How To: Sway Bar install with pics

[PontiacGT2K]

Thought I'd add pictures to help!

1. First, crawl under the car and unbolt the swaybar endlinks from the suspension knuckles; this way, there will not be any spring tension on the bar when you jack the car up. Remove the endlinks (pull real hard, turn while pulling)

2. jack up each side of the car and place jack stands under each side of the car. Remove wheels (makes job 100x easier)

3. Unbolt bushings, pull off metal piece hodling them on then just using the slot that is provided pull the rubber piece off.

4. slide the bar out around the exhaust or at least do it out one side or the other. it'll take a lot of shimmy-ing but you can get it out!

5. put the new bar in, make sure you have it in the correct way!

6. If using energy suspension bushings, make sure you use a hack saw or belt grinder and make the width on one of the tabs the same width as the tab that goes into the frame. you can see what i mean in the picture! Once you have it the same width, you can just push it in the slot, and bend it down while bolting it down with the new bushing. (it might be smart to grease the bushing before bolting it down....for some grease guns don't fit in the supplied area too well!)

7. re-attach endlinks and use grease or some lubricant to get them on....they need to be rather free when bolting back in. put wheels back on

8. lower car, re-bolt on end-links. really hard for me, had to have a friend help me because the bar had to sorta be bent while bolting, but won't hurt anything, weight of car will fix it all.

The link to the Energy Suspension Endlinks is
[-Jegs-] (http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=884&prmenbr=361). The part #'s are 355-9-5164 for the front and 355-9-5158 for the rear. That means front is 1 1/8", and rear is 7/8". I got the Greasable Bushings, in Red...

[PontiacGT2K]

new sway bars chillin, these things are so much thicker than stockers!

[PontiacGT2K]

arrow points to bolt you take out while vehicle is still on ground

[PontiacGT2K]

That rachet is on the nut that holds down the bushing....5/6 if i'm not mistaken. Use a deep-socket on this one, it's a long bolt. The end links are also 5/6 if I'm not mistaken

[PontiacGT2K]

The metal flange on the right arrow was grinded down to match the width of the stock flange that actually goes into the frame. Only took like a cm off maybe less

[PontiacGT2K]

Difference between stock bushings and energy greasable bushings...whoa

[PontiacGT2K]

New sway bar ready to bolt up....looking rather snug

[PontiacGT2K]

Grease liberally.......like Bill Clinton -liberally.....

[PontiacGT2K]

Will be posting instructions/pictures on how to do front sway bar on Monday night/tues morning....as for that's when that ****'s getting done.

The rear sway bar alone makes handling a lot different. At first I really didn't notice....then I started turning and feeling the car not dipping...wow that's nice. Can't wait for the front one to go one, then the new kyb struts/h&r springs sitting next to me....buahahhha....

[EBlend]

thats not the pfyc sway bar is it?

seems like its the one on which the sway bar mounts snap.....

[PontiacGT2K]

pfyc one yeah....

[EBlend]

hum...maybe its just me, but thats not a pfyc swaybar...i am almost 100% sure!

http://www.pfyc.com/store/graphics/new/ga4005.jpg

pfyc sway bar doesn't have those funky brakets you had to modify, it reuses your stock once! so something seems fishy if you say its a pfyc one...cuz its not...

[PontiacGT2K]

Buahahaha silly mortal....it's the PFYC bar, but I bought Energy Suspensions' Greasable Polyurethane Bushings! It comes with its own brackets (the poly bushings don't fit inside the stock brackets, and to grease them you need the bracket that comes with them).

Using the bushings that come with the bar has caused many people on this board that annoying sqeaking noise. Buy these bad boys and you've got no more squeak. you can get them at Jeg's for like $10. Just need to hack at them a BIT to fit in there, but it's no problem, better than stock...

[tshboy]

I can verify that is the pfyc because I have the same one installed and the same ES bushings, which are great. the pic shows a comparison between stock bar (top) and tnl bar 7/8" dia sway bar (bottom).

[Vince]

You bought the front and rear bars, correct. If so, is the front bar bigger in diameter than the back bar? I heard that on front wheel drive, it is better to have a larger rear sway bar and a smaller front sway bar. Having a larger rear sway bar would keep the front tires planted on sharp turns, so you could spin out faster on curves. Is this true? Not sure on it, but I read this article on it, and for rear wheel drive, it is better to have a larger front bar, and a smaller one for the back, that keeps the back planted.

[PontiacGT2K]

Yeah the front bar is considerably thicker than the rear one......As for the difference in traction, ?? Could be....but I know a lot of guys with both bars that have amazing traction on FWD cars.... they say the front bar realy helps, so I'm sold!

[Vince]

Well, when your done installing them and have a chance to really feel the ride, post on here how it feels, and if it really makes a difference, I'm sure it will though. I was thinking of getting those too for my car, but then I read that article, and I looked at the sizes and noticed that the front was much larger than the rear, so I was just gonna get a larger rear and leave the front stock. But I'd still like to know how it drives. I might consider just getting both.

[Green99GT]

what happen to the front....thats the hard one....if i get them im gonna pay someone to do the front

[GTluver]

hey vince..... this is a great mod....i highly recommended.....i did this like 2 months ago.....front/rear sway bars.....KYB front/rear STB, Intrax springs, EradiSpeed Brake upgrade kit (hi-performance rotors/calipers, braided front-brake lines), new wheels (17") w/ Khumo tires.....in other words.....i upgraded my whole suspension......i feel like king of the road lol ......in sharp turns im doing double the speeds as b4.....and on wet pavement ( i mean really wet.......pouring rain....im doing 90 mph on the hwy!! ) professionally installed cost me $300 for everything (except the rotors) @ a performance shop....

[PontiacGT2K]

Yeah I'm doing the sway bars myself. I might post pics/instal on struts(kyb's)/springs(h&r's), a friend of mine is helping me with it. STB's are some time in the future I guess....I hear they don't do crap for handling.

I also just did the brake upgrade, only I got powerslot rotors, ebc greenstuff pads.

[ND4SPDIII]

what's the link to get those red bushings??????????

[PontiacGT2K]

The link to the Energy Suspension Endlinks is
[-Jegs-] (http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=884&prmenbr=361). The part #'s are 355-9-5164 for the front and 355-9-5158 for the rear. That means front is 1 1/8", and rear is 7/8". I got the Greasable Bushings, in Red...

[Watch4MyBu]

I just installed my rear sway bar from pfyc this weekend. Huge difference. I also have intrax and kyb at all four corners. Handling is I won't be doing the front swaybar. Once that is installed along with my front and rear stb and some 18's the suspension should be complete

[ND4SPDIII]

Thanks alot PontiacGT2K that really helps alot!!!

peace:thumbs:

[PontiacGT2K]

hey np. Anyone have questins about the sway bar install just ask...I ran out of time to do the front install myself so I'm having a friend do it... he might take pics if I ask him. Also he's doing springs/struts on my car, I'll try and get pics of installs.

[PACE]

Originally posted by PontiacGT2K
Difference between stock bushings and energy greasable bushings...whoa

Will the poly bushings that come with the bar from PFYC fit into the stock brackets?? The pic you posted makes it look like they won't.......I will buy the ES bushings soon.....but I want to put the bar on tonight.....I can replace the bushings later if they are noisey....

[iceman]

Yes they will fit on the stock brackets.

Pace do it all it once it will save you some time & aggravation later :)

[PACE]

Really? OK. I guess I'll just wait then..... I am just getting CRACKED-OUT to do a mod ! Its been a long winter and I have a basement full of parts :)

[iceman]

It's cool, maybe you should go install your new vinyl ;)

[PACE]

Notice:

All Grafxwerks orders come complete with pink ICEMAN stickers !

:)

[PontiacGT2K]

Lawl.....holy old thread batman.

Yeah....like Iceman said, they fit just fine....but you might as well do it all at once.

Can I have some pink Iceman stickers for my Xterra? It'd really offset the pink ae.....nevermind :)

[stanjk3]

Originally posted by PontiacGT2K
STB's are some time in the future I guess....I hear they don't do crap for handling.


Not true, they do help somewhat. I noticed a difference on on-ramps with just the front STB installed, car doesn't "wiggle." They really need to redesign the rear one so it fits flush. Didn't notice much additional improvement after I installed the rear STB.

My suspension mods so far:
17" wheels & 235/45 17 tires
front & rear PFYC STBs
front & rear KYB struts (either they are stiffer than stock or my stock struts were that worn)

Am soon buying a rear sway bar, but since I'm lazy will have it installed when I take my car in for inspection.
No lowering springs, too many potholes around here. Already bent the hell out of one wheel, now I have a bubble in the sidewall of 1 tire.

[PontiacGT2K]

Originally posted by stanjk3
Not true, they do help somewhat. I noticed a difference on on-ramps with just the front STB installed, car doesn't "wiggle." They really need to redesign the rear one so it fits flush. Didn't notice much additional improvement after I installed the rear STB.

My suspension mods so far:
17" wheels & 235/45 17 tires
front & rear PFYC STBs
front & rear KYB struts (either they are stiffer than stock or my stock struts were that worn)

Am soon buying a rear sway bar, but since I'm lazy will have it installed when I take my car in for inspection.
No lowering springs, too many potholes around here. Already bent the hell out of one wheel, now I have a bubble in the sidewall of 1 tire. Sway bars do a lot more for handling than STB's. And get some springs!

[stanjk3]

Originally posted by PontiacGT2K
Sway bars do a lot more for handling than STB's. And get some springs!

That's good to know, can't wait until I get it installed. I thought of getting springs but PA roads suck. The state's motto should be Welcome to PA - We've got a pothole with your name on it.

Already bent one rim and now I need to replace a tire from hitting potholes. Am getting married in Oct so this will probably be my last mod, other than maybe a CAI.

[PACE]

OK. I just finished putting the rear sway bar in.....It was pretty easy.....until I got to putting the end links back on. The angle of the end link didn't line up with the bolt hole......Not up, down or left, right......The end link was like twisted. It was a total pain to get the bolts back in......I think I Cross threaded one:( But it went all the way in so F___ it. Is this something you guys experienced>? It seemed like the ends of the bar were at a slightly different angle that the stock bar causing the end like to not line up properly.............Did I do something wrong?????

EDIT: also the ends of my bar are REALLY cose to my brakes.....not inches....not millimeters....but damn near touching......Not the rotors but the black retainer behind.....Sup wit dat?

[PACE]

Got any pics of he end links installed??? I wan to to compare them to mine.

[iceman]

yeah the end links are tricky to put back in sometimes. Matt said something about putting the car back on the ground when you take off / put them back on

[PACE]

I tried it all bro......I just ended up forcing them in with 150 PSI :) One went in fine.....the other cross threaded a bit but went all the way in........I'm also worried about how close the bar sits to other pieces....specifically one of the brackets that holds the brake lines.....

Are your bar ends close to your brake line brackets??

[iceman]

I dunno, go look

[PACE]

How am I supposed to go look....AT YOUR CAR??? or any other car with the aftermarket bar? Seems like the aftermarket bar has SLIGHTLY different bends in the ends which is causing the end links not to line up and causing the bar to get close to the brake brackets....

[iceman]

haha I know I was joking :) I'll take a pic later tonight.

[PACE]

Cool ! Thanks :)

[PontiacGT2K]

I had the same problemo with the end links not going back in. What I had to do, iirc, is tighten the one that lines up ok, then lower only one side of the car....thus allowing one of the end links to line up. That worked for me.

[PACE]

um...... My rear sway bar squeaks :(

[iceman]

keep it lubed and wet ;)

[PACE]

I should have listened to you and got the greasable bushings....but I didn't now I have to pull the bushings and relube :( DOH!!!!

What was your major cause of sweaking? the end links or the bushings??

[PontiacGT2K]

Bushings. End links don't sqeak...at least not for me. It wouldn't be a horrible idea to lube those bishes up too.

[NaturalKonc3pt]

Can anyone post some pictures of the mounting of a rear swaybar for a 97 GAGT. I have a 26mm Mantapart swaybar and I'm unsure of where the brackets are to be placed. Any information would be helpful

[Breadfan]

Anyone do the front one yet? I know the subframe's gotta come out, not entirely sure how difficult that is without a lift...

[GrandIllusion]

my only question is what do they make for a 94 grand am sway bar wise. im wanting to re-do my whole suspension. from struts/springs to sway bars and all of the bushing from rubber to poly. i also will be buying new motor mounts from rk. please help a memeber out. btw it is a 94 se coupe

[PontiacGT2K]

Doin It today :) - Front & Rear....ANyone Know Where To get Poly Endlinks?

Didn't you read my How-To?

http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=884&prmenbr=361

[Bgonz22]

The link to the Energy Suspension Endlinks is
[-Jegs-] (http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=884&prmenbr=361). The part #'s are 355-9-5164 for the front and 355-9-5158 for the rear. That means front is 1 1/8", and rear is 7/8". I got the Greasable Bushings, in Red...

Aren't these the same bushings that came with the sway bars... they look alike?

[PontiacGT2K]

The answer is "no".

[CUSTOMGAGT2000SEDAN]

so has anyone had a problem with the end of the bars hitting the brakes during fast or hard moves. etc etc. these installs of the frt and rear bars were done on 99+ ga's correct. what's the excat part numbers for 99+ ga frt and rear bars you guys used so i make sure i get the exact same parts . unless of course they improved them . so back bar is also larger then the stock one ? troy

[coupe]

Dude start at the begining of this thread an start reading, its all there.

What happened to the pics?

[timberwoof]

jegs no longer has the bushings for our cars. Where can I get them?

[KhellendrosxS]

Summit racing has them, let me pull them up real quick.

Edited for Part numbers:

Rear: In Red or Black
http://store.summitracing.com/egnsearch.asp?Ntt=ENS-9-5158&x=0&y=0&searchinresults=false&Ntk=KeywordSearch&DDS=1&N=700+115

Front: In Red or Black
http://store.summitracing.com/egnsearch.asp?Ntt=ENS-9-5164&x=0&y=0&searchinresults=false&Ntk=KeywordSearch&DDS=1&N=700+0

If you dont trust my links all you have to do is enter the part numbers from the first page starting with ENS in place of the first three numbers then a '-' followed by the 9-XXXX.

Example: ENS-9-XXXX

[timberwoof]

sweet thanks. they work that's fine.