sway bar install help
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 2
From: colchester CT
sway bar install help
I am putting in a bigger sway bar on my LT4. The FSM says that the suspension needs to be at the correct trim height before you tighten everything. It says to put jacks under control arms. I am not quite understanding this. I have the car on stands right now but nothing under the control arms. can I just put the sway bar on and loosely put bolts on then tighten when I put the car on the ground? Or do I need to jack the control arms up and if so how high. I just dont want anything to bind up. Thanks
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 86
I would believe that your theory of putting the car on the ground and tightening things up then would work.
I think they were just trying to prevent the tech from tightening it when the system was at full droop, because if someone did that then when the car was set down, those bushings would be under unnecessary load since they would have been tightened in the full droop position.
I think they were just trying to prevent the tech from tightening it when the system was at full droop, because if someone did that then when the car was set down, those bushings would be under unnecessary load since they would have been tightened in the full droop position.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 171
From: Dublin CA
I measured the distance from the ground to the bottom of the suspension when it was on the ground. I then jacked up the car, removed the wheels (used jack stands to be safe) and then installed the bar but did not tighten the bolts and nuts. I then placed a small bottle jack on each side under the suspension and jacked it up adding the per-measured height plus the height of the wheel from the ground before I removed the wheel.
From memory you can't get a wrench onto the bolts/nuts behind the wheels if you put the wheels on it and lower it to the ground.
From memory you can't get a wrench onto the bolts/nuts behind the wheels if you put the wheels on it and lower it to the ground.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,351
Likes: 222
From: Delta B.C. Canada
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Just put it on the ground before torquing it all down.
You can do it all without removing the wheels. I just did it 2 nights ago.
You can do it all without removing the wheels. I just did it 2 nights ago.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 10
From: That one city...you know that one. Idaho
If you have a set of oil change ramps you can put the car on those to make it easier. If you cant drive your car onto them you can use them like jack stands. Jack the car up then place them under the tires, and set the car on them.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Bolt the bar in on its mounting brackets.
Swing the ends up to their links and tighten.
On jacks or off makes no difference, might help to move the suspension around to mount the second link.
The first link is always easy.
A shot of silicon spray on the chassis rubbers never hurts.
Enjoy!
Swing the ends up to their links and tighten.
On jacks or off makes no difference, might help to move the suspension around to mount the second link.
The first link is always easy.
A shot of silicon spray on the chassis rubbers never hurts.
Enjoy!
