swaybar links or dogbones hole is too small

[Kibokojoe]

Got all my parts today from AutohausAZ. Everything looks good except the swaybar links have too small a hole on one end. Its the hole that fits over the swaybar. I measure the swaybar at 0.480 inches and the hole in the new link at 0.312" Am I missing something here?
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/kibokojoe/dogbone.jpg

[BigKriss]

yeah they shouldnt be like that.

[Tiger]

That's the way it is... Rubber sssstttrrreeeetttttccccchhhhheeeesssss.

What I did is simply put some spray soap like windex, cleaner, dish soap, car wash soap in the hole... and just push it in. Soap will dry out by itself.

[Russell]

mine were a pain to put on-Think I used a gear puller (kinda cobbled up set up) to pull them on. I am assuming the hole is all rubber on your new part as mine was. I also used some sort of lube.

[Tiger]

It was easy for me... a little bit of lube... and push right in. I think I also used a second jack to bring the axle in line with the sway bar and just pushed it in.

[BMW4LIFE]

Yea thats how mine were too....I struggled hours to squeeze that bad boy in the hole but the trick in

MOTOR OIL!!!

It will slip right in (with a little push that is) :D

[glen-sj]

I just installed these three weeks ago on both the 525 and 530, just apply some lube on the inside of the bushing and with some effort it when in. Parts was also ordered from AutohausAZ.

[genphreak]

Best thing to use is talc (talcom powder) as it helps the rubber, not destroy it like oil!

[glen-sj]

I used a grease that is compatible with rubber bushings.

[Kibokojoe]

Received a call from AutohausAZ today. He said he talked to a technician and they said spray silicone and a big hammer. So it sounds like you all have the same idea just different ways of lubing. Thanks for the input

[Kibokojoe]

Yeap all rubber

[Tiger]

Believe me, you don't even need a hammer.

[Kibokojoe]

Aligning the sway bar with the axle does what?

[Tiger]

if you jack up the car only on one side... you will see that swaybar move way way way away by the time you got the new link ready to put on. Instead of trying to 'flex' that swaybar back... you get the point.

[632 Regal]

I turned down a customer update due to this, the sway bar was way rusty and I didnt feel like doing the whole 9 yards of work for 20 bux, I guess it will slip on with liquid soap but the bar needs to be clean. That also involves repainting it if you want to do a job with your name on it. 20 bux, nope no thanks and I refuse to do hack.

[shogun]

na hammer, no force needed, if it does not slip in, it is not aligned straight.
I jack the car, then I use a scissor jack under the side of that rear axle (best place you can get there to jack), and then I move the axle up or down till the bolts slides in straight like butter.
In case you need force, the bolt and the bush and the counter part are not 100% in line. That is the trick, use a scissor jack, cheap and with nice fice adjustment.
Any scrap car has it.
The last one I got free of charge when my mother in law scrapped her old Totota Crown which was 20 years old. Complete Toyota tool set, nice jack, all never used.

[Kibokojoe]

Oh I see. I always jack up from the center, with stands on the trail arms. I then use a small portable jack to push thing up or down to position them.

[Kibokojoe]

Wish I had seen this. I got them installed fairly painlessly. Ends of the sway bar were clean. No need to paint. I gave the end of the swingarm and the rubber grommet on the link a good shot of spray silicone. Then just grabbed the swaybar with one hand and with a twisting motion force the rubber grommet onto the swaybar. Got about halfway and then gave them another shot of spray silicone. Another grunt and a couple more twists and they were on. And by the way yes I have a scissor jack. I got it out of my 83 Dodge Challenger before she was carried off to the junk yard. That was a sad day.

[Tiger]

Soap!

[Kibokojoe]

Don't know what the side effects of soap is on rubber. Whereas silicone is safe on rubber...anyway this was my reasoning,,,,as limited as my reasoning is :)

[bubba966]

RuGlyde. Get it at NAPA. It's rubber install lube. For tires & bushings & such. Works great and actually conditions & cleans the rubber as well. Was trying to get an exhaust donut on my car and having a bitch of a time with it. Then remembered I had that gallon of RuGlyde and attacked it with that. Popped into place damn near instantly with the addition of the RuGlyde.

[Kibokojoe]

Will check this out. This isn't an April fools joke is it.

[genphreak]

No mate, that'd be SpooLube, it's esp. made for Z-cars, but works on others.

[bubba966]

No mate, that'd be SpooLube, it's esp. made for Z-cars, but works on others.

Lol. That's a good one...

RuGlyde is for real. No jokes.


http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Detail.aspx?R=BK_7651338_0273925351

Just like it says, rubber lubricant...

[Kibokojoe]

RuGlyde I will check with vehicle maintenance tomorrow and see if they have any

[bubba966]

RuGlyde I will check with vehicle maintenance tomorrow and see if they have any

Not sure if anyone other than NAPA sells the stuff.

I've never seen it anywhere else. Nor had I heard of it before the parts guys at my local dealer told me about it when I asked about a gummi-fledge replacement since BMW no longer sells it. They told me to go to NAPA to get it. But I'm sure it's possible to get something similar from some other source. It's main function is tire install lube. And I doubt every tire installer in the country goes to NAPA to get RuGlyde...