The saga continues. I took a few weeks off, I took the kids to Niagara Falls and Toronto before their school started. Vacation time.

This week I replaced the passenger side sway bar bushing which was pretty easy since the battery and tray have to come out. I had already taken the spindle off and I had tried to remove the lower control arm bolt but it was really tight.

Yesterday, I tried removing it again. This time, while using my 24" long swivel head ratchet, I hung from it and tried to losen it. No go, it wouldn't budge, although I did get a crack from it.

So, I put on a short section of boiler tube on the end of this ratchet and stood on it. Still not go, wouldn't budge. Then I bounced up and down on it and it finally loosened. That bolt/nut combo must have been torqued to 500 ft-lbs. I weigh about 190 and with a two foot lever and bouncing up and down on it, 400 - 500 ft-lbs sounds about right.

Then I replaced the upper control arm and sway bar bushings. I had to jack up the driver side to get a 'favourable angle' as the manual states. Alignment helps.

I'm going to take the LCA and bushing ends to an MB repair shop and have them press on the end caps. I already took the end caps off and the internal bushing out and replaced the bushing and tried the end caps but that was a no go. Large sockets or the special tool is needed. I want to get a move on.

Next. PS gear and idler arm bushings.

The end is in sight. I've decided to let my kids drive the car when they get their licenses in about 2 years.

__________________
Regards

Warren

Currently 1965 220Sb, 2002 FORD Crown Vic Police Interceptor

Had 1965 220SEb, 1967 230S, 280SE 4.5, 300SE (W126), 420SEL

ENTER > = (HP RPN)

Not part of the in-crowd since 1952.