muffaburn

So I went out a bought some jack stands. Jacked up the car using a hydraulic jack to it's highest height (used front caenter jack point) and still could not fit the jack stands underneath the car. My car is lowered with H&R springs. Ramps won't work either. Any suggestion how I can get enough height and clearance so I can use the jack stand to install the sway bars?

Whizzbomb

I hate the same problem. Don't use the center jack point and don't use stands. Only lift one side from the jack point closest to the front wheel as high as it will go. Took me almost 2 hours to figure that out.

Good luck.

Joe

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

Put a 2x4 under the jack so you'll get some extra height.

Pure Adrenaline

iTrader: (2)

I tried that one time, and the jack didn't clear the front body kit piece.







muffa --

Go buy shorter jack stands, or a taller jack. My jack lifts up the car high enough to put the jack stands in.

subtledreamer

that would be the logical way out.

muffaburn

Will this throw my alignment off having so much pressure on each opposite wheel at one time?

muffaburn

I was gonna try the 2x4 deal (I don't have a body kit so it should clear, may be tight though)
I did not know they sold shorter jack stands, I may look into that since I returned the ones that didn't fit. I really did not want to buy another hydraulic jack since I already have one.
Thanks for the advise guys, any more suggestions appreciated...

muffaburn

any other suggestions???

joseph_99tl

dude....go get a hydraulic floor pump friggin jack thing...
then you'll get the height u need.

one more thing...to get the front sway out....unbolt it..rotate it backwards.
so it points the opposite way.

trust me.
u can do it with 1 side jacked up.

but you need a floor jack.

muffaburn

"dude" I do have a hydraulic floor jack already. I am just worried about all the weight being on the opposite wheel, won't it throw off my alignment?
Is that how you installed yours?

joseph_99tl

sorry about the 'dude' remark.

but you do have set the car high on one side.
it's will seem high.
u definitely have to over jack it.

muffaburn

No problem, I thought it was kinda funny cuz I say it all the time.

Anyhow since I see you and Whiz did it one side at a time I will try it. I'm still concerned about the weight on the opposite wheel throwing off my alignment.
Also, after you rotated the old bar backwards how did you slide it out?

Excuse all the questions but I like to know everything before I run into any issues while doing the install.

fsttyms1

ok for starters are your jack stands not adjustable? if not get a pair that are

i would go get a good floor jack to start with. mine lifts a little over 18 inches. it will lift the car high enough to put jack stands at almost full height under the side lift points.

if you insist on using yours, lift one side at a time. when its at its full height place a jack stand under the lower subframe (the black part that goes around the bottom of the engine compartment) lifting 1 side at a time WONT hurt any thing.

i would still recomend getting a bigger and better jack something like this. (if your dead set against this brand, get something similar with the largest lifting pad possible http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes

muffaburn

I was hopeing you would chime in. I returned the jack stands, gonna run to pep boys in a few minutes hopeing to find a shorter set. The one's I had were adjustable but even at the lowest setting they would not fit. I think my current hydraulic floor jack only lifts about 13" (I think).
I'm glad to find out that I wont throw my alignment off

fsttyms1

my craftsman jack stands go from 11 to 17inches. i got them thrown in with my jack at sears

muffaburn

So I got the car up and removed the front endlinks (those things took me all day to remove, wd40 didn't help). Now the issue is fishing the sway bar out, tried for about a half hour and got fed up. I tried rotating it backwards like someone suggested but just could not get it. I think maybe the car needs to be lifted even higher for some reason. I thought this was going to be an easy mod (probably is with the car higher) and i am pretty mechanically inclined but this has become a pain in the ass. I'm sure I will be satifiying upon completion with knowing I did it myself and performance but damn....Any more tips on snaking the bar out appreciated

joseph_99tl

u need a good bit clearance.
but u definutely have to rotate the bar and at the same time
pull it out towards you.
it is hard.
it took me about an hour.

the key is to rotate and pull it out.
as you pull it out..you're going to turning the bar horizontal to the car.

