Replacing sway bar bushings (P.I.A.)

[Steino]

After 112 thousand miler, what a pain it is trying to replace worn out sway bar rubber bushings!! Looking at it, I'm assuming that the two 13mm bolts need to be removed, but it's impossible to get a wrench to the nuts on the back bolt. Any advise?

[mdcluth]

STEINO, just got done last week doing mine, both front and back. It was one of the easiest jobs you can do underneath a MK VII.
Jack the car up and put blocks under the tires (to put the weight back on the tires, but give you room to work). Block behind the other tires to prevent rolling.
Three of the four end links, (two in front, two in back) were broken from rust and stress. I had to use a vise grip pliers to hold the link in the middle, and a 13MM wrench on the other end. Those snapped also. I then removed the broken pieces through the holes, and was ready to install the new ones.
I just tightened the new ones until I saw about six threads showing, (nut end on top), or it felt firm. Maje sure the bushings seat squarely into the ends of the sway bar.
I used Urethane bushings in from for the larger sway bar, and standard rubber ones in back. Took a total of 20 minutes to do front, and 15 for back. Total cost was $26, and the difference in cornering is amazing, (which it should be compared to floating sway bar).

[black 91 lsc-se]

curious why you didn't go with the larger sway bar, and where you can get the larger sway bar and/or poly bushings. thanks!

[Steino]

I'm having a hard time locating a larger sway bar. I saw some Addco (?) replacement bushings - are those any good?

1990 LSC

[Lscman]

Pep Boys and Auto Zone both sell the complete poly ADDCo end link kits in burgundy color for about $13/pr with all metal parts. They are same as '85-'93 Mustang 5.0L. The correct big 1-5/16" obsolete front bar is from an ('87-'88 ONLY) T-Bird Turbo Coupe and the rear bar is ADDCo #415. There are NO good substitutes and they should be installed as a matched set for good balance. Installing only the rear bar will cause dangerously tailhappy oversteer and wheelspin in turns while the big front bar by itself will cause a serious understeer/plow/push. In either "unbalanced" case, the car will be slower in the corners than stock although it might "feel" tighter.