Hi all - I'm trying to install new sway bar bushings as well as the end links. I purchased the rubber bushings rather than poly. The car is in the air on jack stands. I was able to get the front two bushings replaced easily enough, but I cannot get the end links installed. Specifically, I can't get things to seat enough so that I can get that top washer/cap on and get the nut threaded on. I have tried loosening the front bushings to give the sway bar room to move around, etc, but I just can't get things to compress so that I can get the top nut on. Basically it seems the old bushings were compressed so much more than the new ones are. The bolt that I removed, although it appears to be a smaller diameter than the one that came new, is the same length, so that shouldn't be the issue. Does anyone have any tips on how to get this to come together? Do I need to put the car on the ground? I tried putting a jack under the wheel, but that didn't really compress anything, it just started lifting the car up off the jack stands. Seemed like such a simple task and I'm embarrassed at running into this hurdle! Any help would be appreciated. I'm including some photos to hopefully show what's going on. Also, the ends of the sway bar appear to slightly point up...I believe that is correct?

The car is a 1970 L46 small block with manual transmission.

 

When I replaced the end links on my 69 L46 the floor jack lifted lower arms just enough to get the nut started . But since you tried that then I would put car down on the ground . That should compress front end enough .

Steven

 

Here is the link to the post that i used when installing new bushings on my 73. I didn’t need to buy the longer bolts. MAKE Sure you have the BAR in The CORRECT UP Orientation, I marked mine before removable.


Look at this post.

 

Put a bottle jack on the bottom of the bolt and slowly push it up......

Jebby

 

Every C3 owner should have a pair of ramps.

Then this would not be an issue.

 

curious what your spacer size is..
here is my struggle as well.. and advice i got.. and my conclusion on spacer.. bottom line at ride height try to get bar level..
EDIT- it also appears you have a brake leak
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...rsion-fit.html




brake leak?

 

Correct adjustment should be with the full weight of the car on the ground. With installation up in the air, you don't know if you are torquing things unequally, essentially weight jacking the car. You should at least check the fender height before and after installation to see if you have reasonably equal height, side to side.

 

Thanks for the comments. I will check spacer length when I get home tonight. I purchased the links from a reputable Vette parts dealer, so I would sure hope they are correct (that being said, the top nuts they sent would not thread onto the bolt, I had to go buy my own!). I also noticed the marks on the tire...and wondered about brake leak. I completely rebuilt the brake system a year ago...I'm hoping those are just "marks" from when I was doing that. I didn't notice anything wet down there...but will definitely test and check fluid level before driving. At this point, I think I'm going to drop the car off the stands and see if that helps compress things enough to get that top bushing/cap/nut on...then tighten it up while it's on the ground (I'm sure that will be a challenge getting under there!). Fingers crossed for tonight!

 

Interesting...the spacers that were on the car are 1-1/2" long...the new spacers are just slightly shorter, at maybe 1-7/16". But it's interesting that both of these lengths are shorter than yours. I wonder what the right length really is?

 

I officially declared 1 3/8 for a 79

noone knows what oem was..be cool to find out someday
i posted thread..the pic was what was on there and what came from vendor

 

Thanks for all the help guys - I got it! First I tried jacking right on the bottom of the bolt. That was making a little progress, but again, it was lifting the car off the jack stands and that made me nervous. Ultimately, I took the top bushing off and put the last washer and nut on the top, just to keep the bolt from falling out...then I put the car back on the ground. Then I again jacked right under the bolt and that was able to push it up far enough that I could get the top bushing, washer and nut on a couple threads. Then I wrenched it down just a little to make sure. then did the other side. then I tightened up the sway bar bushing mounts...then I further tightened the top nut on the two end links. The only thing strange is not knowing how much to keep tightening that top nut. It is not taking a lot of torque on the wrench to keep turning it. I've read in several places there may not be an exact torque spec? But the interpon was able to post some. But then, I don't know how I would get a torque wrench up in there anyway?? Here is what they look like now! Any comments/suggestions?