Need Front OEM Sway Bar Installation Tips

[arbita1]

I removed the 20mm front sway bar from my SC and am replacing it with 22mm OEM front sway bar off an 87 Carrera.

I know...I know....I should be going with an adjustable through body aftermarket type....but I can't afford it right now. So I'm just going with the stock front/rear sway bars off a Carrera (22mm and 21mm).

It was the end of the day and I didn't have a lot of time to spend...but my initial test fit shows that with the car up on jack stands, I can't seem to get the two ends of the sway bar to go into the bushings on the control arm. It seems like I have to jack the two wheels up before I can get them to go in.

Any advice on this?

[Quicksilver]

Lubing the rubber with glycerin is a good starting point. You have to put one end in first and push it past its normal resting point so the other end can get close to going in the opposite side's bushing. I use one of those small ratchet tie down straps wrapped around the bar and subframe cross member and hooked to the tow hook up front. By cranking it down it will pull one side farther into the bushing then would normally be possible. Once you have that ready you can use a screw driver to guide/pry the other end into the bushing. At this point it is pretty easy to get the bar centered in both of the bushings.

I usually find that it is actually more difficult to pry the bar so the bolts all line up. Either way the whole job should take less then 20 minutes.