Sway bar install

ATP · 05-11-2007, 08:10 PM

I know this has been talked about alot on here but, does anyone know how to get an original front sway bar back in? I needed new bushings badly, and need a trick to get the sway bar back in. I have read about a few ideas, just looking for something simple thanks adam

cbeers · 05-11-2007, 08:14 PM

Adam,

I hope you have better luck than I did. I just replaced mine this week and I have to say that it was the worst thing I have ever done. I would have rather taken apart the whole front end again than F with those bushings. My friends all say it's easy, so take all of this with a grain of salt, but I had a booger of a time.

Play with angles, raising and lowering the A arms, lube.......

If you need to drop and A arm, think also about the fact that you can pop off the top nut on the strut and get some free play that way too. A good buddy recommended that after I had wrapped it up.

Good luck!

-Chris

Quicksilver · 05-11-2007, 11:59 PM

"Brute force and stupidity overcomes all."

For the brute force part I use mini cargo straps. The type with a ratchet. You hook one end to the bar and one end to the front tow hook and crank it down until the bar is far enough forward that it is in position.

For the stupidity portion nothing beats a mini pry bar. I have one of those flat blue bars that is about 2 inches wide. You can pry on the rear of the bar with the end against the body and persuade the bar upwards and pretty easily get the bolts started.

I get the whole thing bolted up without the splash pan and take it for a short drive looking for some bumps to work the swaybar around in its bushings. Then it is pretty easy to get the socket head bolts back in through the splash pan.

Question: Why doesn't anyone make some stiffer urethane bushings for the later bars? The only way I can stiffen the front bar is to go to a 'thru the body' style bar which will add enough points to bump me a class.

ATP · 05-12-2007, 07:47 AM

thanks for the help, I just used my force and stupidity to get the bar into place and push my new bushings out of place. Taking a break until I cool off and give it another go.

Goth · 05-12-2007, 08:32 AM

Had the same problem. Bar & bushing lubed, A arms out straight, pry bar in place, bushing pops out as sway bar goes in.

Took me about 15 tries and many rest breaks, as my arms felt like they were going to fall off.

One thing I did not try, as I didn't think of it until later (after madness/stupidity wore off).

Clean and super glue the bushing into the A arm. Perhaps clean off all the lube on the outside of the bushing with IPA or brake cleaner & install it. Then a little super glue dropped in between the bushing & the metal on the side that the sway bar needs to enter through.

Hope this helps...

Goth · 05-12-2007, 08:59 AM

"Question: Why doesn't anyone make some stiffer urethane bushings for the later bars? The only way I can stiffen the front bar is to go to a 'thru the body' style bar which will add enough points to bump me a class."

Hi Wayne, I've been wondering the same thing.

When I upgraded my 84 to the later (larger) 22mm bar, I reused 2 of my 20mm bushings for the center section that clamps to the body. The 20mm bushings are from the 78-85 years.

I know it's not PU or PG, but should help take a little flex out of it.

Hope this helps

Quicksilver · 05-12-2007, 09:45 AM

I have been messing with casting two part urethane bushings and the stuff gets warm enough that it softens and distorts the modeling clay that I used for a mold. I going to try to find a different material for the form.

ATP · 05-12-2007, 06:53 PM

I am going to give it another go on monday. I think I will try the super glue trick aswell.....nothing to lose at this point. Any other pointers out there?

CMDR Perry · CMDR Perry's Garage

ATP, you may not want to hear this but if you drop both front A arms and cross-member it is really easy to install the sway bar in new rubber bushings while it lays flat on the floor.

dfink · 05-12-2007, 07:26 PM

It's not really that hard but does take correct alignment. Best is if you have two jacks. Put a jack under each hub. Put the bar in one side and go all the way in past the bend in the bar. Then start to line up the other side. Jack up one side at a time untill the bar lines up and it should curve right in. Make sure to have some grease on the bushing so things slide. Where in Nebraska are you. If you need another jack/hand maybe I can help out.

ATP · 05-12-2007, 07:40 PM

Dfink thanks for the tip, that sounds like it might work . I'll give that a shot. I live in southbend and work in lincoln. I might have to call you on that one. Thanks ap