An Addco Rear Sway Bar, can anybody give me any tips or info from their experiences so I'll be totally prepared. Thanks

 

First try to put the car up on a lift, it will make your life much easier. Second make sure you have the right tools, ie Torque wrench etc, take your time and watch the brake lines when you install the clamps. Also after you drive for a little go back and tighten the sway bar to ensure proper fit. But most important Enjoy the performance of it after its installed!
1995 GXE 1st Place NOPI Nationals 2000
Skyline conversion.....its coming

 

Lift's make this install a breeze. You lift it up, you unbolt the brake lines, you bolt on, you rebolt brake lines, you finish.

I did mine with a jack, which made it a lot harder, because I'd have to slide under the car and do all my work under it. It only took me about an hour and a half like that, so it's still pretty easy.

Tips:

1) use dish soap and a rubber mallet to bang the bushings on if you're having trouble with them.

2) No torque wrench? Tighten the screws until the base of the metal begins to bend. At that point, stop.

3) Go take a fast corner

 

I just installed my Addco/Cattman RSB yesterday. I jacked each side up using the scissors jack that came with the car and placed 2-ton jackstands under the rear beam axle, very close to the tires. This allows you to crawl under the back of the car and get the RSB on. Put all the bushings on the bar; two go on the straight middle section as close as possible to the bends, and two go at the ends of the bar. Addco's instructions state that putting the bushings toward the ends of the bar decreases the "rate the bar puts out." However, the brake lines at each side (left and right) of the car run along the trailing arms to which you'll clamp the RSB bushings, and I found that if the two end bushings are placed too far from the end of the RSB they'll rub against a thickened connection in these brake lines.

Now you have all four bushings placed on the bar. Go under your car and assemble the two clamps that will hold the straight center section of the bar up against the rear axle. The order of components is as follows:

• u-bolt, rear axle, base plate, bushing around RSB, then mid-section bracket.

Do not tighten the two assemblies at this point! Swing up the ends of the bar, center the bar on the rear axle if the ends hit the trailing arms, then assemble the two clamps around the trailing arms. Step away from the back of your car and make sure the two clamps on the straight center section are symmetrical and close to the bends on the bar. Get back under the car and tighten all the locknuts, and you're done.

If you have Cattman's black powdercoat, be aware that the finish chips easier than a 5th gen's paint. You might not care too much about this since the bar is under the car and no one will notice chips on it.

If you want further instructions or pictures of the assembled bar, I can write up the instruction sheet that came with my RSB or take pictures of my installation, or both. Alternatively, check the org's ShopTalk section. Ignore steps 3 and 10. I don't understand step 12.

Good luck with the installation. It's easier than I've made it sound.

 

I used some wheel ramps. I installed one using jacks and sliding in and out was a pain. Ramps made it easier.

A friend to help would be nice too. Working upside down is not fun by yourself.

And instead of using soap and a mallet, try using a towel and a mallet or a piece of wood. Soap just makes everything messy and when it dries, it gets really, really hard to move the bushings. Just place the towel over the bushings and smack away.

However, contrary to what someone said before, I found it easier to install when I removed the 10mm emergency bolts. The Org's Shop Talk RSB install directions are pretty good.

As for the torque wrench, your local PepBoys/AutoZone/auto parts store might have a rent-a-tool program. Rent a torque wrench. Use it. And return it after the install. Or buy a cheap one. I got one for about $10. You never know when you might need it again.

 

wow i can't wait, when i get my FTSB from street-beat and install that with the RSB i'm hoping to see some nice handling gains...hmm modding is getting addictive