erimar77
05-13-2005, 02:05 PM
First, lets aquire all the parts. You'll need an aftermarket swaybar, such as the Speedbuild Sway Bar I purchased off of PFYC.com. You can use the polyurethane bushings that comes with the swaybar, but I recommend getting a set that is greaseable. I opted for the Energy Suspension 9.5158R 7/8" 22MM Greaseable. The reason is because they will start to squeak eventually... you can't regrease the bushings the sway bar comes with, so that's why I went with the greaseable ones.
http://img136.echo.cx/img136/6753/11dv.jpg
http://img228.echo.cx/img228/6574/23ft1.jpg
First off, remove the bolt that holds on the rear endlink. It's a 15MM bolt. You need to do this before you lift the car to make it easier, don't worry, nothing's going to break or fall on you.
http://img150.echo.cx/img150/1111/10re.jpg
Ok, now that those two bolts are off, lift the rear end and support with jack stands. Take your rear wheels off. The endlink bolts that you took off can be wiggled off the ends of the rear sway bar now. Please take note as to how they are oriented. You'll want to put them back on the same way.
Next is to remove the old brackets and bushings, they're facing the front of the vehicle. I think the nut that holds it on is a 12 or 13MM, I can't remember.
http://img202.echo.cx/img202/6083/37ye1.jpg
http://img207.echo.cx/img207/5711/46uz.jpg
http://img207.echo.cx/img207/7086/50qp.jpg
Once the brackets are off, you can remove the old sway bar, I pulled mine out from the drivers side. take note how it comes out, you'll want to put it in the same way to make things easier. It's helpful to have someone assist on the otherside of the car to make sure the sway bar isn't getting hung up on anything. Once all the parts are off, you can compare them.
http://img181.echo.cx/img181/7118/62ow.jpg
http://img181.echo.cx/img181/7269/77fp.jpg
http://img181.echo.cx/img181/1371/89cp1.jpg
Before you can install the new bushings and brackets, you'll have to modify the bracket a little. If you noticed, the origninal bracket has a tab at the top. You'll need to use a hacksaw or grinding wheel to take off about 1/4" from each side of the bracket on one end. You'll only need to remove about 3/4" down the bracket, so it's not really a whole lot. I didn't get a pic of the modified bracket, but you can kinda see it in the install pics.
Yeah, don't laugh at me, I have a floor jack and a rock driveway.. I can't help it. Put the new sway bar in place, it'll probably take a few tries. It's a thicker bar so it'll seem like it won't fit...I assure you it will.
http://img9.echo.cx/img9/8417/94kp.jpg
Once you've got your bracket cut, grease up your bushing with your favorite grease, I used Valvoline synthetic. Pop on the bushing, then place the bracket over the top, slide in the tab and put the nut back on to tighten it up.
http://img9.echo.cx/img9/7906/103ib.jpg
Here it is all tightened down
http://img7.echo.cx/img7/6536/115qj.jpg
Next, put your endlinks back on the ends of the sway bar in the correct direction.
You can either attempt to get the endlink bolts back in now, or try it after you lower you car. I found it easier to do once the car was back on the ground, so I put my wheels back on, removed the jack stands, and put my car back on the ground. I crawled back under the car and used a large screwdriver to help line up the hole to put the bolt back in. Once those bolts are in and tightened down, you'll be ready to go. Have fun!
http://img136.echo.cx/img136/6753/11dv.jpg
http://img228.echo.cx/img228/6574/23ft1.jpg
First off, remove the bolt that holds on the rear endlink. It's a 15MM bolt. You need to do this before you lift the car to make it easier, don't worry, nothing's going to break or fall on you.
http://img150.echo.cx/img150/1111/10re.jpg
Ok, now that those two bolts are off, lift the rear end and support with jack stands. Take your rear wheels off. The endlink bolts that you took off can be wiggled off the ends of the rear sway bar now. Please take note as to how they are oriented. You'll want to put them back on the same way.
Next is to remove the old brackets and bushings, they're facing the front of the vehicle. I think the nut that holds it on is a 12 or 13MM, I can't remember.
http://img202.echo.cx/img202/6083/37ye1.jpg
http://img207.echo.cx/img207/5711/46uz.jpg
http://img207.echo.cx/img207/7086/50qp.jpg
Once the brackets are off, you can remove the old sway bar, I pulled mine out from the drivers side. take note how it comes out, you'll want to put it in the same way to make things easier. It's helpful to have someone assist on the otherside of the car to make sure the sway bar isn't getting hung up on anything. Once all the parts are off, you can compare them.
http://img181.echo.cx/img181/7118/62ow.jpg
http://img181.echo.cx/img181/7269/77fp.jpg
http://img181.echo.cx/img181/1371/89cp1.jpg
Before you can install the new bushings and brackets, you'll have to modify the bracket a little. If you noticed, the origninal bracket has a tab at the top. You'll need to use a hacksaw or grinding wheel to take off about 1/4" from each side of the bracket on one end. You'll only need to remove about 3/4" down the bracket, so it's not really a whole lot. I didn't get a pic of the modified bracket, but you can kinda see it in the install pics.
Yeah, don't laugh at me, I have a floor jack and a rock driveway.. I can't help it. Put the new sway bar in place, it'll probably take a few tries. It's a thicker bar so it'll seem like it won't fit...I assure you it will.
http://img9.echo.cx/img9/8417/94kp.jpg
Once you've got your bracket cut, grease up your bushing with your favorite grease, I used Valvoline synthetic. Pop on the bushing, then place the bracket over the top, slide in the tab and put the nut back on to tighten it up.
http://img9.echo.cx/img9/7906/103ib.jpg
Here it is all tightened down
http://img7.echo.cx/img7/6536/115qj.jpg
Next, put your endlinks back on the ends of the sway bar in the correct direction.
You can either attempt to get the endlink bolts back in now, or try it after you lower you car. I found it easier to do once the car was back on the ground, so I put my wheels back on, removed the jack stands, and put my car back on the ground. I crawled back under the car and used a large screwdriver to help line up the hole to put the bolt back in. Once those bolts are in and tightened down, you'll be ready to go. Have fun!