Sway Bar Help Please

JohnnyViper said:

Ok been working on my 97 GTS for the last few days and some of the things I have been doing has been a PITA but with patients all will be well. Here is my problem, I had to remove my sway bar for some of the things I have been doing and upon reinstallation I attached the sway bar to the sway bar links and tried tightening the top nut to 150 lb pounds of torque and the bottom one to 200 lb pounds of torque like my manual recommended. I took out my torque ***** and before it reached 150 lbs pounds on both, the nuts just spin in place and the resistance is almost gone, it did not feel like 150 lbs before it started spinning. Just for information the bolt is not spinning but the nut. I either striped out the nut, bolt or both and now I can not back the nut off to see what the heck is going on. Are these torque specs correct? Also is there any after-market links, I noticed one has a ripped rubber boot. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

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Jack B said:

I could be wrong, but, that torque value seems too high.

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Jack B said:

I could be wrong, but, that torque value seems too high.

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cyaford said:

It's inch pounds....

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I hate it when that happens.

JohnnyViper said:

thats what I thought but I went with it because thats what the service manual stated

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Jack B said:

I am looking at the 97 manual and it says:

50 ft lbs to frame
200 in lbs at the bar, that is a little over 16 ft lbs

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jdeft1 said:

Try a big bolt cutter to bust off the old. Maybe a dremel with a disc grinder wheel.

Chalk it up to "Lesson learned"..

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cyaford said:

From the 1997 Viper Service Manual: Top Left on page 2-38

- 150 in lbs for the stabilizer bar link to the control arm

- 200 in lbs for the stabilizer bar link to stabilizer bar

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Jance GTS said:

Front or back sway bars?

I strips the threads on my front end links and bought 2 used ones from X2 Vipers. Talk to Shannon and she will set you up! The ones I bought looked brand new and the boots were in perfect condition! Only cost me $80 for the pair!

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cyaford said:

I replaced my links because the rubber boots were torn. I don't see how it would be possible to remove them without damaging the boots. I had to get medieval on them just to get them out.

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Jance GTS said:

You can get them out with force and a big hammer without damaging the boots and threads if you take the nut and place it on the very end of the threads. Hit the nut with the hammer and you won't damage any threads and it should pop right out. I learned that the hard way

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