but keep trying.

joseph_99tl

u have to loosen both sides then go back to one side and pull it out.
block the wheels.
pull the bar towards you as much as you can so the
you have room to rotate the bar on the
side of the car that is not jacked.

try to move the bar towards the back of the car...if i remember..
there is a little more space slightly back from where it is mounted.

joseph_99tl

let us know how you are doing!..
the rear is easy.

also...to bolt the new bar in...
you will need another jack to push up the lower control arm, to get the
endlinks back on...and t0 get the brackets bolted back on.

hth

muffaburn

Thanks for the info. Another question, I had to lower and move my car out of the garage so my wife's car can fit, and i am going to have to do the same again in a few minutes when I proceed with the install did this hurt anything by driving a few yards?
The only other jack i have is the stock one will that suffice for the control arm
I'm thinking i should have paid someone to do this install.
Any folks in the Atlanta area that can come buy and give me a hand would be great (figured i would ask)

muffaburn

i know the specs say to torque to 28lbs is this really necessary? is it just the bushing bracket screws that have to be torqued or is it the endlink bolts as well? hope it's not the endlinks as well I can forsee it being a bitch to get in that tight spot with the torque wrench.
Need answers, gonna continue with the install at noon (gotta watch Maury first)

joseph_99tl

just tighten them down nice and tight.

also, the endlinks are a bitch.
i had to cut my rears endlinks off and buy new one.
stupid allen key setup!.


did u get the front sway out?.

muffaburn

gonna start at noon (eastern time)
The front bar is just hanging right now
So did i f**k anything up by driving a few yards? I'm gonna have to move the car again back to the middle of the garage

joseph_99tl

no..

muffaburn

Still haveing problems sliding the bar out what a pain in the ass. I have both sides jacked up right now, one side with the hydraulic and the other side with the stock jack, a little dangerous at this point

muffaburn

i got it!!!!! what a bitch. Now how to remember how the new one will go in.

muffaburn

Finally done. I noticed gaps in the endlinks are those suppose to be there? I tightened the endlinks as much as I could. I will post a pic of what I am talking in a little while. About to go on a test drive

Pure Adrenaline

iTrader: (2)

Good shit. Glad to hear that you got it done. Feels great to have done it yourself, doesn't it?

Make sure to tighten the endlinks well; otherwise you will get some clunking noises every time you hit a bump.

muffaburn

just came from a test drive no clunking. Yes is does feel good, would I do it again hellz no, I will pay someone that will have it done in a hour instead of 6

joseph_99tl

that it is correct.
there is alittle space onthe endlink.
it does not butt up against the ball on the endlink.
and i was wrong.
there is a little space forward...i think i removed the 02 bung wire because i was afraid to bump it.

joseph_99tl

did u have leave one side on the ground and jack the other side.
it had to be dangerous with both sides of the car up.

muffaburn

Here is the endlink gap photo

muffaburn

It was scary at first to have the hydraulic floor jack on one side and the shitty stock jack on the other. Both jacks were cranked up all the way, but they did the job. Thanks to all of you for the info and help, especially you Joe.

muffaburn

As far as my test drive, since it was a little wet I did not go thru any twisty's not to mention my wife was in the car and she hates my driving as it is and I didn't feel like hearing "slow down"- blah blah blah. I did go over a couple of speed bumps and rumble strips and no clunking. Hopefully today I will get a chance to do a real test drive.

fsttyms1

congrats! if ya lived closer i would have done it for ya

Tom Blasing

If anyone reading this needs a good deal on a jack, Sears has one that's more than up for the job at half off!! Although it's not a 4-ton like what fsttyms1 suggested is till a good deal at $50.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ..._BCFLYjAVgLysI

Note- it does NOT have the one pump feature before it meets the chassie.

Another Note- If your worried about dinging, scratching or denting your ride with the handle put a long section of water pipe insulation around the handle. The kind that is split longways can be found at most hardware stores for a couple bucks.