EMPI Rear Sway Bar Install

[jasonious]

Anybody install an EMPI rear sway bar? Is there some kind of trick to installing the the long bolts that attach the bar to to the lower shocks? When I put the bushings, washer and spacer on, the bolt appears to be too short to put the nut on. Do you need to compress the bushings in order to get that bolt on? Sees like it would really squish those bushings!

[aeromech]

I'm no help but do have a smart assed question for you. Why in the world would you buy something sold by EMPI?
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[Sage79]

Let's ignore the smart ass.
I installed the EMPI kit recently (I got a good deal on it here on Samba). The bolts are 5-1/2" long and I have about 7/16" of exposed bolt left after tightening the nut. I've been happy with it, although it does hang down pretty low in the center. My bus is stock height so there's still tons of clearance.
I was careful to locate my bar under nuetral load conditions (not jacked up) but may have used the wheel motion to help install the bolts.
Hope that helps.
_________________
Dirk
'79 Westy 2.0FI
'73 Sportsmobile 1.7dual Solex 003Auto - now my daughter's
'77 delux 2.0FI 090Auto - now my son's

[jasonious]

[nathansnathan]

In my experience, sway bar bushings do get squished down pretty good. You may have to 'pre-squish'

I've got an EMPI trigger shifter I've been running for about 5 years. To engage reverse required filing the flat on the ball for about 2 hours upon install. You can see the rivets flex when you move it, but still going.

[Tuna Tim]

[HBwesty]

I agree, most sway bars are pretty much the same. I have had my Empi on for over a year and works fine. In fact, unless stand corrected, I saw picture of a sway away kit that looked identical to the Empi kit
_________________
Have you ever noticed, in traffic, anybody going slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac



69 Campmobile
65 Bug
06 New Beetle

[VWDruid]

I got a second hand sway bar but it's missing some of the brackets and instructions.

if some one can scan the mounting instructions or snap some picks of the mounting are showing how the 7/8 bushing are mounted to the body.

Thanks.
_________________
70 Westy, 2027cc "dual DRLA 40 m140 i55 wjdoc a165 p33 v30 "w100 straight cut 040 polished heads 1.25 rockers 1.5 A1sidewinder supertrapp muffler trans 091 coil SUM-850500 CDI universal svda Pertronix
http://www.storyofstuff.com/
It's not the straight cut gears It's the T.A.R.D.I.S. engine.
wanted Chameleon Circuit

[aeromech]

Here's some pics of one mounted onto a 1968 bus

_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[VWDruid]

thanks Aeromech.

but I'm looking for the rear sway bar.
_________________
70 Westy, 2027cc "dual DRLA 40 m140 i55 wjdoc a165 p33 v30 "w100 straight cut 040 polished heads 1.25 rockers 1.5 A1sidewinder supertrapp muffler trans 091 coil SUM-850500 CDI universal svda Pertronix
http://www.storyofstuff.com/
It's not the straight cut gears It's the T.A.R.D.I.S. engine.
wanted Chameleon Circuit

[Amskeptic]

[TomWesty]

I'm with Colin. Don't you just eliminate IRS with the rear sway?
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If you haven't bled on them, you haven't worked on them.
Visit: www.tomcoryell.com and check out my music!

[ned]

EMPI is the only manufacturer that I found for that sway away. I would have prefered to buy something else. But in awswer to the OP it looks like you have it right. The debate about improved handling is the same as the pancake vs. upright debate. I do not recommend the rear sway away for off road use.

[Wildthings]

Anybody have pics of older rear sway bars installs from when there were other brands than EMPI on the market. Just having the bar sticking down that far would keep me from even trying one out. I can just envision a 3" diameter stick getting hung up in the bar and doing severe damage to the transmission, axles, or something.

[VWDruid]

Ned I was trying to keep all the rear sway bar fitment stuff in one thread.

[Wildthings]

[ned]

Hey Druid I apologize for missing your comment. I have been accused of being a little slow on the up take. Sorry.

[josefprem]

I have a 69 bay window and am a "new guy" when it comes to working on cars.

Removed the front sway bar as I am tearing apart the bus I am planning to restore. How can I tell if it is worth reusing? If I should replace it with an HD model, can I get a suggestion?

Also, I twisted off the bolt head on the torsion arm as I was removing the bar, the nut came off the other side ok, but it looks like the bolt is welded in there. Any problem drilling it out and reusing the torsion arm? I don't see why not.

_________________
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit.” ~ Aristotle

[VWDruid]

I'd drown it in bP blaster for a few days then heat it up with a torch then use some vice grips or a bolt out set.
http://addto.it/Remove-Broken-Stripped-Rounded-or-Damaged-Bolt-Heads-and-Nuts

[tat2ace]

Recently installed a 7/8" EMPI front sway bar from Bus Boys. It makes a huge differance, I couldn't believe it. I can drive the freeway now! Best thing I've done for my bus.