Front Sway Bar Instalation gone wrong
#1
Thread Starter
Front Sway Bar Instalation gone wrong
So today I tried to put on a stiffer front sway bar, but as I was trying to remove the endlinks I managed to strip the hex key on the tip of the passenger's side endlink bolt.
So now I still have my stock front sway bar on...only it's pretty loose on that side now, and i can't tighten it because the bolt (and nut) will spin freely without the hex bit holding it in place.
Any recommendations for a shop that can fix this, preferably in Harford County (since I work at APG)?
From my understanding the car is still driveable, but I'll have to corner slowly to prevent loading up the front sway bar.
So now I still have my stock front sway bar on...only it's pretty loose on that side now, and i can't tighten it because the bolt (and nut) will spin freely without the hex bit holding it in place.
Any recommendations for a shop that can fix this, preferably in Harford County (since I work at APG)?
From my understanding the car is still driveable, but I'll have to corner slowly to prevent loading up the front sway bar.
#2
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That happened to me too. I just used some needle nose vise grips to keep it the threads from rotating while using an open ended wrench to take off the nut. If that doesn't work you can use a 3" pneumatic cutoff tool, body saw or a sawzall if you can fit it up in there to just cut it off.
#3
Thread Starter
That happened to me too. I just used some needle nose vise grips to keep it the threads from rotating while using an open ended wrench to take off the nut. If that doesn't work you can use a 3" pneumatic cutoff tool, body saw or a sawzall if you can fit it up in there to just cut it off.
I tried using needle nosed pliers to hold the threads but I'm not man enough to hold'em. I don't have any of the tools you mentioned. This looked at first to be a simple enough job for me, but now it isn't.
#4
Originally Posted by djbeatz08' timestamp='1331498024' post='21498745
That happened to me too. I just used some needle nose vise grips to keep it the threads from rotating while using an open ended wrench to take off the nut. If that doesn't work you can use a 3" pneumatic cutoff tool, body saw or a sawzall if you can fit it up in there to just cut it off.
I tried using needle nosed pliers to hold the threads but I'm not man enough to hold'em. I don't have any of the tools you mentioned. This looked at first to be a simple enough job for me, but now it isn't.
#5
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by TrumpetTitan' timestamp='1331500074' post='21498817
[quote name='djbeatz08' timestamp='1331498024' post='21498745']
That happened to me too. I just used some needle nose vise grips to keep it the threads from rotating while using an open ended wrench to take off the nut. If that doesn't work you can use a 3" pneumatic cutoff tool, body saw or a sawzall if you can fit it up in there to just cut it off.
That happened to me too. I just used some needle nose vise grips to keep it the threads from rotating while using an open ended wrench to take off the nut. If that doesn't work you can use a 3" pneumatic cutoff tool, body saw or a sawzall if you can fit it up in there to just cut it off.
I tried using needle nosed pliers to hold the threads but I'm not man enough to hold'em. I don't have any of the tools you mentioned. This looked at first to be a simple enough job for me, but now it isn't.
[/quote]
Gotcha. Sounds like a neat tool to have. Today was my last full day to do it before Saturday's season opening Autocross though, so I'm gonna have a shop take care of it.
#6
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Originally Posted by TopGear' timestamp='1331500381' post='21498825
[quote name='TrumpetTitan' timestamp='1331500074' post='21498817']
[quote name='djbeatz08' timestamp='1331498024' post='21498745']
That happened to me too. I just used some needle nose vise grips to keep it the threads from rotating while using an open ended wrench to take off the nut. If that doesn't work you can use a 3" pneumatic cutoff tool, body saw or a sawzall if you can fit it up in there to just cut it off.
[quote name='djbeatz08' timestamp='1331498024' post='21498745']
That happened to me too. I just used some needle nose vise grips to keep it the threads from rotating while using an open ended wrench to take off the nut. If that doesn't work you can use a 3" pneumatic cutoff tool, body saw or a sawzall if you can fit it up in there to just cut it off.
I tried using needle nosed pliers to hold the threads but I'm not man enough to hold'em. I don't have any of the tools you mentioned. This looked at first to be a simple enough job for me, but now it isn't.
[/quote]
Gotcha. Sounds like a neat tool to have. Today was my last full day to do it before Saturday's season opening Autocross though, so I'm gonna have a shop take care of it.
[/quote]
Thats never a bad idea either. Good luck and I'll see you next weekend in frederick. Hopefully the current forecast holds out.
#7
Originally Posted by TrumpetTitan' timestamp='1331501345' post='21498865
[quote name='TopGear' timestamp='1331500381' post='21498825']
[quote name='TrumpetTitan' timestamp='1331500074' post='21498817']
[quote name='djbeatz08' timestamp='1331498024' post='21498745']
That happened to me too. I just used some needle nose vise grips to keep it the threads from rotating while using an open ended wrench to take off the nut. If that doesn't work you can use a 3" pneumatic cutoff tool, body saw or a sawzall if you can fit it up in there to just cut it off.
[quote name='TrumpetTitan' timestamp='1331500074' post='21498817']
[quote name='djbeatz08' timestamp='1331498024' post='21498745']
That happened to me too. I just used some needle nose vise grips to keep it the threads from rotating while using an open ended wrench to take off the nut. If that doesn't work you can use a 3" pneumatic cutoff tool, body saw or a sawzall if you can fit it up in there to just cut it off.
I tried using needle nosed pliers to hold the threads but I'm not man enough to hold'em. I don't have any of the tools you mentioned. This looked at first to be a simple enough job for me, but now it isn't.
[/quote]
Gotcha. Sounds like a neat tool to have. Today was my last full day to do it before Saturday's season opening Autocross though, so I'm gonna have a shop take care of it.
[/quote]
Thats never a bad idea either. Good luck and I'll see you next weekend in frederick. Hopefully the current forecast holds out.
[/quote]
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#9
Vise grips is the tool that you need, as suggested.
You can drive around with the end link loose like that, nothing bad will happen; just don't go racing
I work at APG as well btw. You know that there is a shop on base that you can use to work on your own cars there? I believe that it's like 8$/hour; less if you are active military. Oh, and they have all the tools and lifts
You can drive around with the end link loose like that, nothing bad will happen; just don't go racing
I work at APG as well btw. You know that there is a shop on base that you can use to work on your own cars there? I believe that it's like 8$/hour; less if you are active military. Oh, and they have all the tools and lifts
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