Reinstalling front sway bar bushing bracket

[boomer]

Anybody have any tips on how to reinstall the bracket that holds the sway bar bushing into the notch on the sub-frame?The passenger side bracket went in with the help of a floor jack,but the driver's side slips out when any pressure is applied to the end that gets bolted on.

[mattdk318i]

it takes a combination of jacking up the car on one side or another until you get some "slack"
then it seems to pop right in for me

[boomer]

Thanks Matt.Since my car is on jackstands,I tried jacking up the control arm,but that didn't work either.

[NOMAD]

I had both endlinks undone, lifted one bracket straight up into the slot and rotated it in place. It was about 1/2" away so I took vicegrips and clamped it to the mount which let me install the bolt and nut.

On the other side I did the same thing but it was harder as the bar needed to be in the right spot or it would torque the sway shackle a little so the bolt wouldn't enter. A little wiggling with the vicegrips and pounding with a hammer moved the shackle into the right spot.

[gearheadE30]

I used a pair of vicegrips to hold the bracket up and a long screwdriver to pry it into position using the bolt hole so that it would line up.

[boomer]

Thanks guys.Between the floor jack,vice grips and screwdriver, I should have better luck installing that bushing.

[VAPORBLADE]

haha! I am doing this now, but the HR bushings, and the rusty stock brackets are not helping me out too much. I think I need a new set of brackets. :(

[NOMAD]

They are not too expensive but why don't you take a few minutes to sand them down and hit them with some paint?
The bushing didn't go into the bracket all the way, even with a shot of grease, so that made it a little harder. The process of bolting it into the frame pushes everything together and makes the bushing tight in the bracket.

[etxxz]

^ no

I used a pair of vicegrips to hold the bracket up and a long screwdriver to pry it into position using the bolt hole so that it would line up.

+1
yes

[VAPORBLADE]

They are not too expensive but why don't you take a few minutes to sand them down and hit them with some paint?
The bushing didn't go into the bracket all the way, even with a shot of grease, so that make it a little harder. Bolting it intot he frame pushes everything together and makes it all tight.

Ya - not in New England. :( Crap got in there and it has just turned to a rusted mass.

[VAPORBLADE]

I am still working on this - PITA. On jackstands - H&R bar and bushings - but it calls for stock brackets/clamps.

[VAPORBLADE]

Had to use the floor jack - and I really didn't want to, but it was all I could do.

[NOMAD]

^ no

Not sure what you are disagreeing with. I said the same thing about using vicegrips to line it up.

It was about 1/2" away so I took vicegrips and clamped it to the mount which let me install the bolt and nut.

That seems to be the best way to get it all hooked up.

[Maluco]

on the vert I got em on with a combination of two pry bar action, on the coupe said fk it and used the floor jack... (but only after giving myself a black eye from the bar shooting it's way lose and landing on my outer eye socket) OUCH!!!!!

[jlevie]

Are you guys trying to do this with the end links attached? Don't do it that way. Leave both end links off until the sway bar is mounted to the car and you won't have to fight anything. Once the bar is mounted and with both wheels in the air re-connecting the links is simple and easy.