Installing End Link Bushings on Sway Bar?

[molson88]

I'm trying to replace the rubber bushings where the end links connect to the anti-sway bay on my Vanagon, but I can't for the life of me figure out how to get the end links with new bushings back over the end of the bar. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
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Cliff
99 Eurovan Camper (current)
88 Vanagon GL Camper with Subaru EJ22 (gone)
83 Vanagon Camper (best forgotten...)
2012 Audi Q5 3.2L

[teej]

I recently did this with the powerflex product from loogy. Sway bar/end links off the vehicle, I think I put the end link, with bushing inserted, on the garage floor, on an anti-fatigure mat, stepped on it, lubed sway bar end with appropriate product, and levered the sway bar in using some downward force.

If I recall in one of the powerflex threads others describe their techniques.

You'll get it.
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1986+ Wolfsburg Weekender Pop-Top 2.3 WBX Manual Trans

[pioneer1]

I heated the bush in a container of hot water to make it more pliable.
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"Always waiting for tomorrow ruined everything"

'85 Porsche 911 Targa

'76 Westfalia project

[AnmlMthrM60]

I did the same thing teej did. I removed the whole sway bar for cleaning and powerflex bushing we I rebuilt my front end so it was easy.
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Justin
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86 Syncro - 2.2L WBX
69 Bug - 1776cc

[molson88]

[chojinchef]

Did mine with the sway bar on the van.

Stuck bushings (stock rubber) onto sway bar, and used some dish soap to lube up the end link and get it on 3/4 of way. Used two pairs channel locks to nudge the rest of the way.

Not the most fun thing I've done to the van.
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Its a mistress; an expensive, whiney, needy bitch of a mistress. She is a chunky, dirty girl with bad skin, little motivation and yet she always makes me smile. She sure has been around before shacking up with me. She has a direct line to my wallet, plays with my emotions, is consistantly jovial yet with a sarcastic and sardonic side, is consistant in her inconsistancy, and every once in a while gives me a great ride and a fantastic memory.

[molson88]

[molson88]

[Skip Laubach]

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=901951

I finally succeeded in getting the nut on the anti-sway bar down-link (see photo).

Edit: I later removed the bushings and washers, then turned the washers around so that the "cup" of the washer is facing away from the bushings. See new photo in a few posts below.

Getting the down-link bushing onto the anti-sway bar required boiling water soak (of the down-link with the rubber bushing installed), vaseline, and lots of twisting, turning, and body-weight.
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Skip
1984 Westy 1.9 case WBXR Manual (now with 2200cc GoWesty kit)
Since 26 July 2011

[SteelB12]

[Skip Laubach]

Steelb12,

Right, I also got the idea from Alaric (I guess from a different post). Need to provide references for good ideas...

I had fabricated a fancy metal structure with threaded posts, using nuts to close the metal structure against the top and bottom washer to close up the rubber bushings...but it failed. Had it worked I would have made millions!
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Skip
1984 Westy 1.9 case WBXR Manual (now with 2200cc GoWesty kit)
Since 26 July 2011

[Skip Laubach]

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=902055

New and old anti-sway bar drop-down link sleeves. Thanks T3. New ones are stainless steel.

Removing the old, crusty sleeves required a soak of PB Blaster and quite a few strokes of the BFH. Hint: hammer only on one end as the sleeve gets deformed. If you hammer on both ends you may deform both ends and not be able to remove from the hole.

Newbie question: how do I copy a photo directly into a post rather than providing a link to my thesamba photo gallery? Thank you.
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Skip
1984 Westy 1.9 case WBXR Manual (now with 2200cc GoWesty kit)
Since 26 July 2011

[j_dirge]

[Skip Laubach]

I made a change to my anti-sway bar down-link washers. The photo above is not how things ended up...

I switched them around so that the "cup" of the washer faces away from the rubber bushings. See photo below.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/902365.jpg

Also, I blew through three sets of "standard grade" "ratchet straps", then bought an "industrial grade" ratchet strap (1600 lb. rated), then had no problem compressing the bushings to get the nut on the bottom of the down-link.
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Skip
1984 Westy 1.9 case WBXR Manual (now with 2200cc GoWesty kit)
Since 26 July 2011

[badassdubs]

These are easy to put on if you know the trick. Lube is helpful. Just start the bushing half way into the link. This opens up the hole in the bushing. Then angle it onto the sway bay and lever it down while pushing the bushing and the link onto the bar. Starting the bushing half way into the link is key.

[mlwarriner]

i just did mine with powerflex bushings this weekend.

what worked for me was greasing the bushings and slipping them over the knob end of the sway bar, then holding the bushings still with a pair of vise-grips clamped onto the bar and slipping the end link over/onto the bushings.

[j_dirge]

[Skip Laubach]

Thank you j_dirge. I think I got it. Let's see:

Here's a photo of 28 year old anti-sway bar end-link sleeves next to T3's SS sleeves.

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Skip
1984 Westy 1.9 case WBXR Manual (now with 2200cc GoWesty kit)
Since 26 July 2011

[ohlott]

People who have used the powerflex bushings how do you like them?
Going to do the sway bar next and considering the powerflex. Worth the money?
thanks
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83.5 westy 2.2 subi

[Bercilak]