ENDLINK INFORMATIVE - QUICK HOW-TO ENDLINKS, ALSO MEVOTECH/MOOG ENDLINKS INSTALLED Options

[trdproven]

>>LET'S GO OVER REAL QUICK OUR REPLACEMENT OPTIONS OUT THERE:
TOYOTA OEM FRONT ENDLINKS Item #4: $61.50
TOYOTA OEM REAR ENDLINKS Item #4: $45.75








SWAY BAR LINK INSPECTION:
Condition.............Code........Procedure
Attaching hardware incorrect .............. A .......... Require replacement of incorrect part, if available; otherwise, replace link.
Attaching hardware loose .................. A ... Require repair or replacement of loose part, if available; otherwise, replace link.
Attaching hardware missing ................ C .. Require replacement of missing part, if available; otherwise, replace link.
Attaching hardware threads damaged ........ A ... Require repair or replacement of part with damaged threads, if available; otherwise, replace link.
Attaching hardware threads stripped (threads missing) ...... A ..... Require replacement of part with stripped threads, if available; otherwise, replace link.
Ball and socket has looseness (perceptible vertical movement) ..... 1 ........ (1) Suggest replacement.
Ball and socket has looseness that is excessive .............. B ..... (1)(2) Require replacement.
Bent .................... B ............ Require replacement.
Broken .................. A ............ Require replacement.
Corroded, affecting structural integrity ... A ............ Require replacement.
Grease boot cracked ..... 2 ........ (3) Suggest replacement.
Grease boot missing ..... 2 ........ (4) Suggest replacement.
Grease boot torn ........ 2 ........ (5) Suggest replacement.
Missing ................. C ............ Require replacement.
Nut on stud loose ....... A ............. (6) Require repair.
Stud bent ............... B ........ (7) Require replacement.
Stud broken ............. A ........ (7) Require replacement.
Threads damaged ......... A .. Require repair or replacement.
Threads stripped (threads missing) ............... A ........ (7) Require replacement.
(1) - If manufacturer’s procedures for inspection exist, use
those procedures; otherwise, use an approved inspection
method such as the dry park check.
CAUTION: DO NOT use pliers or pry bar to check ball and
socket movement. Use only moderate hand pressure.
(2) - Excessive looseness is defined as being significant
enough to affect vehicle handling or structural
integrity.
(3) - Cracked grease boot will allow contaminants to enter
the joint and will accelerate wear.
(4) - Lack of grease boot will allow contaminants to enter
the joint and will accelerate wear.
(5) - Torn grease boot will allow contaminants to enter the
joint and will accelerate wear.
(6) - Check for bent stud or damaged taper hole.
(7) - Check for damaged taper hole.


TOOLS NEEDED TO REMOVE AND REPLACE ENDLINKS:


Real Quick On Removing and Installing Endlinks:
1. Jack up the car in the correct jacking points, place jack stands in correct jack stand areas. Refer to manual or on this forum. I guess to be
safe you can block the wheels depending if you are doing front or back.
2. Take off wheel.
3. Identify the endlink to be replaced.
4. Use 14mm wrench to remove nut, must be used with allen wrench at the same time so that nut does not move with the stud. Repeat for the other nut. (If yours is stuck use vise grips on the other side of the sway bar so you can lock it in place. Refer here: http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=41243. You can also use a disc grinder but be careful.
5. Once both nuts are removed you can take off the endlink. Sometimes you have to use like scissor jacks to play with the knuckle and lift it up and down if the endlink is stuck - same thing goes for removal and installation.
NOTES: However some aftermarket endlinks do not have the part where the allen wrench goes in to hold the stud from moving. I suggest depends on the endlink you can slip a wrench on the other end's inner nut or you can install the outer nut onto the endlink first meaning not on the car. Note: Some aftermarket endlinks use bigger nuts than OEM like 15mm or so. Some aftermarket links like MEVOTECH or MOOG, if you put on the nut almost halfway but then it gets tight after that and it makes the stud spin, so before installing onto the car, use two wrenches and install the nuts onto the links first (not on the car) and then remove, then install onto the car - this will make the threads ready for the nut to go on easier. If your endlinks still have the center part where an allen wrench can fit into then no worries, removal and install is simple. In simple terms you gotta get out the endlink and put on the endlink, depending how they come off and on.
GREASABLE ENDLINKS (Sometimes Only offered for certain cars, by certain brands, or if there is a common problem with a specific car model):
In my case I also used a grease gun on the fittings cus mine came with them. For the MOOGs it was not necessary to add more grease, they looked pretty full but the MEVOTECH's looked less so i used the grease gun on these links. Technically you can tell when to stop pumping grease when it begins to slightly ooze out of the boot. It might ooze out more once you lower the car. In most cases, if your car is on the ground, and if you can fit under there, this is the right time to put grease cus its already settled into its final suspension load. Its pretty straight forward, but I don't want to get too detailed unless you guys want me to elaborate.

6. Pretty simple - installation is reverse. Pls see below torque spec.



Introduction and Options:
What are Endlinks?
In general, end links are also known as sway bar links. These are the parts that connect your sway bar to the lower control arm, which induces twist into the sway bar as it moves up and down, thereby reducing body roll. End links are bolted to a round opening at either end of the sway bar, and then into round openings in the lower control arm, knuckle, and/or Strut. The sway bar is also connected to the car’s frame by way of sway bar mounting or frame bushing. Worn out end link bushing can allow your car’s body to roll while cornering.


