Sway bar installation tips please

Suspension related stuff goes in here.
JohnMc
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Your car is a: 1970 Fiat 124

Sway bar installation tips please

Postby JohnMc » Fri Jan 01, 2016 12:54 pm

Happy New Year!
I have a '70 Spider that I bought last year with what appears original suspension rubber components which were crumbling. Replaced all A-arms, tie rods, center link, and installed new springs.
The engine and transmission are also out and rebuilding those. Will torque all above when the engine etc back in and with proper weight per original Fiat book instruction book (equivalent of 2 persons on front seats plus 44 lbs in trunk).
Removed the sway bar and drilled out the center brackets to remove them and rubber but putting back has been nightmare. Did just order 4 new brackets to hopefully assist.
Can you please give me tips/suggestions for this process. I realize this is not something that is done much but some specifics could really help me.
Thank you very much.

JohnMc
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Posts: 226
Joined: Mon Aug 10, 2015 8:30 pm
Your car is a: 1970 Fiat 124

Re: Sway bar installation tips please

Postby JohnMc » Fri Jan 01, 2016 1:07 pm

I needed to add that the car is suspended with no wheels, engine or tranny.

DieselSpider
Posts: 2130
Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2014 10:21 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider with Isuzu Turbo Diesel

Re: Sway bar installation tips please

Postby DieselSpider » Fri Jan 01, 2016 1:48 pm

JohnMc wrote:I needed to add that the car is suspended with no wheels, engine or tranny.

They are usually easier to put on when the wheels are on the ground. You will often have to deal with severe angles with everything hanging.

burgandy81
Posts: 371
Joined: Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:38 pm
Your car is a: 1981 FIAT Spider 2000
Location: Victoria, BC

Re: Sway bar installation tips please

Postby burgandy81 » Fri Jan 01, 2016 1:59 pm

Agreed. With the car suspended you will need to jack up the suspension to get everything lined up.

On my 81 the main chasis brackets have a bias ( might be the same on early cars?). You need to put them on the correct way so that the sway bar is forward of centre (if I remember that correctly).

If you get the brackets on the wrong way ( it looked fine to me!!!) the sway bay is too far back and will interfere with the lower A arms.

JohnMc
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Posts: 226
Joined: Mon Aug 10, 2015 8:30 pm
Your car is a: 1970 Fiat 124

Re: Sway bar installation tips please

Postby JohnMc » Fri Jan 01, 2016 2:32 pm

Thanks, will do.

Do you all find it better to do the center first, do both ends first or start on the end and go to the other end?

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njoconnor
Posts: 614
Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2012 7:06 pm
Your car is a: 1972 124 Spider

Re: Sway bar installation tips please

Postby njoconnor » Fri Jan 01, 2016 9:02 pm

For me, it was center brackets, loose (just threaded), then ends. Since my car was still up on stands, I used the floor jack (Thanks, Allen!!) to raise/lower the lower control arm until everything lined up (I also used a C Clamp to draw bar to mounting points). Mine took a while, and some uncivil language muttered to myself. Patience, persistence, and knowing SOMEONE had gotten this done were what it took....

Neil
Neil O'Connor
Madison, WI
72 FIAT 124 Spider
12 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Summit
14 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn Eco-Diesel
ex-71 FIAT 124 Coupe
and a host of Audi's, Saabs, VW's, MOPAR's, Fords, and a Bimmer....

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Nanonevol
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Posts: 828
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2014 9:17 am
Your car is a: 1977 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: Medway, Massachusetts

Re: Sway bar installation tips please

Postby Nanonevol » Sat Jan 02, 2016 2:39 pm

If it's difficult, maybe that's why mine looks like this:
Image
Cold in the garage but first on my list in spring.
1977 Fiat Spider
1985 Jaguar XJ6
1967 Triumph Bonneville (hard-tail chopper)
1966 BSA Lightning


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