Jonny K's JK

My sway bar wouldn't disconnect and the light would just flash. It had no articulation and a rough ride off road. So here is what I did... I suspected the motor had failed. Remove links using 18mm on but and bolt. Next the bracket and bushing with 5/8. I didn't have 16mm in any of my sets, weird. Both sides loosened, try not to catch it with your face. I think there was a cover over this before but to disconnect the harness move the grey handle from left to right. Then rock back and forth while pulling. Looks surprisingly clean, no corrosion is a good sign! It should come down freely now after loosening the bolts the rest of the way. Using a 15mm socket I removed the electric motor. Pulled apart and some rusty water came flowing out. By using my socket and extension I could push in the larger hole and while holding it pressed I could swing the sway bars in different directions. Like this Wiped of grease and the motor end looked good. Ok here's the problem gears were rusted together. Close up on the rusty parts. So it looks the the motor pushes this gear past the other one so they are no longer connected and can swing freely. Looks like an artifact off the Titanic. Connected to harness, transfer case in 4-hi, sway bar off. Sway bar on or disconnected. So now that I know that works time to clean the rusty components. You will need a toothbrush and a pail of gas.


Check.






I can only post one pic at a time if your reading this that means there is more to come.

Earth Siege

The real question is, are u going to tell ur significant other that u cleaned the sway bar disco with their toothbrush? I know u didnt grab urs....lol. More pics!!!!!

Jonny K's JK

New problem with app and iPhone. I can't scroll down far enough to add text to what I've already written. Here is my operating system. Anyways where was I?



The wife's toothbrush and some extra fine sandpaper got these pieces pretty shiny. Here they are all greased up with marine grease. (Stuff for like boat trailer bearings) also used #2 gasket maker I had laying around. To get the pieces back together I had to have it vertically holding one swaybar link with my foot while sandwiching the other half on top. Make sure to have the two bars in a straight line of each other. It should just close up tight and then bolt together. Don't just get it close and try to finish it by tightening the bolts, like I did on my first two tries. Put it back in and go test it out. In 2WD I don't have any flashing lights, in 4WD and the button pressed once my sway bar light still flashes and won't stay on solid but I can feel the difference. My circuit board may also have some water damage but this will work until it's completely toast at which point I will remove the motor and install the thumbscrew mod. Hope this is helpful for someone with similar issues!

Ryan0260

This is going to be a good write up. Thanks for doing this.