sway bar end link bushing
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More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 527
Likes: 6
From: Jamestown Tn
sway bar end link bushing
I have the energy suspension bushing for the front and teh rear for my truck. I just replace the sway bar bushings today on the front sway bar and the rear sway bar. That went pretty simple. I then went to work on the fron end links and thats where it all stopped. After i removed it from the truck i thought i could pop it out and put in the new bushings. Guess not. So how do i get the old stuff out of the end links so i can put the new ones in? It looks like a metal ring around the outside around the metal sleeve that the bolt goes through. Can i purchase the links without the inserts? Since i have the poly ones to put in anyway. Any help would be great. It already rides much better just with the new sway bar bushings. I just want to complete the job. thanks Jeff
Hook it, I'll pull it.
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 15,037
Likes: 4
From: Grand Lake, La.
Lots of people here use a many ton press to press them out. I heard some drilling the rubber full of holes to get them out. Some even burned the rubber out, I don't think I would do that.
I am sure those that did this will chime in. I bought new end links and put them on.
I am sure those that did this will chime in. I bought new end links and put them on.
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More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 527
Likes: 6
From: Jamestown Tn
I may have access to a press to push them out. The only rubber i see is the piece around teh bolt itself which pops off. I think the rest of it has to be pushed out. Since i dont have a press myself i will have to try to arrange doing it at my friends shop so i can install the poly bushings. I was also wondering how long new replacement end links will last from ford if i had to go that route. Are they still only about 30k before they go bad again? To bad we cant buy these links without any bushing in them. thanks Jeff
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
From: Glendale, Az
Not sure about this application, I need to do it but havent had time yet.
BUT, I have done bushings before on Jeep sway bars and leaf springs on other applications.
Some people have luck burning them out like others posted, but use that as a last resort. The burn process is a PITA. You just about have to keep the tourch on them the entire time, or soak em in gas first. I wouldnt go this route. Plus the rubber is TOXIC when its burned.
If you could get your hands on a press, do it.
OR,
Take a drill bit that fits between the center metel sleeve (if it has one) and the outer metel sleeve. Drill all the way around, keeping the holes as close to each other as possible. Then pull the majority of the rubber out along with the center sleeve. If the outer sleeve still doesnt want to come out, use either a hack saw blade or a pnematic body saw and cut a groove in it and collapse the sleeve into its self with a hammer and a chisel. This is the way I would have to do bushings before I bought a 20 ton press.
I hope this helps. Post back and let us know how you got it.
BUT, I have done bushings before on Jeep sway bars and leaf springs on other applications.
Some people have luck burning them out like others posted, but use that as a last resort. The burn process is a PITA. You just about have to keep the tourch on them the entire time, or soak em in gas first. I wouldnt go this route. Plus the rubber is TOXIC when its burned.
If you could get your hands on a press, do it.
OR,
Take a drill bit that fits between the center metel sleeve (if it has one) and the outer metel sleeve. Drill all the way around, keeping the holes as close to each other as possible. Then pull the majority of the rubber out along with the center sleeve. If the outer sleeve still doesnt want to come out, use either a hack saw blade or a pnematic body saw and cut a groove in it and collapse the sleeve into its self with a hammer and a chisel. This is the way I would have to do bushings before I bought a 20 ton press.
I hope this helps. Post back and let us know how you got it.
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More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 527
Likes: 6
From: Jamestown Tn
well it seems i cant get the bushings out of the old sway bar links, so.. Im gonna buy 2 new ones from tousley ford (45 bucks each not too bad) and replace them. Also when i had the original ones out today I couldnt get the top bolt out for nothin, does it come out? i assume its frozen and it may as well be better to just get a new one as well. thanks for all your help Jeff.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,241
Likes: 1
From: Powder Springs, East TN
When we changed mine we tried the drill methoed but our drill was not powerful enough so we ended up getting a press and made it alot easier.
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Hook it, I'll pull it.
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 15,037
Likes: 4
From: Grand Lake, La.
well it seems i cant get the bushings out of the old sway bar links, so.. Im gonna buy 2 new ones from tousley ford (45 bucks each not too bad) and replace them. Also when i had the original ones out today I couldnt get the top bolt out for nothin, does it come out? i assume its frozen and it may as well be better to just get a new one as well. thanks for all your help Jeff.
The top bolt came on the new links. I could not get them off either. Jeff, like me I didn't want to go through all the trouble of taking the old bushings off and install new bushings on my links. If all things fail, do what you have to do. Thats what I did. Look at the link ends before you buy them, take them to your truck and make sure they are the same ones.
Good luck on this.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,298
Likes: 25
From: Damon (South East Texas)
well it seems i cant get the bushings out of the old sway bar links, so.. Im gonna buy 2 new ones from tousley ford (45 bucks each not too bad) and replace them. Also when i had the original ones out today I couldnt get the top bolt out for nothin, does it come out? i assume its frozen and it may as well be better to just get a new one as well. thanks for all your help Jeff.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,754
Likes: 1
From: Indianapolis
Anybody got any pics, or a link so I can see what you're buying? My truck has over 212,000 miles on the stock bushings, so between that and the cheap as "temporary" Sears shocks I put in over a year ago, she rides like crap- not like a truck- like crap.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,298
Likes: 25
From: Damon (South East Texas)
This is what most are replacing the stock link bushings with: Energy Suspension 4.5192 Complete Front Sway Bar Frame Bushings - 1-1/4 Inch (32mm)
I haven't used these yet, but will the next go round.
I haven't used these yet, but will the next go round.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,754
Likes: 1
From: Indianapolis
OK, now I see. I replaced my stock sway bar mount bushings (the U shaped blocks) about uhh, maybe 20 or 30 k ago, but the dealer parts guy didn't give me the right size. Having a early 99 dually can be a real pain in the *** when it comes to getting parts...
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