The anti-sway bar on a Ford Windstar has four attachment points. The center body of the sway bar is mounted to the frame with the use of two half moon clamps. The sway bar has a rubber bushing surrounding the bar at both these clamping locations. The clamp is mounted over the bushing, compressing it to the frame. The ends of the sway bar are secured to the lower control arms with the use of sway bar links. These links consist of a long bolt with a series of bushings with a metal spacer in the center.
Raise and support the vehicle on jack stands placed under the frame. Remove the sway bar links by holding the top of the bolt with a 13mm wrench and using a 13mm socket to remove the retaining nut under the lower control arm. Pay attention to the arrangement of the bushings, as the sway bar link is disassembled for expedience in replacing them.
Place the floor jack under the front center of the sway bar and raise the jack enough to support the sway bar. Remove the two bolts in each of the sway bar mounting brackets, using the appropriate socket. Lower the floor jack to remove the sway bar.
Lay the new sway bar in front of the old sway bar for reference purposes. Remove the rubber bushings from the old bar and place them on the new bar. The bushings are not perfectly round--there is a flat spot on one side of the bushing. This is the side that faces up toward the frame. There is a slit in each bushing so they can be spread apart to install on the bar.
Place the center of the bar on the floor jack and lift the bar to within 3 inches of the frame. Install the sway bar links in reverse order of their removal and tighten the securing nut.
Hold the clamps up to each of the mounting holes in the frame. Move the rubber bushings as necessary to position them perfectly under the clamps. Raise the floor jack enough to pinch the sway bar to the frame. Install the two bolts in each sway bar clamp and tighten them securely. Lower the jack.
