Do you need to remove the front wheels on a Saturn Ion?
Raise and support the front of the vehicle. Although doing so will give somewhat easier access to the end links (and frame bushings in some front-wheel-drive vehicles) removing the front wheels isn’t necessary. This Saturn Ion is an example of a front-wheel-drive car in which you have to remove the wheels to get to the frame bushings.
Where does the bushing go on a sway bar?
The middle portion of a sway bar on a car bolts to the chassis. Bushings slide onto the bar and then a metal bracket goes over the bushing and the bracket bolts to the chassis. The sway bar is bolted to the suspension at either end with end links that come off the bar at 90-degrees.
What do I need to replace front sway bar?
Remove the mounts and slide the bushings off the bar. They are split for this purpose. Some vehicles, especially trucks, have mudguards or skid plates that have to be removed before you can get to the sway bar frame bushings. Clean and inspect the bar and mounts.
How are sway bar links connected to MacPherson struts?
The switch to MacPherson struts required a change in how and where sway bar end links were connected. Confusing the matter even more, they connect upward to the MacPherson strut and are longer, or they connect to the lower control arm and are shorter.
Raise and support the front of the vehicle. Although doing so will give somewhat easier access to the end links (and frame bushings in some front-wheel-drive vehicles) removing the front wheels isn’t necessary. This Saturn Ion is an example of a front-wheel-drive car in which you have to remove the wheels to get to the frame bushings.
How to replace front sway bar bushing and links?
This shows the new passenger side frame bushing on a 2001 GMC Jimmy. Lightly grease the bar, bushings, and mounts. Slide the bushing over the bar and cover it with the mount. Position and reattach the mount. Torque the nuts/bolts to specification. Grease as required.
How is the sway bar connected to the wheel?
This pushes up on the right lower control arm which, because it’s connected to the sway bar through the end link, pushes up on the end of the bar. This twisting motion in the sway bar is translated to the left side of the vehicle, pulling it down and holding the wheel to the ground through the corner.
The switch to MacPherson struts required a change in how and where sway bar end links were connected. Confusing the matter even more, they connect upward to the MacPherson strut and are longer, or they connect to the lower control arm and are shorter.