Sway bar damage?

[vertebrate]

is it possible to bend a sway bar with the bushing bolt? I was tightening the end link on the driver side the first time, and the nut went past the threads somehow. It didn't even feel like I was turning the ratchet that hard and then the nut just went much looser. Now the sway bar is sitting close enough to the control arm that the middle bushings have to be really worked in, and I can't torque it to the recommended 17lbs or anywhere close.

is it possible that I bent the sway bar? It seems unlikely that that bolt would have the strength to bend that bar. The passenger side went on just fine.

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Scottydoggs]

a pic would help but , its un likely you bent the sway, it does move up and down with the suspension.

 

[dsmuts]

Do you have the spacer in the middle?

 

[vertebrate]

yes, all the bushings are in order. I almost couldn't get them in. I don't have any pics right now, but I did measure the gap between the control arm and sway bar. They are both about 5.5cm. So I really don't know what's going on. I am going to try and look at it again tonight or tomorrow.

 

[dsmuts]

If you get a pic we could tell you right away.

 

[SJAndrew]

No not possible. The sway bar is a torsional spring, you cannot deform it unless you bend it by several feet (like in a crash) or bust out your gas axe.