Now, I just wanted to give you guys somewhat of an informed update on me upgrading to the MEVOTECH front sway bar endlinks and MOOG rear sway bar
endlinks. My links are bad so I am just trying to get something better than OEM. I'm not trying to loose much of the OEM drivability. I'm sure
higher end products change the feel of the car especially if you combine them with sway bar bushings and sway bars and make it more for sporty
driving or track.

My Other Options:#1. I could have gotten the GT4 Racing PolyUrethane endlinks that come with Polybushings (non-adjustable) that i'm sure would be good for track and stiff
feel but was not sure how this would affect ride quality so opted for upgraded OEM replacement links that are beefier but still use the ball joint design.
There is also lots of talk about how the possibility over time the poly bushings material in general tend to squeak and I did not want to deal with that
idea, I could be wrong or whatsoever, and I don't know anyone that has GT4 Racing ones that could vouch for it specifically for our cars. The product is
semi-brand new if not brand new since no one has it yet. http://www.gt4-racing.eu/index.php

#2. There are other options that azian_advanced found for the rears only which are adjustable hex poly bushing endlinks which may be an option for you.
There are also the TwosRUs adjustable endlinks for front and rear and comes in red/stainless finishes and full stainless finish which costs alot more. You can read on both here on http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showto...&hl=twosrus

Actual Install and Results:
Good thing about both MEVOTECH and MOOG besides they are obviously beefier are that they are both greasable and come with Zerk Fittings (this I hope
makes the links last much longer). But with the beefiness and zirk fittings, makes it to me more of an upgrade from regular endlinks that have neither especially the going rate for OEM "toothpick" endlinks that cost about 50-70 bucks eachx4. For the MOOG brand, needs no introduction, they are respected in the suspension/chassis arena. In fact, I went ahead and bought me MOOG inner and outer tie rods to go along with it. Thinking of the lower ball joints to be MOOG too.

To get started...Here are pics of the front stock endlinks still installed. Needs no explanation, looks weak, thin, and breaks fast.


Here are pics of the comparison side by side for the front. As you can see the MEVOTECH front links are much beefier. As Spider once mentioned they
are 13mm compared to the stock 8mm on the rod size. Comes with a nice blue boot cover but thats just for show. I read that the black boot covers are
the newer designed ones (supposed to be better) which i've seen as well but dunno the difference of how some say its better. FYI, MEVOTECH for some reason offers their beefier models for both front and rear for our model. For other cars, MEVOTECH sometimes provide the stock skinny ones for example for the 7gc. I guess we are lucky. The reason why i decided on getting MEVOTECH for the fronts and not MOOG all around is because MOOG front links seem to be like stockish looking and its size - I did not know for sure but i've seen the fronts for other cars and they size up the same as stocks.


Here are pics of the MEVOTECH Front endlinks installed. Nice!


Here are the pics of the rear stock endlinks still installed. Again, scrawny.


Here are the side by side pic comparison for the rear. As you can see the MOOGs are definitely beefier. Comes with a nice MOOG black boot cover with
their logo. Also has the greasable zerk fittings. I did not opt to match MEVOTECHs in the rear only because I know MOOG is top-notch replacements.
Again MOOG rear endlinks are much better in design than their front version, thus the mix and match with MEVOTECH's fronts. MOOG fronts just look
like stock (which I'm sure is just equal or a bit better than OEM). MOOG I believe may offer this same design for the fronts and rears but not for every
car, in our Celica's case, just the rears are the nicer ones.


Here are pics of the rear MOOG endlinks installed. Sorry crappy phone night pics. But Definitely looks beefier and nicer.



Review and feedback of the ride upgrade.
Car feels much stiffer, very noticeable, there were turns I used to take with my worn out ones and I would just feel the car tilt, now its more stable with
these ones. Turn-in is great, im hugging turns a lot better now. Definitely a good feeling. I thought maybe there wouldn't be a difference but there is. I will
probably loose that feeling over time when i get used to it, but as of now its a night and day difference.

In conclusion, there are many decent OE replacements out there, Autoextra, MEVOTECH, DEEZA, Beck and Arnley, AC Delco, Raybestos (Service and
Professional Grades), NAPA, whitelines (AUS), MOOG, etc. - some better than others. MOOG and RAYBESTOS (Pro Grade) are good choices for ball joint
types. I'm not trying to promote the products I installed, just wanted to tell you my experience on this setup. Again there are many brands out there,
mix and match parts, etc. for you to choose from. Another good tip is that there are some cars that share the same endlinks either front/rear
interchangeable so that means if other cars have a performance version thats an option for you too. A good example was azian_advanced's Miata rear
endlink find. Also with adjustable endlinks since they are hex types, you can flip the bolt/stud to face in same or opposite directions and adjust height
length as well giving you more options < as so i think i understand it that way. For the most part what endlinks are its generally the same its really just a
matter of length and the direction of the studs for it to fit.

So good luck on your endlink jobs and be safe when doing it. Again constructive feedback is welcome so that we can make it better if anything...

ENDLINK WRITE-UP BY:


This post has been edited by trdproven: May 29, 2012 - 11:06 PM