Rear sway bar tools?

[Kain]

Tomorrow morning I'll be tackling the COBB rear sway bar on ramps. I'm one of those anal retentive people that needs to be prepared going in. Rather than putting the car on ramps, crawling underneath, realizing I don't have the right tools, cursing, crawling out from underneath, taking the car off ramps, etc. etc... does anyone know the wrenches needed for just this install? COBB's instructions are for both the FSB abd RSB combined. I figured I'd need an allen wrench for the endlink bolts, an open/box wrench for the endlink nuts, and sockets/wrenchs for the bushing brackets and plate bolts/nuts. Just don't know the sizes or if I'm missing anything. Thanks.

 

[BSTD3]

Kain:

I just did this install myself last weekend. You'll need (if I recall correctly), a 17mm & 10mm socket, 19mm open wrench for the end link bolts, 5mm allen wrench for the end links, some time, and patience.

The biggest PIA was trying to re-thread the sway bar bracket bolts back to the sub frame. I could get the lower one started, but the upper one was a b****. I partially blame this on my big hands.

Start to finish took me an hour, but I took my time and made sure everything was secure and tight. Also I used blue locktite on the sway bar bracket bolts and the endlink bolts. Heard too many horror stories about them backing out and causing issues.

Here's some pics I took:

 

[Kain]

Awesome, thanks. Good thing I asked since I don't have any 19mm wrenches. Does the 17mm socket need to be deep, and what's the 10mm for?

 

[mark404040]

i just use 14mm and 17mm wrenches, and 5mm Allen wrench. i don't know what's 10mm and 19mm for..

 

[fructus]

Get a set of crawfoot attachments for the torque wrench just so you would be able to torque the endlink bolts to the specs

 

[Kain]

i just use 14mm and 17mm wrenches, and 5mm Allen wrench. i don't know what's 10mm and 19mm for..

So you're saying the endlink nuts and the bracket bolts/nuts are 17mm, and the plate bolts are 14mm?

 

[Rotus8]

On mine, the bolts on the reinforcement plate were so heavily loctited in, I could not get them out even with an air impact driver. Warming them up with a propane torch did the trick; not too hot as to blister the paint, just warm enough to melt the loctite.

 

[Kain]

On mine, the bolts on the reinforcement plate were so heavily loctited in, I could not get them out even with an air impact driver. Warming them up with a propane torch did the trick; not too hot as to blister the paint, just warm enough to melt the loctite.

I plan on PB Blasting every bolt/nut tonight. I still have flashbacks of previous installs where so much time was wasted just trying to get stuff loose.

So... any confirmation on the wrench sizes need? Seem to be getting conflicting answers.

 

[Rotus8]

I don't think PB blaster will touch loctite.

 

[Kain]

Well, I've had PB Blaster undo high-temp red Loctite before, but I'll take your warning under advisement.

 

[ericrapp]

BSTD3, that cracks me up, the colors. I have Hotchkis bars and Cobb springs. Nice pics! Any hoo, no problems with 1/2" drive to remove for me and definitely use blue thread locker. Just bear in mind that the hardware should be free of oil such as PB or wd for the 242 locktite to adhere and cure. Any good suggestions on the appropriate lube intervals for bushings? Thanks

 

[BSTD3]

i just use 14mm and 17mm wrenches, and 5mm Allen wrench. i don't know what's 10mm and 19mm for..

Like I mentioned in my post, I am not 100% sure of the exact socket sizes needed.

I would suggest using a deep socket for the removal of the sway bar bracket bolts.

And yes, the bolts on the black plate were a BIEOTCH to get off. Didn't have a breaker bar, but used a rubber mallet with the socket wrench to get them undone.

Good luck!

 

[ericrapp]

I don't think PB blaster will touch loctite.

Sounds like the red 262, needs heat to loosen up.

 

[Kain]

Easiest. Install. Ever.

I guess I benefited from my car only being a month old and having never saw a winter because everything came off easily. Even the endlink nuts, which were torqued down fairly well, went off without much fuss.

Just for edification, it's 14mm for the plate and bracket bolts, 17mm for the endlink nuts and 5mm allen for the endlink bolts. Just needed an extension for the upper bracket bolts. Blue loctited the hell out of everything.

 

[FrequentFlyer]

So how does it handle?

 

[mark404040]

So you're saying the endlink nuts and the bracket bolts/nuts are 17mm, and the plate bolts are 14mm?

bracket bolts are 14mm, endlink bolts are 17mm.

 

[ericrapp]

Easiest. Install. Ever.

I guess I benefited from my car only being a month old and having never saw a winter because everything came off easily. Even the endlink nuts, which were torqued down fairly well, went off without much fuss.

Just for edification, it's 14mm for the plate and bracket bolts, 17mm for the endlink nuts and 5mm allen for the endlink bolts. Just needed an extension for the upper bracket bolts. Blue loctited the hell out of everything.

Congratulations.ha! A nice mod and a great performance upgrade! Now do the fronts and send me picture and anal how tos. I think I am going to do the springs and front bar on my own. yikes. It is kinda cool turning wrenches on your car, eh? i crawled under today and checked all hardware and the end links were fine for rear bar, i think the thread locker works ok. Have fun Kain!