front sway bar won't go back on!

[FoFiddy]

I just did my tie rod ends an replaced my sway bar bushings. When I bought the car, the front sawy bar was attatched but was missing the passenger side center bushing. I removed the bar and replaced the bushings and now I can't get the sway bar to line up and go back on the car. I loosely attatched both center mounts and when I attacth either end to the a arm, the other side doesn't line up. It's close, so I don't think I have anything installed backwards, but who knows... It came of easily enough with all original looking hardware. The end mounts are pretty beat up, but not mis-shapen. Is there a trick I need to get this thing to line up?

Thanx, Randy

[krystar]

u might want to try to use a jack to raise the control arm. it might line up at a different height

[tyro]

..or perhaps try to flip the bar over, aka: it's upside-down.

[flash968]

both wheels must be in the same orientation

[Slam]

I'd check that the outer bushes are installed with the correct orientation - you'd swear they were handed. Also, put the bushes on the bar first, and attach the outer mounts/bushes to the control arms before doing the bar-to-body mounts. It's easier to slide the middle bushes along the bar to line them up with the blind nuts on the body. As mentioned, you can jack up the control arm to change its orientation.

[FoFiddy]

Ratcheting tie down did the trick! It was really close, so i squeezed the bar w/the tie down and it went on just fine. I did the tie rod ends as well and thought I had em pretty close to where the old ones were, but my alignment is screwed. Off to the shop for alignment!

[Tidybuoy]

Another thing is the center drop links - they are shaped like an L and can be installed with the top facing the wrong direction. Try reversing (and look for the original marks that the brackets left).

[smokin_944]

The lesson to be learned here is check out and mark or at least remember the look of the setup so that you don't have to try to make it fit. The front bar is very important for handling. If you ever get the chance, throw a fat boy on the front (26.8 or 30mm) and some support brackets for the centre droplinks. Wow! Awesome! The car will impress you!