I've looked around and it seems no one offers a 1" longer sway bar end link than the stock 88 uses. So I am going to offer the longer bolt and a longer center spacer along with new washers and poly ends. Probelm is that no one seems to readily have an 8 1/2 l(215 mm) long bolt. I can get 200 mm easily. My question is -usually the bolt is longer than what is needed and can I use a 15 mm shorter one or can the sway bar end links be only 5/8 longer and still be OK? I can also make the end link 3/4" longer and the bolt 200 mm if that offers enough threads to get it started. Looking for some input.
I haven't installed mine yet, but I'm planning to add 1" drop springs at the same time, so I'm hoping that I won't need the longer bolt. If I do I think the 200 mm will be more than long enough. I know at least one member installed the lowering ball joints already...what bolt did he use? I'm interested.
I've looked around and it seems no one offers a 1" longer sway bar end link than the stock 88 uses. So I am going to offer the longer bolt and a longer center spacer along with new washers and poly ends. Probelm is that no one seems to readily have an 8 1/2 l(215 mm) long bolt. I can get 200 mm easily. My question is -usually the bolt is longer than what is needed and can I use a 15 mm shorter one or can the sway bar end links be only 5/8 longer and still be OK? I can also make the end link 3/4" longer and the bolt 200 mm if that offers enough threads to get it started. Looking for some input.
Dang, I wish I'd read this post earlier... I just ordered a set of lowering balljoints from your website. They're going on a Formula.
Do you currently have longer bolts I can purchase from you? I didn't think there'd be a problem that you hadn't already solved.
Thanks, Rodney - looking forward to hearing from you.
Instead of using longer bolts, why not use threaded rod that can be cut to length?
I don't know that I'd trust threaded rod to perform to the same degree as OEM-equivalent bolts.
However, I trust Rodney, so I'm going to go with whatever solution he discovers or devises.
Thanks for the suggestion, though... heck, I might be looking at it backwards, for all I know. Some degrees/types of threaded rod may just blow the OEM bolts right out of the water...
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01:33 PM
Formula88 Member
Posts: 53788 From: Raleigh NC Registered: Jan 2001
You can get replacement end links, with poly bushings, at AutoZone for pretty cheap. I don't know exactly what sizes they have. I know they didn't have what I needed when I put on my lowering springs, but that might be different than what you'll need for the lowering ball joints.
Looking forward to some feedback on these. I just put Rodney's regular ball joints on my Formula last Fall when I installed my Eibach springs, but I'm pulling those Eibachs off the rear at least and I may go back with stock springs on the front if these work well.
Those Eibach springs have been a colossal disappointment.
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03:32 PM
Tom Piantanida Member
Posts: 527 From: Palo Alto, CA, USA Registered: Oct 2004
The bolt has two weak points: the transition from shank to threads and the threads themselves. In tension, the bolt's major weak point is thread engagement; the threaded rod is no worse in this regard than a bolt of the same grade.
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03:50 PM
Rodney Member
Posts: 4715 From: Caledonia, WI USA Registered: Feb 2000
I should have longer poly end links for the 88's in a few weeks. I could not find longer bolts. I had a place that rolls threads make some studs with threaded ends. One threaded end threaded short for a nut that will be welded on and one end threaded longer. They are a grade 5 type in strength. These will be with black poly and the bolt and spacer and washers in the gold like zinc plating.
I'm 'in' for whatever you come up with and deem acceptable, Rodney - just let me know when it's ready and what it costs, and I'll place an order. Thanks!
I'm 'in' for whatever you come up with and deem acceptable, Rodney - just let me know when it's ready and what it costs, and I'll place an order. Thanks!
Same for me Rodney
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12:29 PM
DanFiero Member
Posts: 2815 From: Cedar Rapids, Iowa Registered: Jul 2002
After getting a chance to look at mine I will be needing longer bolts. However one question I have is looking at the bolt currently there, it seems to be long enough to raise the sway bar about an inch if I was to say put a space underneath it and raise the swaybar up on the existing bolt (see picture). Now I'm no mechanic, but I would think this idea would work, anyone have any reason as to why it wouldn't work? I know the spacer would sit on top of the stop already on the bolt, but I could easily add another stop on top of the spacer.
Thanks for any ideas,
Dan
[This message has been edited by DanFiero (edited 03-31-2005).]
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09:12 PM
Mar 16th, 2005
LZeitgeist Member
Posts: 5662 From: Raleigh, NC, U.S.A. Registered: Dec 2000
Well, I finally got my spacer placed and also realized that whoever worked on my suspension before put my sway bar on upside down. After 2 hours of drilling out the 4 bolts (yeah, I snapped all four off) from the sway bar U brackets and rethreading them it only took a few minutes to get my swaybar back on with the new 1 inch longer spacers on the endlinks. I used 1/2' steel pipe to make my own spacers as I couldn't find aluminum in that size. My end link bolts were already long enough to accept the longer spacer so I just reused my existing setup. Without further adieu here's the pics:
My spacer painted black (to help prevent rust):
And you can see the space between the sway bar and the tie rod now clears with plenty of space:
The swaybar clears equally on the other side. Just an FYI this is an 87' GT with stock suspension.
Next weeks project is putting on the Held coilovers on the rear.
Dan
[This message has been edited by DanFiero (edited 03-31-2005).]
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02:08 AM
LZeitgeist Member
Posts: 5662 From: Raleigh, NC, U.S.A. Registered: Dec 2000
Thanks for the update - mine may be long enough as well, now that I think about it - I'll have to take a look and see if the same 1/2" steel pipe solution will work in m case, too.
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07:26 AM
Dirty Harry Member
Posts: 347 From: Orlando, FL, USA Registered: Jun 2003
How long are the sleaves on the end links on the front of an 88 GT? I have aftermarket end links that I may be able to use (The bolts are 8.5" long) by just lengthening the sleaves an inch.
That was a mistake by my web page guy. I have an email into him to have it changed to the $28.50 per pair. If you order them I wioll change the price automatically to the $28.50 per pair.
