Sway bar bushing replacement- mounting bushings

[dmorrison]

Well I made a large post on the front end rebuild I'm doing on my 82 300TD. A lot of good advise was put in the replies.
I have an additional question about the sway bar mount bushings.

I will be replacing everything on the front end. Everthing wearable that is. And wanted to replace the sway bar mounting bushings while I'm at it. No sense in doing half of the job. Looking at the sway bar set up. I was wondering at what point is the sway bar "unloaded". There is no tension on the sway bar at the bushing mount?

I was planing to remove both front coil springs at the same time then rebuild the left front suspension, then the right front suspension. That way I can always refer to the other side for reference. Then when the suspension was done I would do the steering linkage.

I figure that with the Coil spring removed there should be no force on the sway bar and working on it at that time would be easy??? Is this correct?
Or is there no tension on it when the car is on the ground, on both tires?

I figured I could jack up the car, place it on jackstands and then place a jack under the hub and raise both front hubs untill I felt no tension in the sway bar attachment at the upper control arm.
But I figure someone here must know

Thanks
Dave

[GregS]

I think you'll find this link helpful.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=46760&highlight=GregS+sway+bushings

Good Luck.

GregS
'84 300D, 173k
'90 300CE, 162k

[dmorrison]

Greg
Thanks for the post. That is exactly what I was looking for.
I plan on doing a complete front end rebuild. and I think I will start with the sway bar bushings while the car is on the ground. I will jack it up and place it on stands for the front end Removal and replacement. It will be easier to get to the bushings when the car is at "normal" height.
Again Thanks

Dave

[GregS]

No prob!

Greg