.

Thought...whilst I've got the car on axle stands doing the dampers and track rod ends it might be a good idea to pull the protective plate, clean it up, paint and replace.

Then I think, well how about replacing the anti-roll bar bushes?

But looks as though I've got to remove the roll bar (sway bar in US terms) completely.

Hmm, not too keen on that.

It's amazing how these jobs seem to grow!

Anybody pulled their anti-roll bar and done this work? Can you offer any do's, don'ts and guidenace??

Thanks.

[efhughes3]

I did this as a side job to replacing my bushings, tie rods and ball joints last summer. You do have to drop the cover, and everything is very straight forward IMO. Refer to some of the instructions on this site on bushing replacement, and you'll see some details on the sway bar. The hardest part was getting the cover back on, it took a little fiddling to get all of the holes lined up to put the 2 bolts back in. There should be 4 bushings total.

[no substitute]

It's easy to get the cover back on if you leave the low mount bar off and go to a through the body bar. Barring this (couldn't help myself) it is a little tricky (as stated above) to line up the holes, as you have to fight the springiness of the low bar. An extra helper bottle jack helped to push the bar in place on re-assembly.

[UK Carrera]

Following my post I've had a quick look at the 101 Projects book.

Seems I have to completely remove the anti-roll bar to replace the middle bushes (the ones under the rack cover)?

This in turn seems to mean removing the 'A' frames to release the end of the anti-roll bar. Or is my 88 different?

Are the replacement bushes 'split' so I don't have to free up the ends of the anti-roll bar?

Sorry for all the basic questions!

[UK Carrera]

Shameless 'bump' to see if anyone can add anything further.

Sorry.

[aj88cab]

I replaced my sway bar bushing recently when I did the entire front end. The bushings are split. I had my sway bar off the car, but in your case I would guess once you unbolt the mounts you should be able to slide the bushings off with the bar in place. You might need a jack under the a-arm to relieve the tension when removing and re-installing the bushings and bolts.

Here is a pic of the original bushing in the A-arm when it came off the car. You can see the split. The middle bushings are the same. You will have to remove the bar to do the end bushings. The A-arm needs to come off to do that.......and well, then it just keeps going from there! My front end rebuild started as a wheel bearing replacement.



Good luck
Andrew

[rickeolis]

Wow, the things you learn on this board!
So Andrew, this means we can replace the bushing without taking the bar out of it? Just by relieving the pressure, removing the old one, and sliding in the new one?

[UK Carrera]

Great, I was wondering whether I could replace the inner mounts without taking the bar off.

Thanks for the info!

[aj88cab]

Originally posted by rickeolis
Wow, the things you learn on this board!
So Andrew, this means we can replace the bushing without taking the bar out of it? Just by relieving the pressure, removing the old one, and sliding in the new one?

Just to be clear, you have to remove the bolts and cap securing the bushings and this only applies to the inner bushings. Relieving the pressure helps get the bolt back in. But now you have me thinking.....did I just put my foot in my mouth?

[rickeolis]

It just helps to know that the bushing is split, I may actually attempt the job now... Thanks-

[aj88cab]

Actually now that I recall I actually had to do just what we are discussing. When I installed the sway bar and the ends were in place I tried to secure the middle bushings and found the bushings were deforming because of the direction I had the split installed and the way the cap pressed on it. So I had to remove both middle bushings and turn them around. So yes, you can definitely replace the middle bushings without removing the bar and it would appear there is a right and wrong direction as well.

And of course I don't remember which way it is, but I have some other pics somewhere of the completed install and I'll check and see if I can tell.

[rickeolis]

Please do, thanks!

[aj88cab]

Looks like the split goes towards the front. When I did my front end rebuild the sway bar bushings were actually in pretty good shape. The A-arm bushings (and the shocks) were the most worn components that I replaced. And yes, I have photos of those too (back at the office where this thread all started)!



Andrew