CDLong Posted June 2 Share Posted June 2 From a previous thread, some know the crossmember the sway bar mounts onto was bent. I straightened it as best I could and bolted it back up. Yesterday after torquing the passenger's side radius arm bracket I tried to install the sway bar. The bushings didn't come anywhere near fitting to be bolted to the brackets on the crossmember. I got them roughly in place and then the sway bar couldn't be moved to the connector links. I had to remove the crossmember to connect the sway bar to the links. I think I have the connector links on the correct sides. I had the originals links on the correct side, but my wife told my Granddaughter to pick up papaw's parts and put them in a box. I did swap the connector links side to side and it was worse. The passenger's side isn't tight, I just threaded the nuts on until they stopped at the nylon insert. The driver's side has space and I can't push it over to bolt it up. Should I use a ratchet strap to pull it over? Or, God forbid, do I have more problems? The last picture I'm holding the sway bar roughly where it would be bolted to the crossmember. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
85lebaront2 Posted June 2 Share Posted June 2 I don't know if these will help as Darth is a 2WD F350 crew cab dual rear wheel truck: Sway bar mounting brackets: End link attachment: Is it possible you have a 2WD sway bar and the 4WD is longer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtymac Posted June 2 Share Posted June 2 We have a different setup but our experience might be of some use. Removing our rear sway bar was a pain. It was very difficult to break everything free from their connections. We have not reassembled our front bar yet but we have a different setup. For the back, we slipped the bar over the axel and let it rest there. We attached the sway bar bushings with just 3 or so threads on each u-bolt end. Then, we attached the endlinks the same way, about 3 or so threads. We attached the passenger endlink first and it was a little bit of a stretch. The driver's side was a bit more of a stretch. Neither end looked like it was going to tighten down correctly. Once we finished securing the u-bolts we tightened the endlinks and they went together fine. I'm not sure how much things changed but here are the instructions and diagrams from the 1982 service manual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDLong Posted June 2 Author Share Posted June 2 I don't know if these will help as Darth is a 2WD F350 crew cab dual rear wheel truck: Sway bar mounting brackets: https://forum.garysgaragemahal.com/file/n154393/DSCN0601.jpg End link attachment: https://forum.garysgaragemahal.com/file/n154393/DSCN0602.jpg Is it possible you have a 2WD sway bar and the 4WD is longer? Thanks, looks like I have the connectors on the correct sides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDLong Posted June 2 Author Share Posted June 2 We have a different setup but our experience might be of some use. Removing our rear sway bar was a pain. It was very difficult to break everything free from their connections. We have not reassembled our front bar yet but we have a different setup. For the back, we slipped the bar over the axel and let it rest there. We attached the sway bar bushings with just 3 or so threads on each u-bolt end. Then, we attached the endlinks the same way, about 3 or so threads. We attached the passenger endlink first and it was a little bit of a stretch. The driver's side was a bit more of a stretch. Neither end looked like it was going to tighten down correctly. Once we finished securing the u-bolts we tightened the endlinks and they went together fine. I'm not sure how much things changed but here are the instructions and diagrams from the 1982 service manual. https://forum.garysgaragemahal.com/file/n154394/IMG_2839_Large.jpeg https://forum.garysgaragemahal.com/file/n154394/IMG_2840_Large.jpeg Thanks, that the diagram I'm using. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted June 3 Share Posted June 3 We have a different setup but our experience might be of some use. Removing our rear sway bar was a pain. It was very difficult to break everything free from their connections. We have not reassembled our front bar yet but we have a different setup. For the back, we slipped the bar over the axel and let it rest there. We attached the sway bar bushings with just 3 or so threads on each u-bolt end. Then, we attached the endlinks the same way, about 3 or so threads. We attached the passenger endlink first and it was a little bit of a stretch. The driver's side was a bit more of a stretch. Neither end looked like it was going to tighten down correctly. Once we finished securing the u-bolts we tightened the endlinks and they went together fine. I'm not sure how much things changed but here are the instructions and diagrams from the 1982 service manual. Well, you kinda got to have preload , or the bar inst supporting anything, and load isn't being fed from one side of the axle to the other. The whole point is to have the vehicle track flatter, with less roll (while still being compliant enough to hold the road!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDLong Posted June 3 Author Share Posted June 3 Well, you kinda got to have preload , or the bar inst supporting anything, and load isn't being fed from one side of the axle to the other. The whole point is to have the vehicle track flatter, with less roll (while still being compliant enough to hold the road!) Thanks Jim, I'll get it installed today. Think I'm onna have issues gettin' the crossmember in, but we'll see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Whitstone Posted June 3 Share Posted June 3 I don't know if these will help as Darth is a 2WD F350 crew cab dual rear wheel truck: Sway bar mounting brackets: End link attachment: Is it possible you have a 2WD sway bar and the 4WD is longer? It sure looks to me that your sway bar is upside down as compared to the pics that 85Lebaront2 posted. Look at how his curves up after the attachment point, and how yours curve down, almost touching the steering link. I could well be wrong, but that's what it seems like to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDLong Posted June 3 Author Share Posted June 3 It sure looks to me that your sway bar is upside down as compared to the pics that 85Lebaront2 posted. Look at how his curves up after the attachment point, and how yours curve down, almost touching the steering link. I could well be wrong, but that's what it seems like to me. Geat catch, thanks Pete. You were right on the money. Flipped it and no issues gettin' the bolts in the connecting links. I tried to install it the way it came off, so God only know what the 4 POs have done to the ole girl. Now to get the crossmember in and sway bar bolted up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Whitstone Posted June 3 Share Posted June 3 It sure looks to me that your sway bar is upside down as compared to the pics that 85Lebaront2 posted. Look at how his curves up after the attachment point, and how yours curve down, almost touching the steering link. I could well be wrong, but that's what it seems like to me. Geat catch, thanks Pete. You were right on the money. Flipped it and no issues gettin' the bolts in the connecting links. I tried to install it the way it came off, so God only know what the 4 POs have done to the ole girl. Now to get the crossmember in and sway bar bolted up. Excellent! Glad it was something that simple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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