HELP! Rear Swaybar Bushing Install Options

[friethmiller]

I need help here. I've just burned through 3 of these bushings trying to install them into my drop link. Every time I go to push on in, it cracks and falls apart during install. I don't understand why this is the case. Can someone tell me how to do it? I am absolutely at wits-end with these damn things. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

BTW, I just got new ones from AA this time. The 914rubber ones all failed. I'm sure it was me. Please help!!

[NARP74]

The AA ones could just be 914 Rubber ones, some parts are.
I think I put a small hole in the closed end to allow air and grease to escape and then used a clamp to slowly compress them on, going slowly and readjusting if needed. Heating them in hot water did not work for me. A heat gun while you do this might help. Too hot and they get mushy and collapse.

[Ron914]

I empathize with you Fred ,this has been the hardest job yet on my project .

I purchased mine from AA also and after many fails I it was suggested I buy authentic bushings from Porsche .

I purchased them from Pelican and still had a problem installing them . I heard about a shop around the corner from me called Fixasix and went over to see if they could do it for me .

I spent $40 but it was worth the frustration to me just to get it done . I came home excited to finally connect the rear sway bar and I must saw it still is not connected .

They heated them in hot water, used silicone lubricant , a vise and a large flat blade screwdriver .

I will say it took them about 30 minutes to install the bushings and it wasn't easy .

It takes a lot of force to pop them onto the balls .thus I have only one end installed on the sway bar end .

I used a large C clamp to accomplish that but never could get the other end attached to the shock bolts ( there is no where to use a C clamp for that side .

I am thinking I might have to. remove the shock bolts and install these ends first .

[friethmiller]

My issue is with just getting the bushing into the drop link.

[Cairo94507]

We stuck the bushings in very hot water to get the pliable and then squeezed them in. Greased the ball and then popped them on with a big pair of channel lock pliers. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[friethmiller]

Thanks for the input! I just installed 3 without breaking them. I don’t believe it. I’ll post some pics and my technique, shortly.

[friethmiller]

My issue is with just getting the bushing into the drop link.

[friethmiller]

Not easy but it can be done in about 5mins each.

1) put drop link into vise and tighten
2) warm up bushing with heat gun
3) Insert bushing in a way to take advantage of the vise’s pressure
4) use blade of screw driver to push lip into hole

.

[TRP]

There is a thread somewhere with the perfect solution for installing these. I was having a heck of a time with these, but followed the thread and found success. Let me see if I can find it.

Okay, found it:
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=354046

Start with the open side of the bushing into the endlink first. I boiling water first and some glycerin on the bushing and end link. Starting with open end works in your favor because it will compress a bit more than the solid end.

Ted

[914werke]

Fred do a search on 914werke & "sway bar links" (or some variation) you should find a post where I detail the hot water process + a simple tool I made in 5 mins that made my production of links effortless.

[seanpaulmc]

Fred do a search on 914werke & "sway bar links" (or some variation) you should find a post where I detail the hot water process + a simple tool I made in 5 mins that made my production of links effortless.

This form 914Werke.
Some hot water and a simple dull, wooden 'pry bar' that won't pierce the bushing.

Fred may be human after all? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

[76-914]

We stuck the bushings in very hot water to get the pliable and then squeezed them in. Greased the ball and then popped them on with a big pair of channel lock pliers. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

Same here though I didn't heat the bushings. It might have been hot as Hell that day. Can't remember. It never fails that every time some problematic task occurs there are always 1 or 2 folks that breezed thru them w/o a hitch. We all go thru it one time or another. Go figure. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[friethmiller]

Fred may be human after all? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

Ha! Yes! Very much so. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I'm still trying to figure things out all the time. After ruining 3 in-a-row... it was time to ask for help. The forum delivered too! Thanks guys. I got it all done.

[TRP]

The forum delivered too! Thanks guys. I got it all done.

Was it simply starting with the 'open end' first and using glycerin? I tell you what, that simple change seemed like it made all the difference in the world for me.

Glad you got it sorted out.

[bkrantz]

I checked my build photos and waaaaay back when I am pretty sure I used the hot water method to get the bushings into the links. Then to pop the links and bushings onto the sway bar and trailing arm balls I used trigger clamps. big and small.

[TonyA]

That's exactly how I did it but clamp the other way and on the shock nut.

[friethmiller]

The forum delivered too! Thanks guys. I got it all done.

Was it simply starting with the 'open end' first and using glycerin? I tell you what, that simple change seemed like it made all the difference in the world for me.

Glad you got it sorted out.

Couple of things. 1) getting it in the vice allows both hands on the bushing; 2) warming it helps; 3) using a hard plastic or wood pry tool that doesn't dig into the bushing

None of this is required, though. I found a YouTube short where this guy inserted one cold, with this bare hands, on a bench. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

[TRP]

None of this is required, though. I found a YouTube short where this guy inserted one cold, with this bare hands, on a bench. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

Witchcraft!! Pure witchcraft.

[Steve]

I just went through this nightmare trying to reinstall my rear sway bar. I bought a bunch of lemforder bushings from Pelican. They were the dreaded white ones. I was able to boil them and install them in the drop links. However I could not get them to install on the sway bar and shocks. I then ordered some more bushings from Sierra Madre. They sent me three rubber ones and one white one. After seeing this post, I decided to try my harbor freight blow dryer and my harbor freight trigger clamp with the previous lemforder bushings. After about 25 seconds with the dryer on high they popped on. I also bought a set of factory bushings and they look the same as the lemforder bushings.