rear sway bar end link removal, how-to w/pics Options

[Batman722]

there are a few ways to remove the sway bar end links. You need to remove them (or at least the top bolt) to change your rear struts (for lowering and such).

this is a commonly used and a very effective way here

spray the old links down really well with PB blaster like 15min before you start,
put a 14mm boxed end wrench over the old end link bolt, turn it, to break it loose from the mounting tab.
then
get a 5mm allen SOCKET.
this is what it looks like:

hammer it into the old endlink.
attach a wrachet to the socket, and use that to hold the bolt in place, and turn the 14mm WRENCH, not the socket.

^^ taken from an old post by presure2

the problem is that our cars are getting older and bolts exposed to the elements tend to rust/sieze up, and with this method sometimes the allen wrench/allen socket would strip out the end link. As posted here by dustin15brown

At this point there aren't too many options. The first time this happen to me, Manny (presure2) used a sawzall to cut through the old links. That took a long while and obviously we had to replace them.

Since then we have run into the same stripped out allen hole problem again. Manny (presure2) had developed a new way to remove them without the hassles we have had before.

here we go with the "JDM Guy" way

tools needed :
14mm socket and rachet
needle nose vise grips
PB Blaster


once you have gotten the wheel off things should look like this



this is the end link



use this



to do this



another angle



I then used a jack to lift up the knuckle to put less strain on the end link



make sure the vise grips are not grabbing the boot of the end link, you do not want to tear it if you plan on reusing the link.

also, make sure you spray things down with some PB Blaster to help the removal process

then use the 14mm socket w/rachet to turn the nut holding the link



just make sure you hold the vise grips steady and remove the nut

the end result should look like this





and another angle of the vise grips on the "lip" of the end link - between the boot and the threaded bolt





any questions ?