HELMUT RONER
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- February 27, 2015
- Messages
- 163
- Reaction score
- 1
- City, State
- Tampa, FL
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2002 Explorer Sport Trac
I have finally completed the installation of my rebuilt front lower control arms with new ball joints and polyurethane bushings from Energy Suspension. Each side is done approximately a month apart because the receiving cup on the ball joint press split when I started to press in the second one the first day I started the work. The kit was old and worn. I first tackled the passenger side. The end link came out and reinstalled w/o any issues. When I finished the driver's side just a couple of days before posting this the bolt wasn't lining up with the hole of the swaybar. After positioning the sleeve and bushings under the swaybar hole I tried prying them in to no avail. I even used PB Blaster to help me pry them in place, but nope, didn't happen. The truck was in the air on a lift.
So, my questions.
1) The bolts are supposed to go in from the top of the swaybar, right? They had been installed from underneath. I didn't think that was correct. The end links had been replaced before my ownership. I *think* they are the thermoplastic ones (blue bushings and zinc bolt and sleeve).
2) Should the other side end link be left installed loosely to install both sides?
For now, I've left the driver side end link off. I'm going to order new ones. I want to try to get Energy Suspension end links that are also polyurethane, but seems that they aren't available unless you buy the whole swaybar bushing kit.
So, my questions.
1) The bolts are supposed to go in from the top of the swaybar, right? They had been installed from underneath. I didn't think that was correct. The end links had been replaced before my ownership. I *think* they are the thermoplastic ones (blue bushings and zinc bolt and sleeve).
2) Should the other side end link be left installed loosely to install both sides?
For now, I've left the driver side end link off. I'm going to order new ones. I want to try to get Energy Suspension end links that are also polyurethane, but seems that they aren't available unless you buy the whole swaybar bushing kit.