sway bar help

[Mr. Cool]

Hi all,

I was attempting to change my sway bar bushings and the stabilizer end links but came across a couple of troubles.

1. sway bar bushings: normally its held on by a bracket with two bolts, one of the bolts
broke in half inside the chasis part(not sure if its called the chasis), so now the bushing is
held on only by one bolt with the bracket and I can't get the bolt back out. Is it okay to
drive like that? And how can I get the remainings of the bolt back out.

2. stabilizer end links: the part where you put the allen key in is stripped and I can't hold
the joint still so I can take the bolt off. Is there another way of getting the bolt off?

Any inputs please. Thx.

[88 LE]

Originally Posted by Mr. Cool

1. How can I get the remainings of the bolt back out.

Is there enough of the bolt sticking out that you can grab it with a pair of pliers?


If not you have a few options:

1. Drill it out, but you'll most likely mess up the threads.

2. Use a ez-out.

3. Cut a slot in the bolt, use a flathead screwdriver, and try to twist it out.

2. stabilizer end links: the part where you put the allen key in is stripped and I can't hold
the joint still so I can take the bolt off. Is there another way of getting the bolt off?

A air impact wrench will zip those nuts right off.

Otherwise use a pair of vise grips. You'll see a a rubber boot, pull the boot back and put the vise grips over the metal part. Then use a wrench on the nut.

[Mr. Cool]

thanks for the reply, but what tool do I use to cut the slot for the the option

[Keep]

A die grinder with a small diameter cutting blade might work

[88 LE]

^ Yup.

A dremel with a cutoff disc works too if you don't have a air cutoff tool or die grinder.

[brink]

For point one, I had this problem cause I overtorqued.

Found a small flathead and a small drill bit, drilled a hole through then pounded the flathead in. Worked like a charm to unscrew it from there. Gotta be careful doing that tho.


Point 2... hacksaw!

[Mr. Cool]

Thanks for all the replies, I tried everything and it didn't work, so I took it to the shop today and had them deal with it, troublefree for me. The downside is the labour that they charged.

[Maxemily]

That plate you speak of where the screw broke off into costs around $20 and takes a good 30 seconds to install on your back in the driveway... sorry I missed this earlier bud.

[Mr. Cool]

^I tried many places for the plate but no one carries it, so I took it to a shop so they can cut it out. Also, wouldn't it be tough to unbolt the bolt, cause at the shop it took the mechanic a few tries with the impact gun.

[XKWISIT1]

I've broken a few in my day, now to remove the broken bolt ,you will have to take the bushing support down. You will see two 14mm bolts that hold them in, remove them and the support will come off. Put that part in a vice,if you look at the part you will see the nut that is welded to the inside with the broken bolt still in there. Heat that nut up with a torch till that nut becomes red hot, now with a hammer and chisel, give that nut a few good wacks and that nut will come off with the brocken bolt. Reinstall the support into the car and feed anot through the hole and use a new bolt. With the end link use some WD40 for the rust and get a good pair of vice grips to hold the moving part and a 14mmsocket to remove the nut