Help installing front sway bar endlinks?

[ShooterMcGavin]

I bought some heavy duty front sway bar endlinks to finally get my front sway bar reinstalled. However, the bushings on it are thick enough that I cannot get some threads exposed for the nut to grab onto. Take a look at the pictures. Can someone suggest a way for me to get the bushings compressed enough to get the nut onto it? I could cut one of the bushings, but that is the last thing I want to do.

Here is the endlink without the top washer.


Here it is with the washer on the top bushing. There is nothing for the nut to thread onto.

 

[Guyver192]

I would put a jack under and apply small amount of pressure to the lower control arm not enough to lift the truck but it should compress the bushing enough. If that does not work a big pry bar on top putting pressure on the sway bar itself with the jack keeping the lower control arm steady.

 

[LeeMajors]

My completely inelegant solution was to use a pair of channel locks to grasp both washers and compress them enough to get it threaded. It was a total pain in the ass.

I think I used the exact same set.

I bought some heavy duty front sway bar endlinks to finally get my front sway bar reinstalled. However, the bushings on it are thick enough that I cannot get some threads exposed for the nut to grab onto. Take a look at the pictures. Can someone suggest a way for me to get the bushings compressed enough to get the nut onto it? I could cut one of the bushings, but that is the last thing I want to do.

Here is the endlink without the top washer.


Here it is with the washer on the top bushing. There is nothing for the nut to thread onto.

 

[catrains]

put a C clamp on the sway bar to push it down . you only need a small amount to compress the rubber bushings .

 

[MStudt]

My completely inelegant solution was to use a pair of channel locks to grasp both washers and compress them enough to get it threaded. It was a total pain in the ass.

I think I used the exact same set.

put a C clamp on the sway bar to push it down . you only need a small amount to compress the rubber bushings .

Nope, and nope. Do not do either of these.

Follow this: remove tube, loosen bottom nut, install top nut, tighten bottom nut accordingly, and then install the tube.

 

[tx_shooter]

I just installed my quick disconnects last week. They were not extremely easy but did not require C clamps or anything like that. I installed the end to the sway bar first, then the lower link connection, then managed to get the tube and connectors between the two. That was the only part that was not simple for me.

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

Nope, and nope. Do not do either of these.

Follow this: remove tube, loosen bottom nut, install top nut, tighten bottom nut accordingly, and then install the tube.

Thanks. That sounds like the solution. I'll get that done today.