Sway bar bushing replacement, help.

[bkvanbek]

I am replacing my worn sway bar bushings with Energy Suspension polyurethane bushings 4.5186. The new ones look nothing like the factory ones, is that right?

How do I remove the factory bushings for the drop down links, eyes (or whatever they are called)?

And the longer, top bolts, don't fit all the way into the new steel inserts.

[magnumpeei]

don't bother trying to take the bushings out yourself unless you have a hydraulic press...it's not worth the effort. Just take them to your local mechanic and get them pressed out.

don't know about the bolts though. maybe try to compress it a bit with a c-clamp?

[bkvanbek]

Peei,
Did you install the energy suspension bushings? The factory bolts have a taper, that is they are larger diameter near the head and do not go in the steel bushing.

[magnumpeei]

yep...and that's magnum to you

You just have to pound the bolts in with a hammer, same way you would have removed them from the factory bushings.

[bkvanbek]

Can I drive without the sway bar? So I can get the bushings pressed out.

[magnumpeei]

of course...just don't take corners really fast and tight.

and just another tip - I had to try two places before i could find someone to do it, we couldn't figure out how to hold the link in place. The best way to press it is by using a large impact socket under the end link to hold it in place, then press out the bushing with a smaller socket, like so:

[bkvanbek]

Nice drawing! I dropped off the links at a shop and picked them up tonight. I just got done putting it back together, but thanks to the ****ty instructions I don't know where the 4 washers go. i put one on each bolt first, one washer on the head side of each link, is that right?

[magnumpeei]

that sounds right. the washers are used so the bolts aren't tightened directly on the bushing.