front sway bar help

keywestjack

keywestjack

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 24, 2008
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258
I am reinstalling my 7/8 sway bar with Energy Suspension bushings but I cant get the top washer and nut on the link bolt (just not enough bolt). The bolt measures 5 and 1/2 inches. Am I missing something? I can get a longer bolt, stainless 6 inches but I don't know thats the right thing to do. Your help and suggestions would be appreciated as always. Jack
 
IF this is only on one side, with the other side attached, make sure the ride height is the same, if one is in a higher mode than the other from being jacked unevenly, you can't get enough bolt on it...car has to set level...

:clobbered:
 
It is sitting level, atleast it looks level. Do you know if the sway bar link bolts are 5 1/2 inches?
 
The threaded portion on mine is 5 3/4". The rubber bushings are 1/2" compressed. The nut is about 3/4" down the bolt when tightened.
 
My wife says I keep too much s--t. Well this time it paid off. I measured the old bolts (dah, you think I would have thought of that earlier) any way, they measured 7 inches. No wonder the 5 1/2 from energy suspension did not work. Now the question is should I buy two 7inch from McMaster Carr in stainless? Tensile strengh is 70,000 psi. Again, I really think you guys know your stuff, what do you think?
 
Last edited:
keywestjack said:
My wife says I keep too much s--t. Well this time it paid off. I measured the old bolts (dah, you think I would have thought of that earlier) any way, they measured 7 inches. No wonder the 5 1/2 from energy suspension did not work. Now the question is should I buy two 7inch from McMaster Carr in stainless? Tensile strengh is 70,000 psi. Again, I really think you guys know your stuff, what do you think?
Click to expand...

If you use a stainless bolt, don't use a stainless nut. Sometimes stainless on stainless will gall and basically weld together.
 
The 6 1/2 bolt worked great. My only lingering concern is that it is not a grade 8. It has a 70,000 psi tinsel strength so I guess I am good.
 
keywestjack said:
The 6 1/2 bolt worked great. My only lingering concern is that it is not a grade 8. It has a 70,000 psi tinsel strength so I guess I am good.
Click to expand...

Yeh, that's funny, a couple 3/8 bolts with only maybe 1/4 inch of steel after the threads in the center there, and we lift engines with that all the time....

but I have never broken a bolt doing that yet....

:quote:
 
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