I was just looking through the classifieds and checked out an ad for front/rear sway bars, and noticed this reply:



Can someone elaborate on these "special rear shock bolts"? Maybe some pics or a link would be nice

Thanks,

James

Normal lower shock bolts have a flat end.

In order to mount a stock rear swaybar, you need shock bolts that have a ball machined to them.
The sway bar droplinks have a cup that slides over the ball.
Andy


In the pic, the rear droplinks are disconnected, you can see the ball on the lower shock bolt.

ah! that makes sense
thank you.

The weltmeister kit uses a special bolt with a threaded end so you can screw on the endlink.

If you do get a rear swaybar and replace that bolt make sure you tighten it when the car is on the ground or you'll put unnecessary load on the shock.

I just changed the springs on my shocks today. I tightened the bolts up while the rear was in the air. Do I need to loosen them and retighten with the wheels on the ground? I don't understand how it would make a difference.

Warrenoliver

I would recommend loosening them and tightening them on the ground. That pivot is FAR from frictionless, and so when you set the car on the ground with those tightened you are trying to bend the shock with the weight of the car as the trailing arm rises into position.

If you'd like to test this, try bolting a shock to a trailing arm that isn't in the car, and then try pivoting it while that bolt is tightened. You'll need to use an whole lot more force than you'd ever like to get it to budge at all.

This is why the tops of the shocks go into rubber dealies, the normal travel of suspension is not going to put a huge amount of load on the shock as the angle changes, but the difference between normal ride height and full droop is significant.

Would it free up the suspension if you drilled and cotter pinned a castellated nut so it would have more freedom to move or would it not make any difference? Just wondering if anyone has ever tried .

I have a 75 that came with a aftermarket rear awaybar that has some cheezy little 1/2 of a square tube pieces that fasten to the ends of the original shock bolts and the other half that fastens to the end links that allow the swaybar to hook to the shock bolts. The swaybar is even thinner than the factory rear one.

The lower shock mount has a rubber bushing (At least on my shocks) which is supposed to allow for some movement, but like Chris said, it takes a lot of force to rotate that shock.

It's easier to just loosen and re-tighten the bolt with the car on the ground. No special hardware needed ...
Andy

I bought these bars and can't wait to get them !!

BTW does anyone know how to expand all the posts?? I hate having to click on every post just to read them.

Go to the top right of the first post on the page to the "Options" pull down. I think you want "standard" view.