Tips on installing the Hotchiss sway bars
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 927
Likes: 62
From: Lake Elmo, MN, USA MN
Tips on installing the Hotchiss sway bars
Just received my Hotchiss sway bars from LAPD.... It looks pretty straight
forward on the installation but are there any precautions or tips on making
the job easier.
Thanks for the help...
forward on the installation but are there any precautions or tips on making
the job easier.
Thanks for the help...
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,456
Likes: 8
From: Cockeysville Maryland
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Daytona Jam 1 Veteran
Re: Tips on installing the Hotchiss sway bars (cares)
Get back in touch with Shawn at LAPD. Shawn has a process which I passed on to my installer. It supposedly prevents a nagging clunking noise from developing at the end links.
Also be very careful with the end link nuts as they are a ONE TIME USE ONLY nut. Once on they are ruined if taken off. If you forget to install a washer for instance and need to take the nut back off you are SOL. You must get some new ones for reinstall.
Hotchkis and LAPD have been very good about replacing the nuts if need be.
Best of luck.
Chuck :cheers:
Also be very careful with the end link nuts as they are a ONE TIME USE ONLY nut. Once on they are ruined if taken off. If you forget to install a washer for instance and need to take the nut back off you are SOL. You must get some new ones for reinstall.
Hotchkis and LAPD have been very good about replacing the nuts if need be.
Best of luck.
Chuck :cheers:
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 0
From: Staten Island NY
Re: Tips on installing the Hotchiss sway bars (cares)
After initial installation, there was some clunking going on underneath. After re-torquing all nuts on the end links very, very tightly the noise is gone.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
From: sarasota fl
Re: Tips on installing the Hotchiss sway bars (cares)
my son and i just did the install last week. we used the rino ramps to get under the car. the bolts on the end links were too big for three of the four mounting points on the suspension. we had to ream the holes out just a tiny bit to get them thru, careful not to get the holes too big or it will be loose and could rattle. we downloaded the instructions off the hotchkis web site. a couple of wrench sizes were incorrect. we installed the end links on the ends of the sway bars before installing them in the bushings, much easier than wrenching those bolts while on the car. be carefull on the alignment of the rear bar, it is bent differnt than the Z51 bar on our 99 coupe. just re-tightened the end links on the rear a few minutes ago. bonus, my teenage son was under the car with me, he used to not want to talk to his dad, this is much better. now if the other son will come around........car handles much better, feels like a corvette
david
david
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 927
Likes: 62
From: Lake Elmo, MN, USA MN
Re: Tips on installing the Hotchiss sway bars (l8apex)
Thanks for all the help... It scares me if I have to 'reamout' the holes. I have a lift
and hopefully that will make it easier. I will print out the color pictures on the Hotchkis
web page. The last thing I need is a 'clunk' or 'rattle'.
Thanks
and hopefully that will make it easier. I will print out the color pictures on the Hotchkis
web page. The last thing I need is a 'clunk' or 'rattle'.
Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,361
Likes: 0
From: Sugar Land, TX USA
Re: Tips on installing the Hotchiss sway bars (cares)
The instructions on the web site are old. New ones came with my bars. They have new bushings now that are impregnated with dry lube and no more split clamps to locate the rear bar. Also received the most recent version of the endlinks. From memory, I think their torque specs are wrong on some of the nuts. Check against these. http://metricchemical.com/C5torque.PDF
I really wish someone could tell us more about the adjustable endlinks. :confused: Guess I could call Hotchkis :yesnod:
I really wish someone could tell us more about the adjustable endlinks. :confused: Guess I could call Hotchkis :yesnod:
