Can’t get sway bar link to align after strut replacement

2005 pre runner.
Ok, I did the passenger strut install and connected everything up ok.
Now I’m finished with the drivers side and everything is connected except I can’t get the sway bar link to go into the knuckle bar. It’s about 2 inches away from the hole. I removed the sway bar from he frame to make room for the strut removal and I have that back on but loose.
Is there a trick to this? Do I have to jack up the other side of the truck or something?

 

did you put the sway bar in correctly?

 

Check the other side and see if nothing in the way.

Remember, the sway bar is one whole piece. You move one side, the other side moves. If something is in the way on the otherside, you wont be able to move it.

 

Jack up the bottom of the control arm. It should compress so the bolt holes line up.

 

Is it supposed to move freely. It’s pretty tight to move. I’ll take a look at the other side. Ok there was nothing in the way. But I jacked up the other side of the truck and it evened out the side I worked on to get it aligned. I hope when I lower it it moves together and doesn’t snap. First time I’m working on suspension like this.

 

It is near impossible to install the sway bar without lifting the entire front end, or removing from the bushings as you have stated.

@Kauim is on the money. That is what I would do if you can only get one side up at a time.

If you have a lift, you will need the sway bar relocation brackets otherwise it will interfere with the spindle.

I have a 2.5" lift and swaybar relocation. Picture I just took for your reference.

 

Just jack the front of the truck up so both sides are drooping the same amount, then they'll line up. I'd bet you have the other side sitting on the ground with the wheel/tire on and this side is sagging.

 

this..... the swaybar connects both sides as you see, use the floor jack to compress that side till the hole lines up, easy as that.

 

Yes, I left one side on the jack stand and I jacked up the other side and it lined up. thanks for all the help. 205k miles and the new shocks all around make a huge difference after one test drive. Should have done it a few years ago.

 

I actually tried that first and it went up a little but the entire truck started to lift. Jacking up the other side did it tho. Thanks for the help.

 

Put the tires on it and set it on the ground.

 

this is the correct answer

 

Just wanted to chime in and let you all know how much I appreciate these posts and guidance. Was installing my Bilstein 6112s this evening and ran into this very issue. Would’ve been lost without these solutions. Crisis avoided.

 

One benefit of deleting the sway bar and throwing in the trash never to be seen again, is not having to deal with the problems that come with it any more
Such as aligning it, noises, it moving, compatibility with lift, less articulation, etc

there is just more body roll (if your shocks are not good) which is handled by not flying through corners. Which most people are not gonna do in a heavy lifted armored truck anyway.

Where/how did you find 6112 in stock?

 

So I actually got these back in August from Shock Surplus. And then time got away from me before I finally got around to installing them last night.

I was still on a waitlist back in July and had to set up for an email alert when the 6112/5160 came available a month later… then I jumped on it.