Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Suspension/Steering => Topic started by: 86 night cat on October 03, 2007, 04:58:24 PM

Title: part name?
Post by: 86 night cat on October 03, 2007, 04:58:24 PM
ok, i know i am really showing my ignorance here, but what is the name of this part?(sorry for lifting your pic TC, put your's was so much better than any i tried to take of mine) my bottom bushing is almost completely gone and i need to know the name of the part. it doesn't look too terrible to replace. does it just unbolt the old and bolt up the new?
Title: part name?
Post by: turboranger91 on October 03, 2007, 05:00:42 PM
thats the sway bar end link.
Title: part name?
Post by: gumby on October 03, 2007, 05:14:43 PM
Quote from: 86 night cat;180591
does it just unbolt the old and bolt up the new?


pretty much yes. you will want to be sure you tighten the new ones up with weight on the suspension.
if you do both sides at the same time, it is much easier to re-install them as well.
Title: part name?
Post by: blu84302 on October 03, 2007, 05:28:46 PM
in the autozone system it's called a "stablizer link kit"
Title: part name?
Post by: Thunder Chicken on October 03, 2007, 05:38:04 PM
If the car has ever seen salt it's more likely that you'll break it trying to remove the nut. No matter, as the kit comes with everything you need. Like Gumby said, do both sides, and do 'em both at once. If you try to do just one side you'll end up trying to twist the sway bar to get the new one in place. The sway bar is supposed to twist, but it's also supposed to resist twisting, so
you'll just create extra work.

The parts are cheap, too, BTW. I think I paid $20 or $30 for the Energy Suspension kit from CHE
Title: part name?
Post by: Sduneman3 on October 03, 2007, 10:43:40 PM
A Crow Bar and another body make it easier installing just the one.
Title: part name?
Post by: gumby on October 03, 2007, 10:50:04 PM
seriously???

if you NEED to install jus one for whatever reason, support the car by the chassis so both control arms hang free. unbolt the side that needs replaced, and lift the opposite side's LCA with a jack. this will raise the sta-bar, allowing room to work on the original side.
Title: part name?
Post by: JeremyB on October 03, 2007, 10:58:52 PM
Your current set looks like it isn't on tight enough. I think the torque called for is ~12 ft-lb. I used an in-lb torque wrench to get it to spec. It was a lot tighter than I expected. My rubber end links looked like yours before I tightened them correctly.
Title: part name?
Post by: Thunder Chicken on October 04, 2007, 09:27:54 AM
You mean the ones in that pic above? That's my car :hick: and it's definitely tight enough - overtight if anything (I used a 3/8" impact gun to install 'em). It doesn't look like that when the suspension is loaded...
Title: part name?
Post by: 86 night cat on October 04, 2007, 11:14:45 PM
lmao....
Title: part name?
Post by: 86 night cat on October 04, 2007, 11:16:04 PM
thanks guys, i appreciate it. i'm going to do this this weekend.
Title: part name?
Post by: jcassity on October 05, 2007, 01:53:11 AM
those poly sway bar bushings look worn.
Title: part name?
Post by: Thunder Chicken on October 05, 2007, 09:08:11 AM
Quote from: jcassity;180959
those poly sway bar bushings look worn.

Nope, brand new, never had a mile put on 'em (at that point) :shakeass: