DIY: Energy Suspension Front Sway Bar Kit
DIY: Energy Suspension Front Sway Bar Kit
This is a DIY install of an Energy Suspension Front Sway Bar kit # 5.5124(32mm Bar, and new drag links.)
The vehicle is my 2001 Ram 2WD QC. This whole operation took no more than 1 hour actual labor to complete. (I decided to add paint in as you'll see below, that added about another hour to the job.) The Kit contains 2 new bushings with mounts, and 2 new end links with corresponding bushings.
You you little skinny guys, you can probably do this with the truck on the ground. Me? I am 6'5" 285 lbs. so up went the front end, SET UP ON JACK STANDS AND A FLOOR JACK UNDER THE CROSSMEMBER(safety first!), and removed the front wheels.
After spraying the end links and bolts for the bushing with pen. oil. Time to dismount. Here's a neat part- you only need 1 socket and 1 wrench to do this a 15mm deepwell, and wrench, that's it. I started by droping the bottom bolt off both endlinks, then moved to unbolting the bushings. Having an extra pair of hands here helps to support the bar, if not, a jack will do. Here it is out of the truck.
A Little comparison to what was there and what was going in:
I decided to do a little touch up on it while it was out.
Once the paint was dry, install the new bushings with a good smear of grease inside the bushing itself. Torque to 46 ft./lbs. as per my Haynes manual. The endlinks are not specific for install. I opted to keep the included nylock nut up top (swaybar end) in case I had to make any adjustments. Tighten the endlinks down till you see a little "squish" on the bushings.(honest to god that is what the tech guy from ES said) Here is the finished product
Lastly, the bushing as you can see have grease fittings, I pumped about 5-6 pumps till i saw it ooze around the whole bar. Wiped off the excess, and buttoned the truck back up. I did notice that all the factory bushings were dry rotten and cracked. I have not driven it yet as of this write up. But I suspect that the front end will have a tight feel to it. It was an easy install in all honesty.
The vehicle is my 2001 Ram 2WD QC. This whole operation took no more than 1 hour actual labor to complete. (I decided to add paint in as you'll see below, that added about another hour to the job.) The Kit contains 2 new bushings with mounts, and 2 new end links with corresponding bushings.
You you little skinny guys, you can probably do this with the truck on the ground. Me? I am 6'5" 285 lbs. so up went the front end, SET UP ON JACK STANDS AND A FLOOR JACK UNDER THE CROSSMEMBER(safety first!), and removed the front wheels.
After spraying the end links and bolts for the bushing with pen. oil. Time to dismount. Here's a neat part- you only need 1 socket and 1 wrench to do this a 15mm deepwell, and wrench, that's it. I started by droping the bottom bolt off both endlinks, then moved to unbolting the bushings. Having an extra pair of hands here helps to support the bar, if not, a jack will do. Here it is out of the truck.
A Little comparison to what was there and what was going in:
I decided to do a little touch up on it while it was out.
Once the paint was dry, install the new bushings with a good smear of grease inside the bushing itself. Torque to 46 ft./lbs. as per my Haynes manual. The endlinks are not specific for install. I opted to keep the included nylock nut up top (swaybar end) in case I had to make any adjustments. Tighten the endlinks down till you see a little "squish" on the bushings.(honest to god that is what the tech guy from ES said) Here is the finished product
Lastly, the bushing as you can see have grease fittings, I pumped about 5-6 pumps till i saw it ooze around the whole bar. Wiped off the excess, and buttoned the truck back up. I did notice that all the factory bushings were dry rotten and cracked. I have not driven it yet as of this write up. But I suspect that the front end will have a tight feel to it. It was an easy install in all honesty.
Last edited by Miami_Son; Nov 14, 2009 at 06:01 PM. Reason: adding pics
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Joined: Apr 2009
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Are you sure you tightened the nuts enough? When I did mine there was about 1/2" of thread showing and the bushings look compressed. Yours look loose.
Also, you need to hit Enter before you put in your image tags so that they don't shift all over the page and require side-to-side scrolling.
Also, you need to hit Enter before you put in your image tags so that they don't shift all over the page and require side-to-side scrolling.
Last edited by Miami_Son; Nov 14, 2009 at 06:02 PM.
According to the Tech guy at ES. He said it should be tight enough to set the washers on the bushings with a little squish. As soon as i get a shower I am gonna drive it and see. Now he didn't mention if there is different specs for 2wd or 4wd. All he asked was year,make,and 2wd or 4wd. You may be correct Rick, but I am gonna drive it first.
