Hey all,

I'm currently trying to reconnect my swar bar and am having issues doing so. I have a 2.5" metalcloak dual rate lift with the quick disconnects. I've also been driving with it disconnected for a few months.

The two pictures I posted show the two disconnects when I'm trying to line them up. The drivers side connects fine but the passenger side hangs lower. It also might appear that the pin for the end link might be bent. On another note, the passenger end link seems very loose and I had a similar issue with an end link already.

I'm hoping someone might have some advice or similar experience. I've really tried to get the link into place but I don't want to force anything. Pretty frustrated with this right now.

 

Why be driving around disconnected when you can park on level ground, loosen the jam nuts, and adjust the links appropriately so they mate up with the pegs? The one peg does look bent but hard to tell in a picture. It wouldn't hurt to keep those pegs greased well either given where you live. I'd sand that rust off and keep em lubed....maybe with Fluid Film.

 

I'm actually looking to get the undercarriage coated within the next few weeks, this rust is bothering me as well.

I was in my driveway when I took this picture so I wasn't sure why it wasn't lining up properly. One of my disconnect pins broke and I was just waiting for the new one to arrive.

I didn't install the lift so I want to make sure I'm adjusting the right component if need be. I can try to take better pictures of the bent pin/bracket but I'm worried that's the issue.

 

If you ever lose one of those pins again, typically a local hardware store should carry what you have or even a lynch pin like this that would work -


I'm guessing if the pin is bent that it might actually be the bracket on the axle that is bent. You might just be able to whack that with a BFH a couple times to straighten it out a bit. Keep in mind those links don't have to be the same length so if you need to tweak that side a bit to work it's no big deal. Just make sure the jeep is on level ground and adjust the links so they slide on/off easily. Often the jeep will "look" like it's sitting level but will actually be leaning to one side a bit so you just need to ensure it is indeed level when you adjust them. SImply loosen the jam nut, rotate the link to lengthen/shorten and tighten that jam nut again. If you ever go to re-connect after being disconnected and the links aren't lining up right, often turning the steering wheel will help lean the jeep body one way or the other a touch. Sometimes you just have to pull to a bit flatter land.

 

Just a little confused on the jam nut you're referring to. Is it where I circled the picture below? I didn't realize I could adjust the length of these end links.

I'm just concerned because I've never had issues with this sway bar before and I've disconnected/reconnected handfuls of times with no real issue.

 

Whenever I used quick disconnects, I would have to roll one tire up on a rock or a wheel chock to get the second sway bar link connected. The system needs to be in tension I guess.

 

That does not look like what you have from your original picture -


It looked like you had a jam nut there so I figured you had adjustable links that were more similar to this -

 

I usually need a bounce from a buddy to get the links to line up, I'm usually not on level ground when hooking them up. You can also move things up and down with a jack if you're short a buddy. If you're parked on level ground and the links are the same length and nothing is bent, it should line up.

 

You are correct, I showed the wrong picture. I didn't have the right size wrench yesterday so I wasn't able to try and adjust the height...although you'll see I don't believe that is my main issue.

I've been looking at it more and I believe the pin/bracket that receives the bottom of the end link is bent/damaged on the passenger side. If I just try and connect only the passenger side, it just doesn't line up properly because the pin is not horizontal. I wacked the link with a mallet a few times but it's definitely not going on the pin easily and I don't want to force anything. The driver's side goes on easily and I can tap it into place with a mallet with no issue.

The other thing I noticed is that the passenger side end link is very loose at the top around the rubber boot. I had to get one of the end links replaced already due to a similar issue and I'm afraid its happened again. I can very easily move the end link around with no resistance and it doesn't hold itself in place. This would be the second end link I've replaced in like a year...not sure what I could be doing that is busting these end links.

 

A decent way to bend flat metal is by using a crescent wrench like this (excuse the crude drawing) -



Remove that peg so you have room, get a large crescent wrench on it and apply force to the driver's side to bend it back the direction you need. Obviously leverage is the key here.....bigger the wrench the better odds of success. You're obviously limited by ground clearance but maybe you can get enough leverage with a 14" wrench to tweak the bracket enough.