Rear sway bar bolt stripped..... Ahhhhh

[xcmountain80]

T4R,

Need some help here, I was swapping rear sway bar bushings and as many may know the darn things never line up again. In 325k miles this is the second time I'm doing the bushings. I remember it giving me trouble the last time, this time during the reinstall the bolt fell out smoothed.

Should I tap and thread the hole the next size up or what.....?

 

[afg10000]

Same thing happened to me some time ago. The lower bolt an one of the welded brackets busted. If I recall we got the old broken one out of that pocket and put a new nut a bolt going the opposite way from the stock set-up. There's not much room at the bottom of that pocket but there is a small opening from the bottom. I think we took a flathead screwdriver from the bottom and a wrench from the top to finagle the new bolt into place. It was a pain but we didn't drill any new holes in the bracket. We were installing ES bushings that came with new brackets if that matters or helps -

 

[xcmountain80]

Same thing happened to me some time ago. The lower bolt an one of the welded brackets busted. If I recall we got the old broken one out of that pocket and put a new nut a bolt going the opposite way from the stock set-up. There's not much room at the bottom of that pocket but there is a small opening from the bottom. I think we took a flathead screwdriver from the bottom and a wrench from the top to finagle the new bolt into place. It was a pain but we didn't drill any new holes in the bracket. We were installing ES bushings that came with new brackets if that matters or helps -

Interesting fix ill give that a go and see what happens, thank you.

Ps what kind of dog is in your profile pick?

 

[afg10000]

that's our double-dapple dachshund. Glad I could be of some help.

 

[xcmountain80]

Well I'm afraid it sounded good but the clearance between the welded nut and the axle is tight, too tight. If I can break the weld on the weld nut I may be able to male some magic happen.

 

[afg10000]

Yep - my weld nut broke all by itself. You'll have to get that sucker out of there. I'm pretty good at breaking things. Once that's clear you should be able to utilize what little room there is inside of that weld bracket. Good luck sir -

 

[xcmountain80]

Both passenger side bolts decided to fail together apparently. I used a dremel to cut the weld a nut flush to the bracket then finished then off with a hammer and bladed screwdriver. Inserted a nut in the bracket, said a prayer then bolt thought through the new ES bushing and bracket and tad da it's done.

Aaron

 

[JWaldz]

what's this rear sway bar thing you speak of??

 

[afg10000]

Both passenger side bolts decided to fail together apparently. I used a dremel to cut the weld a nut flush to the bracket then finished then off with a hammer and bladed screwdriver. Inserted a nut in the bracket, said a prayer then bolt thought through the new ES bushing and bracket and tad da it's done.

Aaron

Awesome, man -glad it worked out

 

[xcmountain80]

what's this rear sway bar thing you speak of??

Stop ! I take it you removed yours long ago?

 

[JWaldz]

Yea I did. Every time I went wheeling it would bang around b/c the bushings were toast. Not to mention one of the end links were bent. So I just said screw it and took it all off.

 

[xcmountain80]

Mine is installed but awaiting WabFab end links. Had a little incident this afternoon on the interstate that made me wish it had been hooked up, may have saved a ton of dramatic body roll.....

 

[JohnsD90]

what's this rear sway bar thing you speak of??

It's a bar that follows the rear axles and connects to the frame via 2 mounts and 2 links to help reduce sway in the rear end of the vehicle, they came stock on these trucks.

 

[thardy]

Yea I did. Every time I went wheeling it would bang around b/c the bushings were toast. Not to mention one of the end links were bent. So I just said screw it and took it all off.

x2! Probably one of my favorite mods :bigok: that is until I finish my SAS this fall!

 

[JWaldz]

It's a bar that follows the rear axles and connects to the frame via 2 mounts and 2 links to help reduce sway in the rear end of the vehicle, they came stock on these trucks.

haha