Need help with sway bar bushings

[Volley]

Ok I know this should be an easy enough DIY maintenance item but mine appear to be fighting back...

1. Front bushings. Mine are toast but can't get the brackets off. Can't get the bolts to budge! Tried pb blaster, vise gribs, everything. Any tips to getting them off?

2. Rear bushings. Figured out why one of mine wasn't going on. The top hole on one side is completely stripped somehow, no thread at all to grab too (probably why previous owner only had the bottom bolt installed. Truck feels like crap with only 1 side firmly attached. Any idea how to fix this? Didn't have any luck trying to tap it.

Appreciate any help. I'm really not as noob as I sound lol!

Thanks!

 

[denverunner]

so, the front ones I can speak....



(looking at the vehicle sideways) IIRC, one bolt on each half of the bracket is actually welded, so theres no way in hell you'd be able to grab the bolt and move it....... but it doesn't mean you can't move the nut.

if you figured that out and still no luck, try torching them

 

[4-Ripcord]

so, the front ones I can speak....



(looking at the vehicle sideways) IIRC, one bolt on each half of the bracket is actually welded, so theres no way in hell you'd be able to grab the bolt and move it....... but it doesn't mean you can't move the nut.

if you figured that out and still no luck, try torching them

Mhmm. On the front brackets, one has the bolt welded with the nut that comes off and the other has the nut welded with the bolt that comes off. On both, they are removed from the top, so you need to get a socket up in there.

On the rear. I dont know, try tapping a bigger size thread then getting a bigger bolt.

 

[Volley]

I'll give the front anther shot with the torch, just would really hate for it to break off....grrrr

 

[TheDurk]

I'll give the front anther shot with the torch, just would really hate for it to break off....grrrr

I lost both of mine. The studs snapped on both despite major PB blaster action. Good news...they aren't very expensive.

 

[jakknz]

Get out your die grinder or angle grinder or torch and go to town. Just get an aftermarket set - much simpler than trying to reuse what you got. I had to cut off the bolts for the sway bar end links and the bushing brakets on my beast due to rust.

 

[im4u2nvss]

Get out your die grinder or angle grinder or torch and go to town. Just get an aftermarket set - much simpler than trying to reuse what you got. I had to cut off the bolts for the sway bar end links and the bushing brakets on my beast due to rust.

Like jakknz said, cut them off and get a new set.