Backed into a rock and bent something...

[vvolfbus]

Our 78 Westy has been running so well and we’ve been taking her camping every weekend this summer until this morning... my husband backed into a very large rock that bent this piece that looks like it’s attached to the sway bar.

A couple of questions for you experts:

1) is this just part of the sway bar? It’s not in the Bentley.

2) can we still drive it?

3) simple bang bank into place or brand new sway bar?

4) does this affect the shock?

Thank you!

Nicole

[richparker]

The bolt you bent is attached to a rear sway bar, which was not installed by VW and not necessary. I used one for awhile and athough “some” say it improves handling, it doesn’t since it makes your bus no longer have rear independent suspension. I would remove it altogether. If you want to keep it just take the bolt out and straighten it in a vice.
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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’63 Deluxe Build

[aeromech]

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

[vvolfbus]

Thanks for the replies. How difficult is it to remove the sway bar? I can’t find much online.

[aeromech]

I’ve never removed or installed one but I’d think it’s easy. Just looking at it should tell you
_________________
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

[Clara]

pic of the rock?

[Wildthings]

You have also bend the bolt that goes through the bottom eye of the shock absorber.

I have never owned a van with a rear sway bar added so can't say exactly what effect it has on the handling, but would guess that by removing it you might pick up some more body roll when hit by a wind gust.

The bottom sway bar mount is just an off the shelf piece of angle iron sawn to length with two holes drilled in it, so would be easy to have custom made, while the lower shock absorber bolt should be available through Fastenal or a place like Graingers or BelMetric.

With a 4# sledge and an anvil you might be able to just straighten what you have.

[vvolfbus]

Wait, are the red pieces that I’m looking at sway bar or shock absorber?

Do I need to remove the tires to remove the sway bar?

[aeromech]

sway bar. Yes, remove the tires
_________________
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

[danfromsyr]

don't remove the rear sway, it helps improve drivability and stability on the road.. where 99% of the normal driving people take these VWs,..
always amazes me the don't deviate from the oe design you get in the bay forum.. bigger brakes.. why bother, bigger motor why you need to go faster, ac that's unnecessary, same for heat. or even comfortable seats with arm rests..

as to your problem.

the red things are your sway bar bushings, the bolt thru them is bent and may break from fatigue, but it may take a very long time and is fine till then. but then your novice mechanical abilities will be tested by a banging, clanking and possibly dragging piece of metal back there.

if you are having troubles associating the knee bone is connected to the thigh bone of this metal puzzle, you may want to stop by a brake/tire shop. they should be able to correct it quickly.

new bolts are available here's a 'kit' at Advance auto parts
https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/energy-suspension-sway-bar-end-link-kit-98125r/17360829-P
but you don't need new bushings just the bolt..

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[vvolfbus]

We got really far yesterday. Sway bar is off. We went to replace the bent bolt in the shock and can’t get the bent bolt out of the shock now. Any sage tricks? We soaked it in PB Blaster last night and hoped for a stroke of genius this morning.

Thanks for the help!

[poptop tom]

Take the upper shock mount bolt out so the shock is completely removed. Bang the bolt out. Reinstall with new bolt!
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'76 Deluxe Campmobile

[Abscate]

Pry bar between shock and the sway bar bracket. As it moves, put successively larger sockets between pry bar and bracket until you can get a large vise grip on the shaft - get it really tight - then bash it off with a hammer.

A visegrip will say Vise Grip (tm) on it, if it doesn't its cheap chinesium shinola that belongs in the bottom of the ocean
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.ssS!

[alman72]

the same loan-a-tool from flaps that pops ball joints?

[Spike0180]

angle grinder. Cut that crap out, it may be too bent to slide through. (I suggest cutting the thread side. So push the bolt all the way in, make the cut close to the shock then punch out the bolt. Replace bolt.)
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Brutis Patches Izabich: 1970 VW Transporter - 1776cc DP
Current State: Projects never truly end...
Location: Grosse Pointe, Michigan
Other cars: 2003 F150, 2003 Jetta GLI vr6-6sp

Sambastic: adj; the quality of being nit picky, elitist, expecting everyone to do things the way they believe is best with no regard to situation, "sambastic"

[malcolm2]

Try this.... Take the sway bar off. Drive the bus, what do you think? Same, different, better, worse. You decide.

If you put it back, I wonder if you can turn the "L" over and make the shock the lowest point vs. the "L" of the sway bar.

Good Luck
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My Toys: '75 Porsche 914, '92 Ski Nautique and now a 1972 VW Transporter Deluxe (punch list fixing)

[Wildthings]

You can drive home with the shock removed, just be that much more careful going around turns and over bumps.

[Abscate]

[alman72]

[quote="Abscate"]

[malcolm2]

if you put it back, can you turn the "L" bracket over? Make the shock the lowest point.
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My Toys: '75 Porsche 914, '92 Ski Nautique and now a 1972 VW Transporter Deluxe (punch list fixing)