Rear Sway Bar Links

[Subway]

Took the Levin into AJ at Pitstop today to get what I thought was the rear D Bushes replaced (knocking in the rear suspension) only to find that its apparently the Rear Sway Bar Links that are shot instead. Is it a job I could do at home with a jack? How much are they and where would I be looking to buy them? Im guessing BNT or so, but im an oil change specialist, thats about it haha

[Mr Revhead]

easy job
go autolign, more likely to have them on the shelf
rrp around $30-40 each

[Lloyd]

And make sure you have some vice grips or similar as they can be annoying to get off sometimes. Easy as job, just sometimes the nut doesn't want to come off

[Subway]

Rang Autolign, $30 each side, hardest part will be fitting them haha

[KinLoud]

spray crc on the joint everyday for 3 days before you change it - will help loosen the rust.
get a good allen key - most toyotas use allen key on link
wire brush the exposed thread before you undo it to get rid of the rust that WILL jamb the nut.
I often hit the nut with 2 hammers i.e. hammer - nut - second hammer with hammers on opposite flats.
Once the nut starts to turn work it back and forth a few times before undoing nut more - repeat.

Follow the above and you wont end up using an angle grinder.... or then again you might not care about what happens to the link afterwards!

Good luck

Ken
Auck
021 408 863

[Subway]

Managed to get the nuts off, but I cant seem to see how the link actually comes off, its installed in a Z format if that makes sense, i see there is an allen key pattern on the end of the bolt, but it doesnt want to come out, even with the new links

[Subway]

Managed to get it off, autolign sold me the wrong links, i need ones with a 46mm gap, the ones they sold me are maybe half that?

GRRRR

[Mr Revhead]

they are measured from centre to centre of the ball joints
shouldnt they be 110mm?

[Lloyd]

You cant get them off with the nuts removed? They should basically fall out.

And 46mm sounds way too short for them. There are a range of sizes available through BNT/Autolign and its usually easiest to take a sample in or measure them first

[bluemaumau]

how would i go about measuring mine. ive installed adjustables and the mounting point on the strut is way higher than stock. how would i go about getting a accurate measurement?

[Subway]

In hind sight for a desktop mechanic this was possible the easiest job ive done on my car thus far. People who can't do this or do an oil change should be shot. The nuts weren't that tight (bit of elbow grease) and they really just popped off in the end, disappointing part was getting one off and realising that autolign after telling them it was an non facelift ae111 non superstrut levin still got the part wrong, had to take it back (drove back from Opito Bay in the coromandel with noisy links) to swap them. Thank you toyspeed, you saved me $120 for a 20 minute job