Any tips or tricks for GMPP sway bar install?

**nickbuol** · 08-13-2009

I messed around for quite some time yesterday with my dad (who was visiting from out of town) and we could not seem to get the new front sway bar installed on my 2000 GTP. Is there a trick to doing this? Do we need to remove the tie-rod ends? We started down that path and just can not seem to get the bolts to come all of the way off. It is loose, but we broke (torqued off) the tip of the 3/8" to 1/4" socket adapter that was allowing us to use an 8mm socket to hold the tie rod from spinning while taking off the nut. Yeah, we needed to use THAT much force. We started wondering if we were attacking the problem correctly or not. I put some PB Blaster on it over night and want to tackle it again.

So, are we on the right track with the tie-rod ends? Thanks!

**jshifti33** · 08-13-2009

You do not have to take off the tie rod ends. The swaybar will simply slide in/out through one of the wheel wells.

**Crave Energy** · 08-13-2009

I had the car on jack stands and then jacked up one control arm to get the clearance to get the sway bar out without removing the tie rod end.

**01gtspecial** · 08-13-2009

that front one is a fatty. make sure you dont put it in upside down. happened to me, had to do it all over.

**nickbuol** · 08-13-2009

jshifti33, the old one came out without any problems once the stinking bolted pieces were completely removed, but the new one is fatter and has an extra bend in it.

Crave Energy, thanks for the tip. I'll try that tomorrow (I've been at the Iowa State Fair all day and I am dirty, tired, and sore....)

01gtspecial, I *think* that I have it right side up. We laid the new one next to the old one and compared the angles of the ends to the way that the bar was laying, and it *seems* correct. Is there any way to know for sure what it "up" before installing it?

**BillBoost37** · 08-14-2009

I've done about 5-8 of them and upgraded all but one. There's an angle where it'll be simple and then there's the times where you only need another 1/2". That's where BFH comes in because you won't hurt the bar.

I've only jacked it up and let the suspension hang with the tires off. Never pulled a tie rod.

**tylerbinski** · 08-14-2009

Lots of us put the bar in upside down to give extra clearance for 3" downpipes.

Mine is flipped

**Liquifire** · 08-14-2009

my stocker came out very easy. The new GMPP front sway is bigger and a tight squeeze when in about 3/4 of the way. We just needed to use a rubber mallet to sqeeze it through but it went. Total time=20mins...... I will probably have to take mine out and flip it when I get the 3" DP........

**nickbuol** · 08-14-2009

Seriously? Flip it? We just got the dang thing in there. It was bumping against the 3" downpipe but we got it in. Will it hurt to leave it in "not flipped" or should I reverse the whole stupid process and flip it?

**minichopper6hp** · 08-14-2009

Flip it.

**nickbuol** · 08-14-2009

We flipped it... I think that it will fit better in the long run anyway.

So here are my tips for anyone looking to put a front GMPP sway bar on...

Jack up the car and put it on jack stands.
Remote the wheels/tires.
Disconnect the passenger tie rod end from the control arm (just makes it easier later).
Remove the old sway bar.
Put the new sway bar in from the passenger side and with the middle "bend" of the bar pointing "down" once it is installed. This give more clearance around the exhaust (especially if you have an upgraded one like I do) and gives better clearances around everything else.
Put it back together and you are done.