Question for Jim on sway bars

[lwasson]

Hey Jim

When I removed the sway bar on the '83 the bushings were shot and the bar was pointing downward at a severe angle in the lower link. Re-installed its doing the same thing placing uneven pressure on the bottom side of the sway bar as it goes into the link. The new bushings an inner sleave won't last too long. Is this downward cocked position normal?

The only way I see of putting the sway bar in straight at the lower link connection is to disconnect the link from the chassis, tighten the sway bar while its straight then try and re-connect the link to the chassis with all the lateral pressure exerted from the sway bar. I also feel that once the lower link is connected (assuming I can connect it) the sway bar would go back to its downward cocked position.

I have pics if my explanation of the problem makes no sense? I can email them to you.

Thanks for the time and help,
louis

[hilly]

I guess you are talking about the front antiroll bar, if you are then that is exactly how I put mine back on (unbolting the whole bar, fit the bushes/bar to the lower arm and then refitting the bar to the chassis) after changing the bushes for polyurethane items.

I first tried to do the bushes with the bar still fitted to the chassis but due to the angle, it split one of the bushes on the thread as it was tightened.

Andy Hills
1981 S3

[lwasson]

Thanks Andy

Not exactly what I wanted to hear but I'll take it back apart and do it over.

Did the front sway bar connection remain straight after you re-attached the lower link to the chassis?

Thanks again,
louis

[hilly]

No, it bends upwards compressing the bushes at an odd angle when it is all put back together.

I can take some pics of my front suspension if it will help.

Andy

[lwasson]

Pics would be a big help. Having another car to gauge by is always helpful.

My sway bar bends downward where it enters the lower link connection.

This is probably a really stupid question but not having any history on the car and that it has been abused and alot of things don't make sense on the car do you think the sway bar could be upside down? Almost positive it can go only one way but this has been one strange car to work on.

thanks a bunch,
louis

[lotusguy]

Louis,

Andy is exactly correct. The whole assembly must be removed. If it's assembled correctly, then the angle of the anti-roll bar is what it is. An acute up or down angle could pinpoint other issues such as tired springs.

As an aside, I'm not a fan of poly bushings on an Esprit. Given the stiffness of poly and the light weight of the Esprit, I don't believe that poly bushes flex sufficiently to to allow the suspension to work properly. I have seen poly bushing tear rather quickly because of this and the ride quality suffers somewhat as well. Happy Motoring! Jim'85TE

[lwasson]

Thanks Jim. Again not what I wanted to hear considering I've got the assembly back together but I've spent several months and $$$ on getting the suspension back up to speck. No need in cutting corners now.

Thanks for all the advice.

Plenty of questions still to come,
louis
1983 S3 Turbo