Rear Swaybar installation

Rear Swaybar installation

how long should it take for someone who is moderately experienced with working on cars?

and how long should it take for an experienced mechanic who has worked on Toyota's for 10 years?


and how long should it take a suspension specialty shop?


-_-

I can check alldata at work to get dealership times if you want that?? and if i remember lol

ok on the forums....average time is what 30 minutes? just from reading previous posts.


went to 5 shops today....1 was 2 hours. the 2 dealerships were both 1.5 hours. the suspension shop was 3.5 and they required me to get an alignment as well. and 1 shop who did "suspension work" didnt install swaybars.


how hard is it to install on your own...plu?

plan on around 3 hours max. doing it yourself from start to finish with hand tools. I don't know if you can get the stock bar out without remove a strut. And if your endlinks are seized or have to struggle with a full gas tank set aside even more time. If I had to do it again I can probably do it in 1.5 hours max. The hardest part is trying to figure out how to wiggle the old bar out. Then, I had to take the whiteline bar out again to reverse the whiteline bar because I didn't note which side the old bar went in first. And one of the bolts that strap the gas tank was at an odd angle with my socket wrench and extension so that significantly slowed me down.

hmmm....so it took you 3 hours to do it, and you've never done it....and the shop is saying it will take them 3hours..and they HAVE done it.....i dont get shops sometimes. i might take a crack at it next weekend. did you only jack up the back?

gl on the install. Dont forget pix and a good writeup!

Its been debated whether or not you have to drop the gas tank. I don't see why but Plu sounds like he did. I would take a really good look at it, before you start taking things apart.

Also I don't see why you would need an alignment afterward. I guess they were just trying to make money.

well, you would need an alignment since you are playing with suspension and such. and since its an adjustable sway bar you can really mess it up. im not sure if you'd need to drop it i think it makes it easier.

I'll get the popcorn ready

I printed off all the service bulletins from alldata today. Tomorrow I can scan them and post them up on here. I printed off front and rear swaybar removal and installation procedures.

sweet! thanks!

everyone is probably aware of this installation guide.
hotchkis 22421 sport swaybar set

yeah, the gas tank drop is required because you have to turn the bar to get it out and with the tank dropped there is barely enough space to turn the bar. Well, I take that back you are not really dropping the tank, you are only dropping the rear side of it (removing the 2 rear bolts). And yes I jacked up the rear of the car only.

I dont think we can post such info... PM would be nice

right you unscrew the two back bolts...and prop it up with oyour wheels taht you took off right? i havent gottena chance to do it yet maybe this weekend...do you think it would be ok if i just use the jacks that came with the car? (mine has 2 for some reason)

and no i had no idea about that install guide.

i did it in 5 hours with no help. there are a lot of tubes back there (gas tank hose, gas tank, charcoal canister tube blah blah...) be careful back there. don't forget.... you're not just installing a new sway bar... you're removing your factory one as well.... take your time.

the installation time seems to vary pretty widely.

Do it yourself man !! good experience!!

got those installation instructions. cept it was really cold and snowed on my vacation. so it will have to wait even longer =[.

so i got that bitch installed. but i dont know which is the stiffest setting. is the the one on the end of the bar? i set it in the midddle. i definately feel more comfortable going fast around corners. it took out alot of body roll. but there can be more improvement if i set it to the stiffest setting.

oh...took me about 1 1/2 hours because i had to let the wd40 sit

The inner one is the stiffest setting. 1 1/2 hrs sounds about right.

did you have to take the strut out to remove the old bar?

no...i was able to leave it in it didnt give me too much stink pulling it out. i will adjust it this weekend hopefully.

Don't you need your wheel alignment checked after installing your new rear swaybar? Congrats on the install.

yes i still need to get my alignment done after installing my suspension =]