How do you install rear sway bar?

#1

Can someone please help me?
I have all of my rear suspension done and now I am trying to install the rear sway bar. How do I install the bar?
I definitely do not want to drop the rear end and subframe again.
Is everybody running the rear sway bar?

#2

You can install the rear sway w/o dropping the sub frame. I sort of recall needing to remove the shock and spring on on side to get the sway bar in.

#3

We can be more help if you tell us the brand of sway bar, and the specific nature of your question(s). As Jim says, I think I normally remove the spring/shock on the passenger side so I have more room to snake it past the fuel filler pipe. Getting the body mounts installed can be a challenge but this depends on the brand.

If you didn’t get a bar with trailing tab reinforcements and/or you didn’t install them, you’ll want to rethink that. A 22mm bar will eventually bend/break the thin factory mount tabs.

#4

Just installed my Ireland rear bar - buy I had the diff out, and had not installed the shocks or springs yet either so I’m not much help.

My bar was very close to my diff and I thought it was going to prevent me from installing the diff cover support bolt - but everything does fit once it is all bolted up. The Ireland body mounts are real fun too cause you get to pull all that heavy black gooey stuff out of the trunk so you can drill the holes and put the plates in.

I bolt my mounts in using the horizonal bolt - then used a punch the dimple the truck floor to make the hole location. Then locate the second hole from the first.

Save all the black goo and put it back in - you’ll likely need it for weight - unless you fill your spare with depleted uranium (now illegal thanks to Grassroots motorosports getting creative with their Chromoclypse spare tire).

#5

You can definitely install without removing the rear end. You’ll want to unbolt the shocks (probably remove for ease) and remove the springs. Other than that it’s just a jigsaw puzzle getting the bar around some of the bends. Not difficult… plan on a few hours just because of the figuring out part.

  • note, I have the suspension techniques bar and the brackets/bushings are a pain to get installed. If you have these, you’ll have to remove some of the bushing material to get the bracket to fit over it.