Front sway bar install troubles

[Booyakashaw]

Hey peeps.

I replaced my front leaf springs, and afterwards I'm having a hell of a time getting my sway bar back on. I tried jacking up the axle, the front and rear bumper, but nothing seems to help.

Any tips? I put the 2 large bolts onto the axles first, but the front bushings don't want to reach the trucks frame. Found a longer bolt, I think I can sinch it up, but its kinda squishing the bushing.

Ran out of daylight, I'm thinking of doing the front bushings first, then using a floor jack to try and get the axles bolts in.

Suggestions welcome.

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[Rusty Nail]

Pretty sure (anti) sway bars must be loaded when tightened. I'm thinkin the jack is the problem. Try it on the ground.

 

[Booyakashaw]

Pretty sure (anti) sway bars must be loaded when tightened. I'm thinkin the jack is the problem. Try it on the ground.

Truck is on the ground, I tried using the jack to add or subtract load from the front end but to no avail.

 

[Rusty Nail]

Then it sits too high / post new springs and you gotta buy a extender thing now. ?

 

[Booyakashaw]

Then it sits too high / post new springs and you gotta buy a extender thing now. ?

6" super lift, truck has been lifted for the past few years. A leaf spring was cracked so I replaced them, same product number, same spring.

 

[Booyakashaw]

I'm thinking if I do the front bushings first, I will be able to use the floor jack to lift the sides,
preload the bar, and align the bolt.

 

[Booyakashaw]

The bar came off not too bad, truck is probably standing a little proud with the new leafs

 

[86 SCOTTSDALE]

I only did a 2" lift on my K10. I did not have problems with sway bar reaching mount points but did have issues with the bar approaching the axle at an angle witch causes it to bind as the front springs compress resulting in a stiffer ride. I installed OFF ROAD DESIGHNS sway bar disconnect kit witch lets the bar shift back and forth at the axle. This could give you the extra travel to reach the mount point and you may find you will have a less stiff ride as I did.

 

[Booyakashaw]

Blah, not looking good

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[Craig 85]

Get the ORD sway bar disconnect kit. I've used it on my last two trucks. It resolves this problem and let the spring and sway bar run in different arcs without binding.

https://www.offroaddesign.com/swaybar-correction-and-disconnect-system-for-73-91-gm-trucks.html

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[Craig Nedrow]

I like your work Craig!!

 

[Booyakashaw]

Get the ORD sway bar disconnect kit. I've used it on my last two trucks. It resolves this problem and let the spring and sway bar run in different arcs without binding.

https://www.offroaddesign.com/swaybar-correction-and-disconnect-system-for-73-91-gm-trucks.html

Thanks man. As much as I wanted to fight it, or put some blocks on the bottom bushings. I ordered the ord disconnects.

Appreciate the help.

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[Bextreme04]

I just installed mine the other day... I second the ORD disconnect kit, it's top notch and works great.

Alternatively, I would loosen everything(including leaf spring shackle bolts) and try getting everything started loosely before tightening anything. You'll likely still get a bunch of binding without the disconnect kit, but you can probably at least get it installed for now while waiting for your kit to come in.

 

[Craig 85]

In the early 90's my '77 K5 I had a 6" lift and tried using some drop down blocks on the front mounts; they didn't line up either. Back then I went without the blocks and forced it. I'm sure that's why it rode stiff even though it was a soft ride Skyjacker lift.

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[Booyakashaw]

The guys at ORD shipped the parts out, and they made it to me over here in Canada pretty quick.

Appreciate all the comments, help and suggestions.

Gave them a quick splash of paint and bolted them on!

Been waiting to put my front shackle mounts on, finally got around to that too.

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