Rear Sway Bar Bushing Bracket Reinstallation

[pavejim]

I am replacing the rear sway bar bushing and while I was able to get the new bushing on the sway bar, I cant seem to get the bracket back on (bolt wont line up in bracket). Is there a trick or tip. I am thinking I might have to start the bracket nuts on each bolt and then brute force the bushing in. THoughts. Thanks in advance.

 

[Number4]

Both ends or just one? If you reinserted one bolt fully, back it out and do each one a little at a time.

 

[Tech By Trade]

Loosen the bushings and the arms right off, then put them all on and then tighten everything up. If you tighten up one side out of alignment it will screw up the other side. everything is installed but loose you can tighten it all up at once. also if you get the floor jack under there changing the amount of lift on one side will move things around too. All kinds of tricks to use in this situation.

 

[Number Twelve]

I am thinking I might have to start the bracket nuts on each bolt and then brute force the bushing in.

I'm thinking a real mechanic would start the bushing in the bracket and brute force the nuts on.

I did this a couple of weeks ago and it all turned to poop in my hands. The bolt holders in the frame didn't hold the bolts, so the nuts wouldn't come off. I ended up making new bracket holders and forsaking the original method completely.

Here's my take on it: The sway bar is just a left to right equalizer. When one paw goes up, the sway bar transfers some of the weight to the other side. It's not, "OMG Critical". It's just an assist, and after I replaced all the missing rubbers, I couldn't tell much difference in the ride. Maybe because I don't ride in the back seat?

Anyway, Tech by Trade has it right. In old-speak: "Never tighten a bolt until you have them all started." Maybe I was lucky in that only one rubber in the whole lot still existed. Everything was loose and everything had to be replaced except the sway bar itself. From that point of view, I didn't have any trouble at all getting things to line up. Just don't torque anything until you have them all lined up and the threads started.