My 1988 IROC-Z with 34mm front sway bar and 23mm rear sway bar end links needed replacing. This car is bone stock.

I just installed Energy Suspension part numbers 9-8117 (Front end links), the matching sway bar bushing kit #3-1531, and #9-8117 for the rear. I realize that 9-8117 is or the front, but the speed shop said that this could be installed in the rear.

When installing both the front and rear end links, i noticed the Energy Suspension metal sleeves that came with the the urethane grommets were about 1" longer than the stock ones. I thought about reusing the original sleeves, but i figured Energy Suspension had a reason to make them longer. I even checked my Energy Suspension full line catalog as reference to see if I was mistaken or received the wrong parts. It seems everything is correct.

I went forward installing all the new parts. After bringing down car car to the pavement, I thought I was seeing things, but it looks as if my car is 1/4" higher in the front. I looked under the front end and noticed that my lower control arms were not "level" with the front cross member. You know, the lower control arms weren't in a straight line with the front cross member.

Am I seeing things? Has someone noticed this? Did anyone who has installed Energy Suspension part # 9-8117 used all the new parts or reused or cut the metal sleeves? Please help. I hope I'm taking full advantage of the sway bar now, otherwise I'll eithe cut the sleeves or reinstall the old sleeves. Thank you.

I've got ES end links on my swaybars, 9-8117 in the front, but the rear set is 3-5147. In any case, there were no differences in length between the ES ones and the (presumably stock) ones previously on the car.

I know this is off topic, but i was not aware that there was a 23mm rear swaybar for a camaro. I thought it was 21mm then jumped to 24mm. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Steve

I mesured my sway bar and it is 23mm nearest the rearswat bar bushings. I have the Australian 9 bolt rear end. Maybe this is the reason for such an odd ball sway bar.

Wow. The end links on my car were stock. I guess I should cut the new sleeves to match the shorter original ones?

The sway bar needs to be level installed in the car with the weight on the suspension. If it's not, cut the endlinks--make sure they are exactly the same.


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350 with stealth intake, holley carb, 470 lift cam. 700r4 with .5 boost valve, vette servo, tci lock-up kit, B&M megashifter. Richmond 3.73 gears, powertrax locker, timkin bearings, synthetic lube. Custom 3 inch single into 2 2.5 pipes. 1 1/2 drop springs, 1 5/16 solid front sway bar, 1 inch rear bar, custom subframe connectors, custom LCA relocation brackets. Kobel ground FX, currant red metallic paint. Lots of other stuff...
82camaro

I could've sworn the end link kits were the same for the front and rear..? 2 5/8" sleeve length?


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l)

My IROC's stock end link sleeves are much shorter than the new Energy Suspension sleeves. I'll drive around on it until I can work on it again. Is a pipe cutter or hack saw recomended? I want to cut the sleeves as best as I can.

the sleeves should be the same length as stock. When ordering from Energy Suspension one of the things they tell you to do is to measure the length of the sleeve. I believe the only time you would have to change the length from stock is if the car is lowered.

Mark

if you've already thrown away the stock sleeves then yes go ahead and cut the new ones. A hacksaw would work fine.

Mark

I called Energy Suspension today and they found it unusual that my IROC's end link sleeve are shorter for both the front and rear end link kits. So, with that cleared up,'ll just go ahead and cut the end link sleeves to the same length as the stock ones.

I finally had time to cut the end link sleeves to the stock height. The stock end link sleeve height was 2 1/4" vs. the Energy Suspension's 2 5/8".

Big mistake.

As I was tightening the bolt and nut together, the nut reached the end of the threaded bolt, thus prematurely reaching the torque of 14 lb./ft. So, now I have end links that aren't seated properly in the stock sway bar eye holes.

I haven't driven the car yet, but I'm sure handling will not be as great since there's a slight amount of "play" in the end links.

If you're thinking about upgrading your end links and use the Energy Suspension replacements, don't cut the sleeves even though the Energy Suspension end link sleeves appear much longer than your stock ones.