bB2NER

I just clamped vise grips in the middle and removed the upper and lower nuts and they came right out. To prevent squeking just use some with lube on the part of the bushings that touch the swaybar. I didn't even need to jack up either side to put them in but it gives you more room to work. After they are in and tightened up the same amount I cut off the extra amount of bolt so it didn't stick down too far. No squeak at all.

swede

Cool thanks! Is there specific grease for bushings? Which type of lube is best for bushings?

Has anyone put in polyurathane bushings on the rear shock towers? Do you have to take the shock out, or is it just a matter of taking of the two top bolts and then installing the bushings and then screwing the bolts back on?

bB2NER

I just use the white lithium grease for bushings.

The rear shocks have a funky size bushing and isn't really necessary to change. Just change out the stock shocks for the Monroe Sensatracs for a nicer ride.

swede

Lithium grease huh? Sounds good! thanks for the info, I just got the TRD shocks and struts a few weeks ago.

bB2NER

hopefully the TRDs will ride as smoothly as the Monroes do.

swede

Not sure if the TRD's are better than the Monroes, but they are a lot better than the stock ones........

Now hopefully I will get the end link bushings soon

"Keep the rubber side down"

swede

Okay I am ready to install the new bushings. Just to make sure......Do I need to jack the car up?

I just unscrew the top and bottom bolts on the stock bushings.

Then do the stock bushings and bolt come out easily, or will I need to push the sway bar up to get them out, if the car is not jacked up?

I put the new bushings and washer inbetween the control arm and the sway bar.

Put a bushing on top of sway bar then Slide in the bolt and washer , put bushing on bottom of control arm with washer and screw on the nut.

If the car is not jacked up will I need to push the sway bar up inorder to get the stock bushings out and put in the new ones.

Other than wrenches, are there any other tools that I will need. Such as jack and jack stands.

pandaslayer

jack the car up, put it on stands.

unbolt the endlinks, loading the control arm will help (jack the control arm up.

xBHAWK

Yes, I would recomend using the jack stands and removing the front wheels. You may need to yank that sway bar up to remove the OEM bolt. I had to use a bar for leverage to get that old bolt with bushing flares (or flanges) off. If the car is on the ground, this may be harder to do.

Bolt head, washer, bushing, swaybar, bushing, washer, washer, bushing, control arm, bushing washer, nylock nut. That is the order from top to bottom.

The OEM bolt has a square part to allow a 10MM wrench to hold it as you unbolt both the top and the bottom.

See photos in this thread and you should be fine.

pandaslayer

if you look in this thread, basically all of your questions were answered earlier.

swede

Got It, Thanks

swede

I noticed that some pics posted have a spacer inbetween the new bushings and some don't. Which is closer to OEM? Will the control arm and sway bar still be parallel if I dont add a spacer.?

I am installing the bushings tomorrow. I got the 4 inch grade 8 bolts washers and bushings, But I dont have any spacer for the middle, Is a spacer really needed?

I am thinking that a spacer is not needed, because it would make the sway bar higher than OEM since the new bushings are way bigger than the stock rubber ones. Comments?

bB2NER

Due to the extra height of the new bushings use ONLY the washers. No spacers at all. If you use a spacer the bar won't sit at the right angle.

swede

Sounds Good! Yeah thats what I was leaning towards. Thanks Man!
By the way how long did it take ya to install?

bB2NER

about half an hour.

swede

Oh thats not long at all, Perfect!

jct

heh now swapping out your sway bar bushings with out dropping the k-member is an whole other story... been there dones that don't wanna do it again ever

swede

what's the K-member? The sway bar bushings are different than the endlink bushings..........

bB2NER

Hornet, don't start that. He's freaked out enough just doing the endlinks.

swede

Yeah go easy on me, I'm the Newbie! ha ha