Fitting new sway bar bushes. HELP

[Bluey]

Ok, this is for a vs commodore but shouldn't be any different to 4wd. although front is ifs

i'm trying to replace the front sway bar bushes, its a kit that includes bushes, washes, nuts and bolt

can't get the bushes to compress enough to do up nut on bottom of stud, top is fine to do. have both sides out, with axle stands under wishbones (or whatever they are called).

any ideas out there at all? is there a easy way to do this


Cheers
Bluey

[RAY185]

Sounds like you're doing the link pin bushes (end of sway bar). Once you've done the uppers and have the lower one set up into the sway bar end, lower the car and it should compress enough for you to put the lower bush, nut and washer on. Far easier on a hoist but have fun.

[Bluey]

thanks ray. i did coonect one side top nut and lowered car wieght onto axle stand, but still couldn't fit nut. thread was only just exposed past the washer. will try doing with new pins on each side

would heating the bushes in hot water help?


thanks

[RAY185]

You shouldnt have to soak them, I've never had to. Once the vehicle is lowered onto its wheels fully you should have enough thread exposed to put your lower bush, washer and nut on.

[RAY185]

so did it work out?

[Bluey]

sure did, this afternoon after work. thanks ray

did up top nuts on both, wheels on then carefully lowered so bolt went thru sway bar and didn't get caught. then it was absolute bastard to do up bottom nuts because it was a low rider. had to put bottle jack under sway bar and put pressure on it to compress bushes before get nuts even started

oh, and btw, if you have a commodore (and maybe other cars too) which makes a horrible squealling noise like maybe a wheel bearing, even on quite a flat road surface, check these sway bar bushes first. i bought and installed new wheel bearing/hub first, didn't fix problem and cost me $380. thanks holden for that, great design


Bluey

[N*A*M]

yeah my dads vr sway bar was stuffed. the washer had worn out and slipped up the rod. so i swapped the top and bottom washers. how much was a replacement bush and washer kit? and where'd you get it from?

[RAY185]

Glad to hear you worked it out Bluey.

Nam, VR Sway Bar Link bush kits usually go for about $20-$25 in Nolothane from Repco. If the Link Pins themselves are worn they also do a Link/Bush kit for about $50 (Nolothane). If you want normal rubber its cheaper to go Genuine Holden for the Link/Bush kit though. VT's are pretty common for wearing the link pins as well as the bushes. I think the whole kit is about $45 from Holden, comes with bushes, links, washers and nuts.

[Bluey]

yeah, got kit from holden. bushes were shagged, as were the threads so hence new kit. also kit comes with washers with lip on them to locate bolt through center of sway bar, top and bottom. mine had only one of these fitted each side, probably why they were so bad. cost me $53.


Bluey