BlueTwoToneCorvette

1985 Z51 suspension. I have the front sway bar installed correctly, bar ends curving down. The end links are hanging down next to the A-arm brackets. Each link is 1" inboard of where they should connect to the A-arm bracket. The upper link poly bushings are very stiff and only flex about 1 cm when I put a screwdriver through the end link top and torque the end link bottom towards the bracket.

Should the bushing be this stiff? And should they line up better or is this just how poly bushings are for the front end links? I'm pretty sure I could stick a crow bar through the top of the end link and torque it over to bolt it to the A-arm bracket. This would bind the upper end link bushing. Would this loosen up over time? Anyone who has done a poly bushing install probably know exactly what I'm talking about.

I have added a pic. You can see the angle. It really doesn't want to move over.

Thanks

DMITTZ

I just rebuilt my whole suspension so I am familiar with the front sway bar my car is a 1988 Z51.

When I did mine the bushing was a bit stiff and did not line up perfectly, I was able to just use a screwdriver to pry it into place, it did not take much force as mine was only slightly out of alignment. (half of the bolt width).

When I installed my sway bar bushing (energy suspension) the poly part of the bushing was a bit too wide, in fact it was longer than the inner metal sleeve that the bolt goes through. I trimmed the poly bushing so it was just slightly narrower than the inner metal sleeve to stop the bushing from binding on the end-link. maybe the poly bushing in your sway bar is a little to wide as mine was?

Also be sure not to tighten up the bolt holding the way bar to the end link until you have the bottom endlink bolt in.

As long as your sway bar is not upside down the above two suggestions are all I can think of right now...

BlueTwoToneCorvette

The sway bar ends curve down at the end, which from every picture I've seen is the correct orientation.

I am using energy suspension as well. The upper link is a two part bushing. The fat outside donut that goes toward the engine is very tight in the link, and I did tighten it before trying to do the bottom. I should trim the donut like you, it would move more smoothly front to rear.

But the bottom is side to side movement. I'll try what you suggest, thanks.

JrRifleCoach

Maybe this will help visualize.

BlueTwoToneCorvette

Your bushing is different than mine, must be a different year? See the metal shell in the eye of the my bar end. That makes it much stiffer left and right. Your setup looks like a larger all poly bushing taking up the same space.

Nice paint. Do you like the ES ball joint covers? Do they keep the grease in? I used them on my upper ball joint. Used the moog rubber cover that came with my lower ball joints.

Aardwolf

Another idea, do you have offset mount bushings? If you do turn them around. Like these on mine:

JrRifleCoach

It's an 86. Used the red ES full kit. Except I switched to the black/graphite for the F/R bars. Not sure if those were from ES or another nfgr. The boots all worked fine without failure. I did switch to red grease to keep the boots from staining.

Cliff Harris

My recollection is that the position of the suspension on the opposite side needs to be moved to get this side to line up.

Aardwolf

Another thought, if the suspension is at full droop jack up the lower a arm to line up the bolt.

Ron B C4

That is super clean. Looks so good.

BlueTwoToneCorvette

They are identical both sides on mine. A little to the inside. But I see your point if the bar was off to one side.

Cliff Harris

I meant that the opposite side needs to be jacked up.

-- I typed that before I saw Aardwolf's post --