mellowness65
05-01-2008, 12:33 AM
Tools needed: 14mm and 12mm socket and ratchet, 12mm wrench, 14mm wrench(only if you use upgraded endlinks)
Time: <1hour
Parts needed: sway bar, d bushings, endlinks
I swapped my es bushings onto my 19mm rsb(rear sway bar) today and figured I'd add some pics. If you want to upgrade to a bigger one they can be found on second generation(91-96) escorts, gt's and wagons having solid 21mm rsb's and all other trims coming with the hollow 19mm one(what I have). If you upgrade the bar, you should upgrade the puny endlinks and d-bushings as they'll probably be wallowed out from use.
Here's a view from the rear of the car pointing out the endlinks and d-bushings I installed
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w118/mellowness65/Folder%20of%20Knowledge/P4300014-1.jpg
Stock endlinks will be 12mm bolts, D-bushings will be held on by a 14mm bolt.
To remove one from your car or any other stock escort it's easiest to put a closed end 12mm wrench on the nut on the top of the endlink, and use a 12mm ratchet on the bottom bolt head to loosen them. That way the wrench will hold against any random piece of suspension allowing you to loosen the bolt. Make sure to take the endlinks off first because they can spin, the D-bushings can't and will prevent the bar itself from rotating while you remove the links. After you get that done use a 14mm ratchet to take off the d-bushings. There is a lone bolt in front of the bar and the rear fits into a slot on the car. The bolts are long, so it's kind of annoying to get them off, the bolt is outlined in red in this pic.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w118/mellowness65/Folder%20of%20Knowledge/P4300013.jpg
After you get the endlink nuts and bushing bolts off the bar should be able to fall into your hands. This picture shows where the endlinks and d-bushings go once they are removed, endlink hole at the left and d-bushing mount to the right.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w118/mellowness65/Folder%20of%20Knowledge/P4300009.jpg
Now put on your upgraded bushings and endlinks. Make sure to note how the stock endlinks go together and put the aftermarket ones on with the same arrangement of pieces. from the bottom they will go bolt>washer thing>es bushing>rsb>es bushing>washer>spacer>washer>bushing>attachment point to car>bushing>washer>top nut
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w118/mellowness65/Folder%20of%20Knowledge/P4300012.jpg
My bushing pieces had a flat side to put towards the washer pieces, the other side will have a raised lip around the bolt.
To put the bar back on, do the reverse of how you took it off, d-bushings first, endlinks second. Tighten everything down and you're done and have something like this:
Rear view
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w118/mellowness65/Folder%20of%20Knowledge/P4300014.jpg
From the front of the car:
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w118/mellowness65/Folder%20of%20Knowledge/P4300015.jpg
If anyone has any suggestions to add please feel free :cjw:
Time: <1hour
Parts needed: sway bar, d bushings, endlinks
I swapped my es bushings onto my 19mm rsb(rear sway bar) today and figured I'd add some pics. If you want to upgrade to a bigger one they can be found on second generation(91-96) escorts, gt's and wagons having solid 21mm rsb's and all other trims coming with the hollow 19mm one(what I have). If you upgrade the bar, you should upgrade the puny endlinks and d-bushings as they'll probably be wallowed out from use.
Here's a view from the rear of the car pointing out the endlinks and d-bushings I installed
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w118/mellowness65/Folder%20of%20Knowledge/P4300014-1.jpg
Stock endlinks will be 12mm bolts, D-bushings will be held on by a 14mm bolt.
To remove one from your car or any other stock escort it's easiest to put a closed end 12mm wrench on the nut on the top of the endlink, and use a 12mm ratchet on the bottom bolt head to loosen them. That way the wrench will hold against any random piece of suspension allowing you to loosen the bolt. Make sure to take the endlinks off first because they can spin, the D-bushings can't and will prevent the bar itself from rotating while you remove the links. After you get that done use a 14mm ratchet to take off the d-bushings. There is a lone bolt in front of the bar and the rear fits into a slot on the car. The bolts are long, so it's kind of annoying to get them off, the bolt is outlined in red in this pic.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w118/mellowness65/Folder%20of%20Knowledge/P4300013.jpg
After you get the endlink nuts and bushing bolts off the bar should be able to fall into your hands. This picture shows where the endlinks and d-bushings go once they are removed, endlink hole at the left and d-bushing mount to the right.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w118/mellowness65/Folder%20of%20Knowledge/P4300009.jpg
Now put on your upgraded bushings and endlinks. Make sure to note how the stock endlinks go together and put the aftermarket ones on with the same arrangement of pieces. from the bottom they will go bolt>washer thing>es bushing>rsb>es bushing>washer>spacer>washer>bushing>attachment point to car>bushing>washer>top nut
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w118/mellowness65/Folder%20of%20Knowledge/P4300012.jpg
My bushing pieces had a flat side to put towards the washer pieces, the other side will have a raised lip around the bolt.
To put the bar back on, do the reverse of how you took it off, d-bushings first, endlinks second. Tighten everything down and you're done and have something like this:
Rear view
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w118/mellowness65/Folder%20of%20Knowledge/P4300014.jpg
From the front of the car:
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w118/mellowness65/Folder%20of%20Knowledge/P4300015.jpg
If anyone has any suggestions to add please feel free :cjw: