Front Sway bar being a bitch

[Scott R. Mraz]

Ok i'm swaping out my front sway bar, got it off... pretty easy. now I am trying to get the TNL one in and I swear for the life of me that I can't get it in.

It looks as though the rear engine mount is getting in the way.

Any suggestions on how to get this sucker in????

Please I need help, im in the middle of this thing and its ****ing me off.

[nnewton123]

all i know, is that it does fit, because mine is in :) I didn't install it myself though, and the place that did install it said it took quite a bit of squirming and wiggling to finally get it in. Take a break, have a beer, and then keep tryin!!!

[Scott R. Mraz]

Originally posted by nnewton123
all i know, is that it does fit, because mine is in :) I didn't install it myself though, and the place that did install it said it took quite a bit of squirming and wiggling to finally get it in. Take a break, have a beer, and then keep tryin!!!

Well I finally got it in! YEAH! Now i have only one more issue, I used the ES bushings and the bushing cover screw hole is kinda angled up. Combined with the fact that the new TNL bar is like half an inch taller, I am now having clearence problems when getting the the bolts back in to lock down the bushing covers! I can't get any tool in there. So im going to have to drop the subframe even more (i've got it down about half an inch already) then i'll have to see if I can finish tightening it. So here is one my leasons learned:

Drop the subframe to insert bar and install bushings and tighten bushing cover as the GM repair manual says.

I'll post the section of the GM repair manual here later.

GOD this is a pain in the ass- heed my warning; DONT DO THIS YOURSELF.

Im going to slam some more hydrocodone before I loose my mind....

[Molson]

gotta make a nice K-Frame rig.. Works GREAT. Dump everything down 4-6 inches.

[Scott R. Mraz]

Now that i've finally accomplished this miracle I'll leave you with some tips. To be honest with you if I had done the install the way the GM repair manual had said to begin with, I wouldn't have had nearly as may issues. So i'll post the removal and install instructions for the Sway bar according to the GM repair manual. My only contrasting opinion to the GM repair manual is that you do NOT need to drop the entire subframe as they state. Simply loosen all the bolts a half an inch to an inch.

Stabilizer Shaft Replacement:

Removal procedure

1. Raise and support the vehicle, allowing the front suspension to hang free. Refer to lifting and jacking vehicle in General information.

2. Remove the front tire and wheel assemblies. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation in Tires and Wheels.

3. Remove the stabilizer shaft links. Refere to stabilizer shaaft link replacement.

4. Remove the tie rods from the steering knuckles. Refer to tie rod end replacement - outer - off vehicle in power steering system

5. Remove the bolt from the ear transmission mount.

6. Remove the power steering line bracket from the suspension crossmember.

7. Remove the bolts from the clamps attaching the stabilizer shaft to the crossmember.

8. Support the rear of the crossmember with an adjustable jack stand.

9. Remove the rear bolts from the crossmember.

10. Loosen the front bolts on the crossmember.

11. Lower the corssmember three inches by adjusting the jack stands down. (ANNOTATION: three inches is a bit rediclous and you wont get three inches without taking all the bolts off completely. Dont worry about doing this, simply loosen the bolts to 1/2 - 1 inch- this should be more than enough.)

12. Remove the stabilizer shaft from the vehicle.

Installation Procedure

1. Install the stabilizer shaft to the vehicle.

2. Notice: refer to fastener notice in cautions and notices
Install the rear bolts to the crossmember in the following order:
Tighten:

Tighten the left rear bolt to 110 N-M (71 lb ft.)

Tighten the right rear bolt to 110 N-M (71 lb ft.)

Tighten the left front bolt to 110 N-M (71 lb ft.)

Tighten the right front bolt to 110 N-M (71 lb ft.)

3. Install the clamps and the bolts to the stabilizer shaft.
Tighten:

Tighten the bolts to 66 N-M (49 lb ft.)

4. Install the power steering line barcket to the suspension crossmember.

5. Install the bolt to the rear transmission mount.

Tighten:
Tighten the bolt to 120 N-M (89 lb ft.)

6. Install the tie rods to the steering knuckles.

7. Install the stabilizer shaft links.

8. Install the tire and wheel assemblies.

9. Lower vehicle.