Sway Bar installation
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 337
Likes: 56
Sway Bar installation
Hello. I am in the process of installed new bushings at the frame bracket and at the end links of the front sway bar on my 69. At present the car is off the ground on blocks. I understand that the car should be set down with the weight on all four tires before tightening? My question is after the car is down what should be tightened? What I'm wondering is if the end links need be tightened, until the bushings bulge slightly, while the car is still in the air and only the bushings/ frame bracket needs be tightened with the full weight on the suspension or does everything get tightened with full weight on the suspension? Thanks in advance.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,335
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
I don't think the sway bar needs to be tightened at ride height and usually the end links are just torqued to bottom out the threads on the sleeve rather than squashing the bushings out like a top shock.
M
M
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,351
Likes: 1,578
From: los altos hills california
The sway bar is simply another spring. By putting the car on the ground with the sway bar loose and rolling the car back and forth a few times, it is settling everything to a neutral position. So long as you don't have to clamp the bushings much differently on either side, you are not preloading the front. You can neutralize any significant preload by changing the length of the tubing on the linkage. A little bit of difference on one side or the other isn't going to matter much.
