Front sway bar a PITA?

[Calan]

Maybe it's just me, but has anyone else had trouble getting the front sway bar to bolt back up?

I started the suspension installation on my rebuild tonight, and it was a fight to get the sway bar bracket bolts started. I couldn't see that it would make any difference in the bushing/bracket orientation (the left and right look the same and perfectly symetrical to my eyes), but those bolts just didn't want to line back up.

I finally got it...just wondering if I missed something somehow or if others have noticed this.

 

[GRNDSM]

Craig, what was your trick to get them started? I have been at it for over two hours, I have tried longer bolts, prying it from the back or from the bottom, but I just can't get it started...

This is VERY frastrating... I whish I wasn't upgrading to Poly bushings (which are making things more difficult, but I already threw away the old bushings .

BTW, the only reason for this was the fact that this car came without a sway bar... Otherwise, I never had to remove a front sway bar in over 20 years of owning DSMs...

 

[gofer]

The trick to getting a sway bar on is loosening up all (3) of the shock tower bolts, this allows you to move the shock enough to get the brace on. Whatever you do don't force it, you'll strip the threads and then you'll have to run a die over it to get the nut to thread on.

 

[ACM]

2G or IG ?

Leon, you actually expect me to believe you're having difficulty with _anything_ DSM-related ?!?
Well, other than stopping the rust...

 

[blaster1812]

I just put poly sway bar bushings on and it went smooth for me. Had a bit trouble on my old laser but it was it rusty POS.

 

[19Eclipse90]

I spent at least 5 hours under my car doing nothing but trying to bolt up the sway bar when I installed new poly bushings. There was nothing connected to the sway bar so I had all the room in the world to maneuver it around. Try as I did, I could never get both of the original bolts in. I ended up using longer bolts which, after all the cursing and tool throwing dealing with the original bolts, allowed me to finish the job no more than 10 minutes after I had the idea. Definitely not a job I enjoyed doing.

If longer bolts haven't worked for you, then I don't know what to tell you

Good luck!

 

[DSM Jeff]

I usually swap out to longer bolts. Putting in poly's I use the lube for those bushings. I do believe I've been able to use a clamp to pull the hoop in.

 

[brian9397gsx]

Just helped a buddy do his yesterday. Yes its a pita but its easier when you have the whole sub frame out (we changed all bushings and ball joints) and use a giant c clamp.