Sway bar alignment

[Jehu]

Hey guys,
Just installed a set of RM sway bars, and was wondering about the final alignment of the bar prior to tightening the bushing brackets down. I tried to center the bar such that the endlinks were at approximately the same angle to vertical. Since the endlinks are exerting push/pull forces on the swaybar, an identical angle should ensure identical loading on the bar. I know the bar itself isn't symmetrical, so this is at best only an ball park line-up.

Any thoughts on this? The bar itself is probably subject to lateral movement anyway, with nothing locating it laterally, so maybe it's a moot point anyway?

 

[Doug99RS]

I'm of the opinion that it will move a little to be in a neutral position. I think you did the right thing by aligning everything though. It will move a little but if installed WAY out of position then I don't think it will work itself back to the optimum position.
Doug

 

[ACM]

Make sure the bushings are heavily lubricated, nip the bracket bolts hand tight, then rotate the bar a few degrees either way - they will centre themselves, there are bends in close proximity to the brackets that make them essentially self-aligning.

All of the 2G bars I have installed have pushed the right rear link heavily off-centre to the point it almost contacts the outer edge of the hole in the arm; this appears to be a "feature" of the later production runs, and short of bending the bar yourself, theere's nothing you can do about it. Another "feature" of the later bars is that the sit on top of the LR toe adjuster bolt, sometimes obstructing it to the point that toe cannot be adjusted without loosening the bracket. If yours displays this tendancy MAKE SURE YOU CHECK the bracket bolts on that side after every alignment, because it will really suck when the bracket falls off because the Tech forgot to tighten them. Ask me how I know...


Charles

 

[Jehu]

I made sure grease was squeezing out everwhere when I tightened it down. I might switch to an even tackier grease...I have access to an open gear lube that's only removable with degreasers,and that's only after scrubbing. I just have to make sure it's compatible with polyurethane.

I suspected that the sway bars probably would settle into their own prefered position laterally. Thanks for confirming that! BTW, are replacement bushings only available from RM? I suspect aftermarket ones made to fit the stock bars will not fit the RM bars w/o being bored out.