Joined: Wed Oct 12 2005, 01:10AM
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 2690
Well I've began installing my new front end in the wagon and I was trying to assemble the sway bar center links with their square bushings onto the sway bar this evening but was having no luck getting them to go throught the bracket.
Anyone have any suggestions or tricks to help re-install the square rubber bushings into the stock center links.
Drill out the spot weld, and bolt them back together.
For the uppers, dish soap and a large short socket that fits snugly over the bushing from above. Insert a long bolt through the socket and bushing, with a large washer over the socket under the bolt head, and a similar socket (longer one if possible) and nut on the bottom. Make sure the bottom socket is against the metal bracket the bushing goes into, but that the upper socket sits at least 3/4" above the bracket, while bottoming out on the bushing . Tighten the nut over the bolt and it will pull the upper socket down, and squeeze the bushing through the hole until it sits in the indexed ridge in the middle. Works like a charm.
You'll never be able to do it by hand without the socket.
Joined: Sun Oct 09 2005, 05:02PM
Location: ALLEN PARK, MI.
Posts: 2007
Yea, I was gunna say that to! I took my "saws-all" and cut the square collars in-between the weld seams, then drilled holes on both sides to use bolts-n-nuts to secure. Extra work....but you will NEVER wrestle with the bushings again! Did I say my refabed sway bar will be for sale soon? OH...my bad! Tony P.
Joined: Tue Aug 07 2007, 01:15PM
Location: Blackpool Lancs England
Posts: 314
Hi guys
Ive just made a set of drop links that do away with the factory lower mounts and use split polly blocks.... i will take some pics and post them tomorrow. !thumb
I just done mine today,but i had previously done the trick that Tony suggested!. I had the car in the air and placed a jack under the bar and jacked it up,just enough to squeese the lower bushing enough,so when i put the upper in,i had enough thread to start the nut and then i just cranked er' down with the pressure still on the bushing!. Took me all of 20 minutes!. This should make a big difference along with the new steering box,idler arm,and steering coupler i put in at the same time!.
Joined: Tue Aug 07 2007, 01:15PM
Location: Blackpool Lancs England
Posts: 314
Hi guys
the pics i promised.......
the flat plate that the blocks mount to is a shop bought item it comes with the blocks for �8 about $15 .the upright post is 20mm solid bar welded to the plate then drilled & taped for an m8 bolt.this bolt will pass through the stock chassis mounting hole with stock type rubbers & cup washers.
u could use these plates and blocks welded onto the factory links after cutting of the lower mount at the weld.
if any body wants a set of these blocks i am moor than willing to post them .on a cost only basis. hope this is of some use
Joined: Wed Oct 12 2005, 01:10AM
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 2690
Very interesting design Russ.... !thumb
Well I decided I would do as suggested. So I drilled the holes throught the spot welds first..5/16 thread hole...then I cut between the joint with the sawzall and voila....done.
Just cleaned evrthing up on the wire wheel and then gave everything a quick paint and the bar is now hanging comfortably in the car.... !banana
Thanks again guys for the help and suggestions. !thumb <span class='smallblacktext'>[ Edited Mon Apr 28 2008, 05:23PM ]</span>