Front sway bar install

sammyg2 · 07-01-2005, 09:57 AM

My new to me (used) later model Carrera sway bars showed up on my door step, now it's time to install them in the SC.

The factory manual says to install one end of the front sway bar, then the other. Looking under the car, I get the impression it isn't going to be that easy.
Can it be installed like that or do I have to unbolt one A arm in order to snake it through?
Tanks.

vash · vash's Garage

PM k911SC. he just did the exact same thing. he said it was easy. he used some large carpenter's bar clamp or something.

arcsine · 07-01-2005, 10:24 AM

I pulled one of the A-arms when I did mine.

johnsjmc · 07-01-2005, 10:28 AM

If you lube the bushings on the Aarms with some soap you can push the bar further in(foreward ) on one side and then get the other side started .I ,ve done it .It might be almost as easy to drop one A arm

mmastro · 07-01-2005, 10:29 AM

When I used to have a Carrera front bar on mine, I used lots of lube (silicone spray, I think) and installed one end in the bushing farther than it was supposed to be. Then worked the other end in, and centered the bar in the bushings. I didn't have to take an A-arm off. My $0.02

brownbullet · 07-01-2005, 11:11 AM

When I installed my front sway bar, I inserted one end into the bushing and used a cum-along to tension the bar and insert the other end.

magilla · 07-01-2005, 11:11 AM

I put g50 sways on my SC (with help) , and we ended up dropping an A-arm. No big deal. Maybe we were just 3 girlie men.

PS- how many girlie men are required to do the same work of 1 real man?

450knotOffice · 450knotOffice's Garage

Sam, when I re-installed mine I had both A-arms installed on the car but the struts were disconnected down at the A-arm, allowing the A-arms to swing free. Use the dow 111 on the bushings and the sway bar and you'll be able to pull it in no problem.

Good luck to you.

juanbenae · juanbenae's Garage

i did whats been explained above without dropping, or removing any of the a-arm mounts. i lubed it like explained above, pushed it way by on one side and the other side went right in. i did use a carpenters pipe clamp on the cross member and new sway to "seat" it even on both sides. don't worry about fastening it under the skid plate to the body until you have both a-arm mounts seated. i did have the car in the air (duh) so that will help by getting the a-arms to droop.

good luck

and oh yeah, i was by myself and barefoot.

sammyg2 · 07-01-2005, 01:28 PM

By yourself and barefoot is good information, but what kind of beer should I be drinking when I do it?

Thanks for the help, I am going to try it without pulling an A arm but I am prepared for a PITA, I may be back to ask for some additional cuss words if i run out of them.

aigel · aigel's Garage

Key is to raise the A-arms with a jack. If the suspension is fully extended with the car in the air, the sway bar will be near impossible to install. If you get the suspension closer to the position where it would be if the car sits on the ground, installation will be much easier - almost a no-brainer!

I agree, motion lotion helps too!

Hope this helps!

George

Jeff Alton · 07-01-2005, 04:10 PM

What George just said is a big help! Should go in with out too much trouble.

Jeff

leverpuller · 07-02-2005, 08:17 AM

Hey Sammy I just recently install a 22mm swaybar and like its been said , keep your car's suspension level then lube the mounts, install 1 side then I used a motorcycle ty-down strap with the hooks. One on the a-arm opposite of the other side you will see where it needs to be . jack up on the strap and the bar will slip in .

bkreigsr · 10-02-2006, 04:37 AM

thank you
thank you
thank you
to all who originally contributed to this thread.
I was at the end of my rope on Saturday trying to get a 22mm bar into my 77 and was just short of dropping an a arm, when I thought to try search for "front sway bar install'.
the kicker was the come-along. I just used a coulple of pieces of 2x4 between the gas tank to keep the cable clear and...viola! took me about four tries to keep the bar from pushing the already well lubed bushing all the way out as I was pushing the bar in, but I eventually got it.
gotta love this forum!
Bill K

911pcars · 10-02-2006, 12:05 PM

Surely, the front bar mount was not on the priority list for astute German engineering.

MHO,
Sherwood

bkreigsr · 10-02-2006, 12:20 PM

agreed, especially once I figured that the only thing controlling 'sway' is those two 1x4 inch strips of metal between the crossmember and the under-body panel that the brackets bolt unto.