Front sway bar link misaligned?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: United Kingdom
Front sway bar link misaligned?
I recently replaced the front sway bar links on my '82 as the MOT tester said they were perished. When I took them off the rubber seemed in good condition but had been crushed on one side.
When fitting the new links, I could hardly get the nut onto the bolt to tighten the bushes down. I had to force the bottom up with a jack and lever the sway bar down to compress the bushes enough to get the nut started (I tried both with and without weight on the wheels)
Once installed, I saw that with full weight on the front wheels the swaybar has a really odd angle where it meets the link and is not seating properly on my new bushes. The lower bushes seat perfectly into the wishbone. I am stumped as to what is causing this as I doubt the sway bar itself is bent (It is the same both sides) Any ideas would be greatly appreciated
The picture show the new sway bar link with the vehicle sitting fully on all 4 wheels
When fitting the new links, I could hardly get the nut onto the bolt to tighten the bushes down. I had to force the bottom up with a jack and lever the sway bar down to compress the bushes enough to get the nut started (I tried both with and without weight on the wheels)
Once installed, I saw that with full weight on the front wheels the swaybar has a really odd angle where it meets the link and is not seating properly on my new bushes. The lower bushes seat perfectly into the wishbone. I am stumped as to what is causing this as I doubt the sway bar itself is bent (It is the same both sides) Any ideas would be greatly appreciated
The picture show the new sway bar link with the vehicle sitting fully on all 4 wheels
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,105
Likes: 96
From: Sunrise FL
its very easy to install the bar upside down...but you have to put the car down on the ground and check it. My bushes seem to be like yours.
The bar ends have has a slight difference in the curve (up or down) and hopefully another comment will be added here!
The bar ends have has a slight difference in the curve (up or down) and hopefully another comment will be added here!
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: United Kingdom
The new bolt and spacer is the same length as the old and I used AC delco #45G0000. I think the problem existed before I replaced the old spacers but its more prominent now as the old ones were crushed. The bar being upside down as mentioned above seems a possibility?
Last edited by RH93; Jun 30, 2015 at 04:43 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 850
Likes: 12
From: Shakopee MN
I recently replaced the front sway bar links on my '82 as the MOT tester said they were perished. When I took them off the rubber seemed in good condition but had been crushed on one side.
When fitting the new links, I could hardly get the nut onto the bolt to tighten the bushes down. I had to force the bottom up with a jack and lever the sway bar down to compress the bushes enough to get the nut started (I tried both with and without weight on the wheels)
Once installed, I saw that with full weight on the front wheels the swaybar has a really odd angle where it meets the link and is not seating properly on my new bushes. The lower bushes seat perfectly into the wishbone. I am stumped as to what is causing this as I doubt the sway bar itself is bent (It is the same both sides) Any ideas would be greatly appreciated
The picture show the new sway bar link with the vehicle sitting fully on all 4 wheels
When fitting the new links, I could hardly get the nut onto the bolt to tighten the bushes down. I had to force the bottom up with a jack and lever the sway bar down to compress the bushes enough to get the nut started (I tried both with and without weight on the wheels)
Once installed, I saw that with full weight on the front wheels the swaybar has a really odd angle where it meets the link and is not seating properly on my new bushes. The lower bushes seat perfectly into the wishbone. I am stumped as to what is causing this as I doubt the sway bar itself is bent (It is the same both sides) Any ideas would be greatly appreciated
The picture show the new sway bar link with the vehicle sitting fully on all 4 wheels
Your new bushings don't look like rubber, look like polyurethane to me as they're blue. Here's picture of my setup which I believe I bought from one of the Corvette dealers. Notice how much shorter my spacer seems to be than yours. Where did you buy your new bushings from?
If you cut that middle spacer down a bit, it will lower your sway bar and allow the connecting flange angle to line up better with the bolt. I wish I was at home I could go out and measure mine, but I'm on vacation for several more days yet, maybe someone else can measure their spacer. Just look how much further down my nut is on the bolt than yours, of course I don't have a measurement for the length of my bolt right now so we can't assume it's apples to apples comparison.
SL
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: United Kingdom
Thanks for the picture, I see your spacers are significantly shorter. I got this kit from Rock Auto online. It's listed as a front OE type link so I don't see why it's so much longer. It does look like they are too long.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,737
Likes: 2,583
according to the AC-Delco website that is the correct part number but they show two different kits the other one is 45G0068
http://parts-catalog.acdelco.com/cat...log_search.php
here is a view of another kit you may be able to judge the length of the spacer compared to the bolt
https://willcoxcorvette.com/corvette...s-rubber-63-82
http://parts-catalog.acdelco.com/cat...log_search.php
here is a view of another kit you may be able to judge the length of the spacer compared to the bolt
https://willcoxcorvette.com/corvette...s-rubber-63-82
Last edited by MelWff; Jul 1, 2015 at 11:08 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,278
Likes: 4,372
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi R,
It appears to me that the spacer in your picture (long) is the length of the original.
Note the shape of the 'cups' and the depression in the cup to seat the spacer is different on your aftermarket compared to the originals… I'm not sure how this might affect the way the sway bar seats on the aftermarket link.
Regards.
Alan
It appears to me that the spacer in your picture (long) is the length of the original.
Note the shape of the 'cups' and the depression in the cup to seat the spacer is different on your aftermarket compared to the originals… I'm not sure how this might affect the way the sway bar seats on the aftermarket link.
Regards.
Alan
Last edited by Alan 71; Jul 1, 2015 at 04:35 PM.
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Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: United Kingdom
Thanks for the info, The cups are thicker but I wouldn't think the few extra mm would cause such a severe angle at the sway bar. As you can see I had to use one of my old thin cups at the top to get the nut to fit as a temporary measure. Im pretty sure the old ones with the thin cups like in your picture had the same issue.
My rusty under body looks disgraceful compared to your cars hehe. Its all solid though
My rusty under body looks disgraceful compared to your cars hehe. Its all solid though