Suspension and Chassis Questions about your suspension? Need chassis advice?

Sway bar link looks weird

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-08-2024, 11:33 PM
  #1  
Supreme Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
 
80schild's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Alabama
Posts: 1,225
Received 19 Likes on 13 Posts
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: 5.7 TPI
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3:27 BW 9 bolt
Sway bar link looks weird

Is this the way these things are supposed to look? I see no way to have it sit flat against the bar and the washer at the same time. The nipples are seated firmly in the holes of the sway bar.

(yeah I know, that bump stop is trashed)

Old 05-09-2024, 12:18 AM
  #2  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (1)
 
sofakingdom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 26,123
Received 1,688 Likes on 1,283 Posts
Car: Yes
Engine: Usually
Transmission: Sometimes
Axle/Gears: Behind me somewhere
Re: Sway bar link looks weird

Looks kinda like the frame is up on jack stands with the suspension hanging.

At that time, yeah, that's about what it looks like.

Sitting on the ground, it should line up MUCH better.

Lube em with silicone grease.
Old 05-09-2024, 04:07 PM
  #3  
Supreme Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
 
80schild's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Alabama
Posts: 1,225
Received 19 Likes on 13 Posts
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: 5.7 TPI
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3:27 BW 9 bolt
Re: Sway bar link looks weird

Originally Posted by sofakingdom
Looks kinda like the frame is up on jack stands with the suspension hanging.

At that time, yeah, that's about what it looks like.

Sitting on the ground, it should line up MUCH better.

Lube em with silicone grease.
yeah it was jacked up. I did think about lubing the bushings, after the fact. I'll pop that nut back off and put some in there.
Old 05-11-2024, 09:56 PM
  #4  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (9)
 
84 1LE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Oyth
Posts: 6,205
Received 322 Likes on 264 Posts
Car: 89RS vert
Engine: Erod
Transmission: 4L65e
Axle/Gears: BW, 3.27
Re: Sway bar link looks weird

Looks like your bump stop needs more attention.
Old 05-11-2024, 10:06 PM
  #5  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (1)
 
sofakingdom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 26,123
Received 1,688 Likes on 1,283 Posts
Car: Yes
Engine: Usually
Transmission: Sometimes
Axle/Gears: Behind me somewhere
Re: Sway bar link looks weird

Indeed... looks like it's stopped acoupla too many bumps.

Attention to that takes 2 forms: (1) making sure, by way of suspension setup, that the bump stop only gets hit on special rare emergency occasions (assuming you're not running in the Cup series where they tune the suspension by way of bottoming it out on the stops, which, looking at that, I'm thinking, NOT); and (2) putting one on your car that's not already dry-rotted to dust from ... 40 yrs of ... decrepitude.

Be aware though, if you take care of (1), then (2) hardly matters anymore. Order your priorities accordingly.
Old 05-12-2024, 09:58 AM
  #6  
Supreme Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
 
80schild's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Alabama
Posts: 1,225
Received 19 Likes on 13 Posts
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: 5.7 TPI
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3:27 BW 9 bolt
Re: Sway bar link looks weird

Originally Posted by sofakingdom
Indeed... looks like it's stopped acoupla too many bumps.

Attention to that takes 2 forms: (1) making sure, by way of suspension setup, that the bump stop only gets hit on special rare emergency occasions (assuming you're not running in the Cup series where they tune the suspension by way of bottoming it out on the stops, which, looking at that, I'm thinking, NOT); and (2) putting one on your car that's not already dry-rotted to dust from ... 40 yrs of ... decrepitude.

Be aware though, if you take care of (1), then (2) hardly matters anymore. Order your priorities accordingly.
passenger side looks good, for some reason it's just the driver that's torn up like that. It was likely already like that when I bought the car in 2008. I'll get a new one, seems like they're cheap enough.

I'll probably eventually get some new UMI control arms since there are no new OER ones. I've read that S10 ones will work, but when I look at ball joint part numbers on rock auto they are different from f-body. Wouldn't that mean the S10 arms have the wrong joints? Or does it matter?
The following users liked this post:
TTOP350 (05-12-2024)
Old 05-12-2024, 01:35 PM
  #7  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (1)
 
sofakingdom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 26,123
Received 1,688 Likes on 1,283 Posts
Car: Yes
Engine: Usually
Transmission: Sometimes
Axle/Gears: Behind me somewhere
Re: Sway bar link looks weird

Doesn't matter.
Old 05-16-2024, 06:28 PM
  #8  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (14)
 
//<86TA>\\'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Central NJ
Posts: 12,652
Likes: 0
Received 46 Likes on 44 Posts
Car: 86 Trans Am, 92 Firebird
Engine: 408 sbc, 3.1L of raw power
Transmission: TKO600, T5
Axle/Gears: Moser 9", 3:70 trutac, 3:23 torsion
Re: Sway bar link looks weird

It's best to install the endlinks with the suspension loaded and trimming the spacer and bolt so the eyes of the bar are at the right angle when bolted together.
Old 05-16-2024, 07:14 PM
  #9  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (1)
 
sofakingdom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 26,123
Received 1,688 Likes on 1,283 Posts
Car: Yes
Engine: Usually
Transmission: Sometimes
Axle/Gears: Behind me somewhere
Re: Sway bar link looks weird

for some reason it's just the driver that's torn up like that.
Probably the left spring had lost more of its rate than the right, therefore that side wallowed more.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
mjensen71
Suspension and Chassis
1
07-10-2021 06:18 AM
lordmetalz28
Suspension and Chassis
1
06-11-2009 08:54 PM
howy03
Suspension and Chassis
7
02-09-2009 07:26 PM
86 sports coupe
Suspension and Chassis
4
08-28-2005 10:03 PM



Quick Reply: Sway bar link looks weird



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:31 PM.