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Question .. Installing larger sway bars

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Old Mar 29, 2010 | 07:45 PM
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Default Question .. Installing larger sway bars

Installing Z06 shocks and swaybars on my "04 roadster. Question ref the front swaybar .... is quite larger than the OEM .. the brackets will not fully seat upon tightening over the rubber bushings .. am I doing something incorrect ..... btw the front end is up jackstands w/ the tires off. Any suggestions/thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thank-you
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Old Mar 29, 2010 | 07:51 PM
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Are you using the bushings\mounts for the larger swaybar? You need to or you'll end up with the bar binding and functionally becoming a solid link, not good. With the correct pieces it should just bolt up fine.
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Old Mar 29, 2010 | 08:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Dave Sweatt
Are you using the bushings\mounts for the larger swaybar? You need to or you'll end up with the bar binding and functionally becoming a solid link, not good. With the correct pieces it should just bolt up fine.
I replaced the rubber bushings with Pfadt Poly bushings, and they fit and bolted up just fine.
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Old Mar 29, 2010 | 08:23 PM
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Default 3mm washers

This worked for me (and continues to work) for past 5 years:

I installed Z06 sways on a '04 convertible. You don't need poly bushings but they'll work too.


3mm washers create the right space
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Old Mar 29, 2010 | 08:37 PM
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I have C6 z51 bars and the poly bushings to fit the larger bars. The brackets and bushings are the same Outside diameter on all C5's and C6's the hole in the bushing is larger or smaller depending on sway bar thickness.
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Old Mar 29, 2010 | 08:47 PM
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Use the new bushings that came with the new sway bar, Poly or the stock rubber type. Use the existing mounting brackets. Start threading the bolts that hold the brackets to the frame by hand. Then use a socket and tighten one bolt a little at a time. Alternate until the bracket is flush against the frame and torque to spec. The bushings have a long gated slot that fits into the bracket. Check that.
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Old Mar 30, 2010 | 07:48 AM
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I just finished installing new Hotchkis front & rear. They bolted up no problem. The poly bushings were sized on the center hole for the larger bars.
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Old Mar 30, 2010 | 07:12 PM
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Found my mistake ..... everything went on fine from then on. Thanks for the replies
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Old Mar 30, 2010 | 09:04 PM
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Well, what was the mistake? We give you suggestions but we do not know what the fix was. We need to learn also!!
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Old Mar 30, 2010 | 10:56 PM
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Originally Posted by wheelhorse
Well, what was the mistake? We give you suggestions but we do not know what the fix was. We need to learn also!!
As I had stated, I had the front end up on jackstands and suspension was just hanging w/ no pressure. Which I was told the swaybars would install properly w/ no problems, that wasn't my case.

As soon as I let the front end down and put pressure back on the suspension, everything bolted right with no gaps in the brackets.

Very nice improvement!
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Old Mar 31, 2010 | 08:48 AM
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Originally Posted by countylawdog
...As soon as I let the front end down and put pressure back on the suspension, everything bolted right with no gaps in the brackets...
Wait...What??? You're saying you were able to get under the car and tighten bolts with the front end on the ground!!!!

You are definitely skinnier than me...

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Old Mar 31, 2010 | 09:40 PM
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I going to go out on a limb and say that 99% of us who have installed sway bars, front or rear, have done so with the lower control arms hanging. If what you did worked for you,then that's all that matters.
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Old Mar 31, 2010 | 11:25 PM
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Originally Posted by roscoe118
Wait...What??? You're saying you were able to get under the car and tighten bolts with the front end on the ground!!!!

You are definitely skinnier than me...


Actually, I lowered them down onto the wooden ramps. I'm nowhere what you would call skinny
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Old Mar 31, 2010 | 11:28 PM
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Originally Posted by wheelhorse
I going to go out on a limb and say that 99% of us who have installed sway bars, front or rear, have done so with the lower control arms hanging. If what you did worked for you,then that's all that matters.
There's always us 1%'ers
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Old Apr 1, 2010 | 08:50 AM
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Originally Posted by countylawdog
There's always us 1%'ers
I knew that was coming when I wrote it.
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Old Apr 1, 2010 | 10:38 AM
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Originally Posted by countylawdog
There's always us 1%'ers
With a username like that, you should NOT be calling yourself a 1%er!! The Choir Boys will get pissed!!!
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Old Apr 1, 2010 | 12:01 PM
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Originally Posted by HD_2_C5
With a username like that, you should NOT be calling yourself a 1%er!! The Choir Boys will get pissed!!!
Hell, I'm retired ..... I'm use to people being pissed at me
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