Growing up doesn't have to suck

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iamdub

iamdub

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Finally messed around with that damned front sway bar.


Left: Aftermarket OEM replacement for stock height with poly bushings. Middle: 1.5" shorter aftermarket link with thermoplastic bushings. Right: Same shorter version with spacer removed and poly bushings from OEM replacement, making it a total of 3" shorter than the stock height

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I wanted to try the poly bushings since they were a little shorter and probably more solid than the thermoplastic ones. I took it a step further and removed the cupped washers between the two center bushings to make the mounting point centers even closer:

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Installed. I used the cupped washers as spacers since the bolt is too long and I had barely ran out of thread. This was still mostly for mock-up and to locate the bar so I could focus on the real work which was relocating the frame mounts:

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After checking the bar for centering, this is where the mounts fell out:

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I checked some specific clearances when locating the mounts. A 7/16" drill bit fit snugly in the bushing U-bracket, so I was able to make some accurate centering marks:

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iamdub

iamdub

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Double-checking the bolt's positioning with the drill's centered mark. The threaded boss for the original location is thick and takes up a lot of room above that frame pad. I wanted the bolt head to fall out between that boss and vertical wall of the frame pad so it'd hold the bolt from spinning. This took a lot of thinking, feeling around, eyeballing, etc. But, it all worked out. I didn't think I'd have any hardware to actually get this finished. But I found four 3/8" Grade 8 bolts, some washers, etc. and got it all together:

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Since I had the front sway bar all bolted up again, I could raise the lift and replace the washers in the rear U-brackets with the spacers @89Suburban made for me when he had to make some for his new bushings (Bless his soul for doing twice the work!):

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Stopped to check on things after some aggressive slalom action. The end link bushings seem fine. I have shorter bolts and lock nuts on the shopping list for them. Also will be getting shorter bolts and better spacers for the U-brackets. The bar is MUCH flatter than before:

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Thought about getting new bushings, but I'm not gonna bother. Not yet, anyway. Lemme see if I can eff these up then I'll reassess:

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While checking things with the flashlight, I stuck it and my phone between the wheel spokes to get an overhead shot of the rear bar's clearance between the panhard mount and shock:

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Up next is just replacing the hardware with more appropriate pieces. I'll try to get it all this week between jobs.
 

Caddylack

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I can't even comprehend having a solid bar with virtually no end links.

I feel like that says a lot about how beefy your rear bar is. I would expect major understeer.
 
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iamdub

iamdub

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I can't even comprehend having a solid bar with virtually no end links.

I feel like that says a lot about how beefy your rear bar is. I would expect major understeer.

I've only kinda tested it. It was at night and on a road that follows a curvy bayou. Locals know it as "Snake Road" for obvious reasons. I have new bushings on the way and will replace all them stupidly long bolts. Then I'll find a safe place to really test. There's a few places I already know of from past jaunts.
 

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