Sometimes I wonder why i bother..

[W.O.T. Stang]

The simplest things to do, always turn out to be a huge pain in the ass.

I'm 3/4's of the way installing my swaybar and putting on new endlinks.  Well the new bushings I got have to use the supplied brackets, which are a good 3/4's of an inch shorter then the stock ones.  That means it not only puts the sway bar about 1/2" from the oil pan drainplug, it also makes the end-links come up shorter then stock.  Not to mention benchpressing 30lbs of uneven weight over your head while trying to thread a nut to a crooked bolt while trying to hold it straight from the other side is an exercise of controlling one's temper to begin with.

So now I have to lower the car and attempt to install the end-links while it's on the ground to get them to preload properly, since I dont have ramps.  On top of that, since the swaybar sits higher, it also stresses the powersteering lines, which one is start to drip now from it.  I patched the damn thing with rtv sealer, hoping it will seal it.  I'm now covered in it, because, of course, it had to drip all over. 

Anyways, i just felt like going on about how something I figured would take an hour tops, ii'm still messing around with.  I was gonna put my stock H pipe back on today too for emissions testing crap, but that might have to wait another day now.  I dont think I have the energy to start it after doing this.

Like I said, I sometimes wonder why I bother.  I'm sure i'm not the only one whose been there.

[BadAndy]

I feel your pain brother....

[Mr. Black]

I can take my swaybar in and out in less than a half hour. I have it down to a science and I use air tools. No ramps.

Just a jack and one jackstand.

I'm thinking I would have fabbed up spacers if I was in your position.

My car handles more than fine with stock gt stuff so I run with that.

[W.O.T. Stang]

I can take my swaybar in and out in less than a half hour. I have it down to a science and I use air tools. No ramps.

Just a jack and one jackstand.

I'm thinking I would have fabbed up spacers if I was in your position.

My car handles more than fine with stock gt stuff so I run with that.

The spacer idea would work, but I have no spacers, and wouldnt know where to begin on how to make one to fill the gap and not fall out when the suspension was unloaded/unequal load (cornering)

Anyways, to add to the fun.. I just found out my *drip drip drip* turned into Niagara falls once the engine was running.  I figured i'd check now before it was on the ground.

So now I have to figure out how the hell to replace powersteering line..

the new bushing


How close the bar sits now


damn powersteering leak after 15 seconds of running


The line that is leaking 

[Mr. Black]

two observations. One, you really should put washers under those nuts especially when the slot in the steel is that big and two, why can't you put those poly bushings in your stock brackets? did you look into that at all?

Personally I wouldn't run it the way you have it.  Is your car lowered at all?

[W.O.T. Stang]

two observations. One, you really should put washers under those nuts especially when the slot in the steel is that big and two, why can't you put those poly bushings in your stock brackets? did you look into that at all?

Personally I wouldn't run it the way you have it. Is your car lowered at all?

Yep, I plan on putting washers under those nuts once it gets to that point, just havent yet.

The stock rubber bushing is twice the size as the poly bushing.  I tried using the stock brackets @ first, but the difference in the size of the bushings is what you have as slack (theres a huge space between the top of the poly bushing, and the frame when using the stock bracket)

I even went thru the trouble of getting my stock bracket fixed (the whole reason this bar has been off so long, other then the track, is because one of them snapped in half).

I wish I would have taken a picture so you can see what I mean.  For now though, check out this picture, and you can imagine the difference i'm talking about.

[Evil95GT]

So lemme get this straight...........

I get the '95 running to the point I can actually DRIVE it and trust it, and your car decides to take a crap?  Talk about luck. Anyhow, don't stress about the P/S lines. Jerry had to "add" power steering this year, and he said the lines weren't that big of a deal, as long as you can get some things out of the way.

[W.O.T. Stang]

So lemme get this straight...........

I get the '95 running to the point I can actually DRIVE it and trust it, and your car decides to take a crap? Talk about luck. Anyhow, don't stress about the P/S lines. Jerry had to "add" power steering this year, and he said the lines weren't that big of a deal, as long as you can get some things out of the way.

That is kinda funny isn't it?

The stock lines are the biggest pieces of junk.  Metal fittings into rubber lines with those clips i hate (the ones you have the pliers for), into metal cooling tube.. what sense does that make?  I guess so it's flexible, but if you added the metal ones in the right spot, it would be a lot better.

I think now I finally have a reason to run new lines and get that damn relocation kit after all this time.  Those lines have always "sweated" a little, but never leaked, especially like this.

Not much I can do with it now though.  "Marv" don't get home for another 3 hours, and it'll be dark by then.  Probably just take the bar back off, figure out how one of these brackets are going to work, figure out what the deal with the line is, and then mess with it another day.  Figures it's gotta happen when the last day or so of great weather is here too.

[BSL]

Get some stock rubber bushings........
Like I said b4- its less hassle to replace them once a year......

To get the links started, you could back the bushings off almost all the way- that will give you the reach you need to get the nuts started.

What a PITA- these nothing worse than dirty PS steering fluid everywhere Grrrrrrrr

[W.O.T. Stang]

Get some stock rubber bushings........
Like I said b4- its less hassle to replace them once a year......

To get the links started, you could back the bushings off almost all the way- that will give you the reach you need to get the nuts started.

What a PITA- these nothing worse than dirty PS steering fluid everywhere Grrrrrrrr

Thanks for the help!

I think I have the powersteering leak fixed, but until I get some more fluid, I won't know.  I took the rubber line off from the metal one and checked it for holes... couldn't find any.  I flipped the line around and put it back on all the way, and tightened the clamp back down.  I think it was just the swaybar causing it, which was my own dumb fault for routing them over top of it instead of underneath it.

As far as the bar, i dont know what i'm going to do.  I spent the better part of today messing with it and I'm in no hurry getting back to it again without a solution.  I'm pretty sure i'll be ok with the new brackets, I just have to get some load on the suspension so I can install the end-links.

[W.O.T. Stang]

Well, I found my problem!

It turns out that Energy Suspension sells a specific bushing for Mustangs only!

After researching it more, and looking at their site, it turns out I accidently ordered the standard 1 5/16" bushings from summit.  When they make a specific bushing for just Mustangs.

On top of that, I read the BOTTOM of the box, and it says Not for use on GM trucks, 79-96 Mustang, & T-bird.  It made me feel dumb, yet glad that I knew what the problem was.

Oh well, the new bushings are on their way now, and it'll all be done within this week!