3.2 1988 front installation sway/stabilizer bar

[gdp_samson]

Hi, removed the front sway (stabilizer) bar to clean/respray it. Also installed new bushings...

Does anyone have good tips&tricks to have the bar installed again with wheels etc still on the car ?

the tension on the bar (to have it installed) seems enormous, but I don't want to spend a 3 hours disassembly of front suspension etc, if there is a smart way to install the bar without dissassemblying anything...

I found a video of a German guy installing the bar using wooden blocks...but it still remains not that obvious... any other tips/tricks ?

thanks
G

[IROC]

It has been many years since I have done this, but the trick I used to use (with the car on jack stands and wheels removed) was to insert the bar into the bushing on one side of the car and then use the floor jack to lift the a-arm on the other side to better align the bar with the bushing. Trying to force the bar in with both wheels at full droop was just an exercise in frustration.

[Jeff Alton]

^^^^^^ This...

A Larger Pry Bar will be your friend as well.

Cheers

[Locker537]

Originally Posted by IROC

It has been many years since I have done this, but the trick I used to use (with the car on jack stands and wheels removed) was to insert the bar into the bushing on one side of the car and then use the floor jack to lift the a-arm on the other side to better align the bar with the bushing. Trying to force the bar in with both wheels at full droop was just an exercise in frustration.

Yep, jack up one side. You might also have some luck turning the wheel to get a better angle.

[David Inc.]

Weight of the car on the wheels, maybe jacking one side up to create space, and lots of lubricant on the bar to get it into the bushings. I was able to get mine in just recently with muscle only, but my car is very low so the control arms naturally space out the sway bar bushings.

Seriously, lubricant. I bought some cable pulling lube off Amazon for anything rubber and it works really well.

[GH85Carrera]

I remember taking mine out, and it was super easy, and I thought, great, this will be easy to get back in!

Not so much.

I used all my strength and I was just not strong enough, as an official geezer I did not have the muscles needed. One of my friends that works in construction and is much younger was close by. He just gave it a hard pull, and it popped into place. Some people have used a ratchet strap to pull it into place.

Just be sure the car is very secure on the jack stands or whatever lift you have.

[mtb001]

I use a ratchetting strap, wrapped several times around both sides and the together. Sway bar goes into one side, slowly tighten ratchet until the other can be inserted. Release the strap.

[88911coupe]

One more for using a ratchet strap.

[john walker's workshop]

I grease it up with silicone paste, along with the bushings and with the car on a hoist, push the right side of the bar a long way through the bushing so the left end gets as close as possible to the left bushing. At that point you can often muscle it in to get it started and then slide the bar over. sometimes it wants to push the bushing out in the process, so you can fab a retainer that covers the outer end and vise grip it to the arm.

[gdp_samson]

Thanks for all the tips&tricks. Will only be able to tackle this next weekend (not this) due to family issues, but will certainly keep you posted.

Tried the strap method but with the weight of the car on both front wheels, and that did not work (yet). Was also considering to 'pre-bend' , keep it somehow 'bent before installation' so that I could fit the bar myself, but was not able yet to think of a smart solution on how to keep it pre-bent.

Now that you all seem to suggest to first lift the front of the car and remove the wheels, will do so...

More info (and pictures) on how it worked, later !

[gdp_samson]

Originally Posted by mtb001

I use a ratchetting strap, wrapped several times around both sides and the together. Sway bar goes into one side, slowly tighten ratchet until the other can be inserted. Release the strap.

Ah OK, never thought about this...you actually pre-bend the bar with one side of the bar already inserted...Smart smart smart...will have a go at this as well...

[mtb001]

can also put a couple of hose clamps on the bar to keep strap from sliding, ends up taking about 5 min to install.

[tsuter]

Use a 3/4" nylon Rachet strap with two rubber hooks...but not the way you think.
1.Shove one side (passenger side) of the sway bar into the new bushing as far as you can...two inches past the bushing will do.
2. Set the other end (driver side) on top the A-Arm next to the bushing...it will be about 3/4" to 1"off and need that much compression.
3. Hook one rubber hook on to this end driver side from below.
4. Hook the other rubber hook to the passenger side front tow hook!
5. Rachet it in until the driver side sway bar end can drop down and slip into the bushing.
6. Don't release the tension until you align the sway bar left right to about 1/2" poking through the bushing on each side
7. Use lots of spray silicone in the bushings.
This pic shows where the strap goes below and the sway bar end is already in the bushing.

This pic shows where the hook grabs the sway bar and it will not slip because of the long angle to the front tow hook!

This pic shows done but need to wipe up some silicone grease on that bar.