Sway bar question

[Irv]

I got my new arms installed but I am having a bugger of a time getting my sway bar re-attached.

When the sled is in the air and all weight is off the a-arms etc should the sway bar be loose so to speak?

I re-attached the left side but when I went to install the right side, the bolt hole would not line up (with the swivel that come off the lower a-arm) and I can't seem to get the bracket with all the little grooves to go but in 2 positions, which are both wrong.

Is it possible the sway bar got twisted when it took a hit to the right side?
Looking at it it looks straight as an arrow.
(sorry, don't know the right parts descriptions)

EDIT: I managed to get the bolt in but there is some tension with it in there. I am guessing but the bolt hole on the swivel/knuckle that comes off the lower a-arm is out about an 1/8 of an inch?

It all pertains to this thread below http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php?t=102862

 

[APEX 06]

Is it the aftermarket one.

 

[Irv]

Is it the aftermarket one.

I believe it is a stock one Apex06?

I put the sway bar in a vise to have a look and the one end is slightly crooked compared to the other end that was in the vise.
The bar is straight but both ends (brackets?) do not line up with each other.

 

[driftbuster]

I put on a new 13 mm bar this summer and had to play around with the bar and the two brackets on the floor to find grooves that were even on both ends of the bar.
Forget lining up the brackets with the lines on the ends of the bar, get the brackets to go onto the bar evenly and put it in the sled.

 

[Irv]

I put on a new 13 mm bar this summer and had to play around with the bar and the two brackets on the floor to find grooves that were even on both ends of the bar.
Forget lining up the brackets with the lines on the ends of the bar, get the brackets to go onto the bar evenly and put it in the sled.

Thanks drifbuster, sounds like I am going to have to do the same, just hope the sway bar isn't twisted?

When you installed yours, did all your bolts holes line up making it easy to put the bolts in?

 

[LJ 452]

Sounds like the bar has a bit of twist in it. Not a big deal, and if you got the thing back to gather it should be fine. The bar basically has a touch of preload on it know, since it's the stocker (11mm) it wouldn't be noticeable. If you didn't you may want to have a look at the bushings in the bulk head, they wear out/break and then the bar wears in to the bulkhead.

 

[hossZ28]

Irv the sway bar is essentially a round spring it is designed to twist so when the suspension on the outside ski in a turn is being compressed the sway bar is trying to force the inside ski into the ground. It is normal to have some tension when one link is attached and trying to connect the other side. Hope this helps think snow and have a happy sled season. Hoss

 

[Irv]

[quoteU452
Sounds like the bar has a bit of twist in it. Not a big deal, and if you got the thing back to gather it should be fine. The bar basically has a touch of preload on it know, since it's the stocker (11mm) it wouldn't be noticeable. If you didn't you may want to have a look at the bushings in the bulk head, they wear out/break and then the bar wears in to the bulkhead

I am going to try it after I get the sled back on the ground, not raised in the air and see what the tension is like?

Good tip on the bulkhead bushings, mine are still in decent shape I think but will have a closer look just to make sure.

Irv the sway bar is essentially a round spring it is designed to twist so when the suspension on the outside ski in a turn is being compressed the sway bar is trying to force the inside ski into the ground. It is normal to have some tension when one link is attached and trying to connect the other side. Hope this helps think snow and have a happy sled season. Hoss

Good to know, but I do not remember having any tension when I was removing the bent A-arms, (probably the reason why?) so now that the a-arms are new and straight I wasn't expecting this tension but it is good to know it is normal.

I would assume everyone who installs a stocker or the 13mm sway bar also sees some tension when they are installing it?

 

[Essarex]

You did not twist the sway bar, the material and heat treat process is too tough for that.

There will be normal tolerance stack up that will prevent a 'perfect' alignment, so don't woory about the holes not lining up. Do make sure you line up the marks on th end of the bar with the short sway bar arms, though.

To get the holes lined up for bolt insertion, just move the a arms a little up or down (you'll have to overcome a little front shock spring tension however).

One final note, hoss Z28 is not correct. When the outside arm/shock is being compressed in a turn, the sway bar is trying to COMPRESS the inside arm/shock to keep it at the same level as the outside. This keeps you flat in the turn.

 

[Irv]

You did not twist the sway bar, the material and heat treat process is too tough for that.

There will be normal tolerance stack up that will prevent a 'perfect' alignment, so don't woory about the holes not lining up. Do make sure you line up the marks on th end of the bar with the short sway bar arms, though.

To get the holes lined up for bolt insertion, just move the a arms a little up or down (you'll have to overcome a little front shock spring tension however).

One final note, hoss Z28 is not correct. When the outside arm/shock is being compressed in a turn, the sway bar is trying to COMPRESS the inside arm/shock to keep it at the same level as the outside. This keeps you flat in the turn.

Thanks Essarex, I did manage to get them bolted up, it just took some slight upward pressure to line the holes up.

I can still easily slide the sway bar in and out so I know there isn't excessive pressure on it so I think I should be good, I hope?

Appreciate the info, thanks