HELP! Fail. Can't loosen the bolt on the swaybar.

Trying to pull my coilovers out to put new ones in and I can't loosen the bolt on the swaybar. The screw where the allen wrench goes into is stripped. Any way around this? Help!

 

Propane torch. Heat it til red hot, nut will turn off with ease.

That or hacksaw the bolt and replace.

 

Try a pair of vise grips on the bolt between the spindle and the sway bar.

 

Argh Im out of propane!

 

Try the vise grips, no propane required! And use an impact gun on the nut if you have one available to you.

 

OK I'll try that thanks.

 

I found that as long as you are able to disconnect at least one of the sway bar links, and remove both of the mounts on the frame, the sway bar will swing enough to get at the coilover on the side that is still connected. Lots of penetrating oil on the links before hand will help of course. I guess this info could be useful for anybody, just to save time...only one link has to be disconnected to remove the coilovers. If it comes down to it, you can always cut out the sway bar links, and and put in new ones once you get them. In the mean time, there shouldn't be any harm in driving around without a sway bar until you have the new links. You may experience a little more body roll is all.

 

good ideas above.

 

cut the bitch of..... remove the whole assembly.... never put it back on.

Thank me later.

 

Vise grips: when you think wow, I'm fucked, but not fucked hard enough.

 

As stated vice grips and impact wrench works every time. then replace bolt so it will be easy next time.

 

I do most of my wrenching in my dirt driveway. In a situation like this, I often just spit in the dirt then pick up a glob of mud with the allen key and jam that bitch in. The dirt usually provides the required grip. I know, I'm a heathen...

 

Lol! That's ingenuity and McGyvership at its finest right there!

 

gawd damn sumbitch stripped bolt..... ill show that sucker whos boss... BILLY BOB!!! GRAB THE MUD ALLEN!

 

Vice Grips for the win!!! Whew thanks for the input guys I was ready to take a fucking hammer to that thing. So delete the swaybar eh?

 

Im not running one. Took it off and it felt wierd for about a week. now I love it.

 

i recommend no sway bar if running upgraded coilovers. if running stock coilovers with a spacer lift or something, leave the sway bar.

 

You'll forget there ever was a sway bar before you know it. High(er) speed curves, relatively low speed (for safety) swerving, etc... I haven't noticed any negative driving characteristics. The front end simply absorbs bumps more smoothly.

 

60% of the time they work every time.

Yes, try it without. Mine is still haning in the garage rafters.