installing swaybar

[KZL_99ES]

so when i got under my car to remove the old swaybar...i ran into this problem... i really cant get at this bolt up there at the top...any ideas for me?

here's some pics for further clarification:
http://www.msprotege.com/members/KZL_99ES/one.JPG
http://www.msprotege.com/members/KZL_99ES/two.JPG
http://www.msprotege.com/members/KZL_99ES/three.JPG
^^^even though it looks like enough room for a ratchet to get in there...i tried...but its a no go with mine...

thanks,
~Kevin

[MakeMeGoFast]

Do you have any extensions? thats what i used

[mp3-79bronco]

pics like this remind me of how good i have it living in texas....

i have a 1979 bronco with 70k miles and it has 1/16 of the rust under it than your car... and i take it mudding all the time and leave it caked for weeks

[808MP5]

try maybe an open ended wrench? or borrow someone else's ratchets that do work... don't know what to say... i used a ratchet set. or you could always try and take off that bar thats in the way... also if you jack the car up it should move the bar low enough for you to retry your ratchet

[KZL_99ES]

wow...i actually didn't use a extension yet, i have a 6" one, i'll try it tomorrow morning and let you know if i can get to it!

[KZL_99ES]

ooo, very true!

i have it up on ramps...i can't squeeze under it with it, but i'll use my jack and i guessing your right, that bar will prob go much lower!

thanks!

[KZL_99ES]

pics like this remind me of how good i have it living in texas....

i have a 1979 bronco with 70k miles and it has 1/16 of the rust under it than your car... and i take it mudding all the time and leave it caked for weeks


I used to live in the northwest subs of Chicago and if it snows a 1/10 of and inch, the towns put down salt non-stop, pretty ridiculous...

[KZL_99ES]

pics like this remind me of how good i have it living in texas....

i have a 1979 bronco with 70k miles and it has 1/16 of the rust under it than your car... and i take it mudding all the time and leave it caked for weeks


I used to live in the northwest subs of Chicago and if it snows a 1/10 of and inch, the towns put down salt non-stop, pretty ridiculous...

[808MP5]

and supposedly your supposed to put the new one on when the car is on the ground... well at least thats what i read and that seems to be the general consensus... i did the complete swap with my car on the ground but then again i had a good set of sockets... good luck... BTW which bar you putting on?

[KZL_99ES]

it a 19mm progress...i believe...no labels or anything on it...not that i care, it can't be seen anyways... seriously i haven't done anything to the outside of the car (except shaving the side moldings and clear corners... i have those weird ricer chrome taillights that were on the car when i bought it used, i just haven't gotten around to swapping them out for some normal ones...)

...anyways, kinda long rant there, sorry...

it looks like either sat. or sunday i'll try and put this bar on, i'll post up how it goes!

[808MP5]

ahh rant on :)

maybe its a 22mm progress bar? is it kinda gray/silver in color? if so then it must be... i never heard of a 19mm progress swaybar... either way your gonna feel the difference definently from stock to an upgraded ones... looking at the rust on the bolts i would start soaking those and the endlinks with some pb blaster or seafoam deepcreep as soon as possible... as for the tail lights put up a WTT... idk just throwing it out there

[KZL_99ES]

mmm, it's a pure black gloss one, like i said, don't know what brand it is, just know it's a-way thicker than stock, and for the bolts, i loosened all of them, except those two that i couldn't get to, so i soaked them with some CorresionX...works wonders!!!

...i'll have to look around for some taillights that look good, haven't really done that yet, appearance is my last and lowest priority...

[o.g.sk8er]

sound's like an AWR bar.

[KZL_99ES]

yup, now that you mention it, i'm pretty sure that's what it is!

here's pics:
http://www.msprotege.com/members/KZL_99ES/swayholes.JPG

and which hole do i use with attaching the endlinks?
http://www.msprotege.com/members/KZL_99ES/sway1.JPG

[o.g.sk8er]

oh yea, thats AWR all the way.
You can user either mount...the one closest to the end of the bar is the softer setting. The mount nearer the center of the bar will be stiffer.

[MikeLikesMazda]

i just installed my Progress bar like last week. for the nuts i ended up using a regular wrench and they came off fine. just make sure that you anti-sieze every nut and/or bolt you put back on. trust me, ittl save you alot of pain in the long run lol

[KZL_99ES]

ooo, good thinking! i have some anti-sieze stuff so i'll def use it!

...and i guess i'll try the lighter setting first, but i know the stiffer one will be much more fun!!!

[KZL_99ES]

so i'm all finished will putting in the new swaybar!!!
it took me a little longer since i broke the welds on one of the nuts so i had to cut the bolt and get new some new nuts and bolts (i also use neoprene rubber washers to help tighten everything down)

OH!, and the How-To thread was kinda a HUGE help, since i really didn't know what to do at first...THANKS EVERYONE!!!

anyways, i'm putting up some pics...

[KZL_99ES]

Here's the old swaybar, boooo...lol, my trusty cardboard, and 100' extention cord for the dremmel
http://www.msprotege.com/members/KZL_99ES/101_1030.JPG

the dremmel and some other tools i gathered up to bring inside
http://www.msprotege.com/members/KZL_99ES/101_1031.JPG

here she is installed!!!
http://www.msprotege.com/members/KZL_99ES/101_1033.JPG
http://www.msprotege.com/members/KZL_99ES/101_1032.JPG
http://www.msprotege.com/members/KZL_99ES/101_1034.JPG
At first i was afraid that it was too close to that other bar (name?) and it would hit it, but after a test drive... i started to hear some bumping...but found out it was my spare tire...(doh),prob should bolt that guy down if i want to drive around with it right?

well...i guess i'm a messy kid...lol
http://www.msprotege.com/members/KZL_99ES/101_1048.JPG

this is why i kinda wish i was a full time mechanic! the dirtier i get the better i feel!!! :p

[Viralphrame]

At first i was afraid that it was too close to that other bar (name?) and it would hit it, but after a test drive... i started to hear some bumping...but found out it was my spare tire...(doh),prob should bolt that guy down if i want to drive around with it right?

Control arm. The bar shouldn't make contact if installed properly, seeing as the sway bar is designed to move up and down and is connected to the strut via the endlink. Same goes for the control arm (connected indirectly to the strut via the spindle).

That being said, if the strut moves, so does the sway bar, and so does the control arm. The two pieces should remain at a relative equidistance while driving.

[KZL_99ES]

yeah...that's kinda what i thought, but wasn't completely sure, thanks!

i just need to bolt down my spare tire...i usually have a load of random junk on top so i don't hear it...

[808MP5]

Awesome... how do you like it?
i was gonna get the AWR swaybar but the progress was bigger and cheaper...

[KZL_99ES]

yeah...i got mine off of a member, so wasn't that expensive...

ANYWAYS... i would have to say i completely love it!!!!

cornering is soooo much more fun! ...though when i go too fast, i have to turn out of the corner away from the edge of the road in order not to go off of it or running into the curb...anyone know what this is called?

[autoxes]

Push, or understeer

[KZL_99ES]

ahhh, well a little more driving around and i hope to get the hang of it!