Replacing sway bar bushings in a Chevrolet Blazer improves the performance of the suspension and provides a more controlled ride than you could attain with the stock bushings. If you're installing replacement bushings, you can choose to upgrade to performance bushings that further improve the performance of your Blazer. There are ten bushings that need to be replaced when changing the bushings on an S10 Blazer's sway bar -- eight that connect the bar and the end links to the suspension of the truck, and two more that connect the sway bar itself to the truck's frame.
Set the Blazer's parking brake, and then jack up the front of the truck with the automotive jack. Support the frame with jack stands. You will see the sway bar for the Blazer if you look just behind the front bumper of the truck. It is connected to the frame with two bushings, and to the suspension of the Blazer with two end links.
Unbolt the end links from the suspension of the truck with the socket wrench. Once the lower retaining bolts are removed, you can slide the end link assembly apart. There is one additional retaining nut located on the upper portion of the end link. Remove this nut on both sides of the truck.
Unbolt the frame bushings from the middle of the sway bar, and then lower the Blazer's bar to the ground.
Slide the frame bushings off of the end of the sway bar, and then slide the new replacement bushings onto the bar. Bolt these to the frame of the Blazer, making certain that the sway bar is mounted in the same orientation that it was originally installed.
Assemble the sway bar end links. High-performance bushings typically include replacement end links, but in some cases all you have to do is switch out the four bushings on each end link. To assemble the end link, begin by installing a washer onto each threaded end.
Run a bushing over the threaded end so that its flat side is butted against the washer.
Insert one threaded end of the link into the mounting hole in the end of the sway bar, and the other into the mounting hole in the truck's suspension.
Slide another bushing over the threaded end link just below the sway bar's mounting hole, followed by a washer and finally the retaining nut. Do the same with the threaded end above the mounting hole in the truck's suspension.
Tighten the mounting nuts for the sway bar, and then lower the Blazer off of the jack stands to complete the bushing replacement.
