Sway bars are the components on a vehicle’s suspension that reduce the body roll that the chassis experience during cornering. The swaybars are rigid lengths of metal that are bolted to the suspension on either side. When the car goes around a corner, the inside of it does not lean as much since it’s attached to the other side. To reduce harshness, swaybars are bolted to the body with bushings that isolate the bar from the body. Over time these bushings deteriorate and must be replaced for the suspension to retain proper handling.
Loosen the lug nuts for the wheels. Raise the car with a floor jack using the proper factory jacking points. Lower the car onto jack stands at all four corners, finish removing the wheels and set them aside.
Unbolt the front swaybar brackets that hold the swaybar and bracket to the body. Unbolt the swaybar drop links where they bolt to the suspension. Where they fasten will vary from car to car. Consult your workshop manual or inspect the swaybar itself.
Slide the old bushings off. Since you are replacing them, you can also simply cut them off. Clean the swaybar with Simple Green or a similar cleaner. Remove the bushings from the drop links.
Apply grease or spray silicone to the new bushings, and slide them onto the swaybar in the same position as the old ones. Slide new bushings onto the end links. Make sure to assemble all of the washers, nuts, bolts and any spacers in the proper order.
Place the swaybar back on the car, and hand tighten the brackets that fasten the bar to the body. Install the end links with the proper hardware. Tighten all of the bolts to the proper tightness.
Remove the rear swaybar in the same method as the front. Unbolt the brackets and then the endlinks.
Remove the swaybar from the car. Remove the bushings from the swaybar and from the end links.
Apply grease to the new bushings, and install them on the swaybar. Bolt the swaybar back onto the car. Install the end link with the new bushings installed. Tighten all of the bolts to the proper specification.
Replace the wheels and lower the vehicle to the ground.
