Edit: Sway Bars Links & Bushes

[RBwhatever]

Edited 16/10/07: As per post#14

Ok update time.

When I received the sway bars they didn't come with new bushes for the sway bar linkages so I had to use the stocker ones.

Anyway I was under the car the other week and had a look at my rear sway bar linkage bushes and they had deteriorated quite a bit and started splitting. So I thought well I suppose its time to get new bushes in there. I didn't have a look at the ones on the front sway bar.

I rolled down to repco and asked for some linkage bushes for the rear, and sure enough they had some. Pack of 8 Nolathane linkage bushes for twenty something odd dollars. While I was there I inquired whether I should do the front ones too.

Anyway he looks it up and stuff in the Nolathane catalogue and says you can only get new linkages if you what to freshen it up. It was a universal ball joint sway bar linkages, so I ended up buying that too while I was there. It retails for about $100 for a front set.

Now that I've got them, I had a look at the photo's of when I fitted up the bars, and its got me thinking whether there's any need to change the front sway bar linkages at all, as it seem there's no linkage bushes on them at all.

So my question is, Do I need to even change the front links? Are the stock ones good for the life of the car?

Hi people,

I got a set of Whiteline fixed stabilizer bars off the GB for a 33. I just needed to know how long it would take to fit both front and rear bars.

I'm assuming it would be a straight bolt off bolt on job without removing other components eg. exhaust. I've only got about 3hrs to play with

on the weekend to try and fit it. Is that enough time? I'll be using ramps to get under the car too.

Cheers

Edited October 16, 2007 by KeyMaker

[Sydneykid]

Around 20 minutes each bar for someone who has done them before, double that for inexperience. It's a car and, as usual, sometimes shit happens, rusted nuts etc that take a little longer. But bars are pretty easy, not a lot to go wrong there.

cheers

[yogi000]

took me approx 2.5 hours in total.....i had a bitch of time getting the front one on due to the bush thingi fitting into the D clip. rear was fairly easy.

rattle gun helps too.

[RBwhatever]

Thanks guys, I'll see how I go I suppose

[lukits01]

I couldn't get the front ones into the softest setting, the angle on the links was just too much

Any tips on how to get this done?

[siddr20]

Take some pics if you can.. keen to see how it all fits..

cheers

[CEF11E]

I couldn't get the front ones into the softest setting, the angle on the links was just too much

Any tips on how to get this done?

grease the saddle bushes and put them over the swaybar and screw the saddles 1 or 2 turns in so they are only just holding the swaybar.

With the links screw the nyloc nut in till it is 1 full rotation past locking. you should now have enough leaverage to use the softest blade setting. once it is all in tighten it up

[RBwhatever]

Got them on. Took me about 3hrs. The front ones were the hardest to get on. Some the bolts were pretty hard to get off. Had to use a breaker bar on some of them. If you've got a cheapo socket set, its guaranteed to wreck the ratchet. Make sure you've got a heavy duty ratchet to do the job and an extension or two as well. Rattle gun would be even better.

Rear ones were easy as.

On the front I had to take that big arm off that bolts on just below the D bracket so I could access the other bolt on the D bracket. Getting the arm on and off was a mongrel. I used a rubber mallet and a big screwdriver to bring the bush around to fit the arm back on. That was about the hardest part of the job getting those arms out and back in.

Results: Noticed the difference straight away on the road. A lot more responsive, better turn in , heaps more grip and its cut out a lot of the body roll.

I didn't get a photo of the front bar fitted, but its the same as the stocker anyway.

Pics:

[siddr20]

Cheers for the pics dude!!

So you noticed vast amounts of improvements? thats good to hear then!!

[RBwhatever]

Cheers for the pics dude!!

So you noticed vast amounts of improvements? thats good to hear then!!

No worries, the pics didn't seem to upload in order.

Yeah there was a huge improvement. Best handling mod for its price.

[nizmo_freek]

No worries, the pics didn't seem to upload in order.

Yeah there was a huge improvement. Best handling mod for its price.

Just wondering how much they set you back mate? considering getting some for myself ,allthough i should probally buy some decent wheels and tyres 1st lol.

Edited March 26, 2007 by nizmo_freek

[RBwhatever]

$--- delivered from Sydneykid's groupbuy. It'll be more if you want adjustable. I couldn't be bothered going adjustable as I never hit the track.

I'm not sure how much on delivery to NZ though.

Edited January 12, 2008 by KeyMaker

[nizmo_freek]

Cheers, seems like a very decent price.

[RBwhatever]

Ok update time.

When I received the sway bars they didn't come with new bushes for the sway bar linkages so I had to use the stocker ones.

Anyway I was under the car the other week and had a look at my rear sway bar linkage bushes and they had deteriorated quite a bit and started splitting. So I thought well I suppose its time to get new bushes in there. I didn't have a look at the ones on the front sway bar.

I rolled down to repco and asked for some linkage bushes for the rear, and sure enough they had some. Pack of 8 Nolathane linkage bushes for twenty something odd dollars. While I was there I inquired whether I should do the front ones too.

Anyway he looks it up and stuff in the Nolathane catalogue and says you can only get new linkages if you what to freshen it up. It was a universal ball joint sway bar linkages, so I ended up buying that too while I was there. It retails for about $100 for a front set.

Now that I've got them, I had a look at the photo's of when I fitted up the bars, and its got me thinking whether there's any need to change the front sway bar linkages at all, as it seem there's no linkage bushes on them at all.

So my question is, Do I need to even change the front links? Are the stock ones good for the life of the car?

[RBwhatever]

Anyone? I need to know so I can return these these front linkages I bought if I need to.

Cheers.

[RBwhatever]

They're a ball jointed linkage, as far as I can see they're not going to wear out really quickly. There's no rubber/urethane bushes on the front linkages to wear out.

I think I'll take them back.

[bumble_bee]

sweet, they are the same swaybars im gettin for my skyline 2mrw..

27mm on front, and 23mm on rear...

both non-adjustable..

havent got the bars yet..there at the shops.but are ur hollow or solid?

[bumble_bee]

yeah, ive got my 27mm front whiteline swaybar fitted now...

made so much difference..

feels like a 30% better feel on the steering itself..

its great ad handles so much better..

worth the buy...

[made_guy]

yeah, ive got my 27mm front whiteline swaybar fitted now...

made so much difference..

feels like a 30% better feel on the steering itself..

its great ad handles so much better..

worth the buy...

how much was the 27mm swaybar? i only see the 24mm one on the SK groupbuy thread?? pm me if you want

[RBwhatever]

sweet, they are the same swaybars im gettin for my skyline 2mrw..

27mm on front, and 23mm on rear...

both non-adjustable..

havent got the bars yet..there at the shops.but are ur hollow or solid?

Mine were solid