Stabilizer bar and bushings (front) — removal and installation
Removal
1. Loosen the front wheel lug nuts. Raise the front of the vehicle and support it securely on jack stands. Apply the parking brake and block the rear wheels to keep the vehicle from rolling off the stands. Remove the front wheels.
2. Detach the stabilizer bar link from the bar (see illustrations). If the ball stud turns with the nut, use an Allen wrench to hold the stud.
i. 2a Stabilizer bar link nuts
i. 2b If the ball stud spins while loosening the nut, hold it with a hex bit
3. Unbolt and lower the subframe (see Strut assembly (front) — removal, inspection and installation). Remove the stabilizer bar from the subframe.
4. Check the stabilizer bar bushings; if they’re cracked, worn or deteriorated, replace them. It’s also a good idea to inspect the stabilizer bar links. To check them, flip each ball joint stud side-to-side five or six times, then install the nut. Using an inch-pound torque wrench, turn the nut continuously one turns every two to four seconds and note the torque reading on the fifth turn. It should be no less than 0.4 in-lbs. If it is, it’s too loose and the link should be replaced.
5. Clean the bushing area of the stabilizer bar with a stiff wire brush to remove any rust or dirt.
Installation
6. Lubricate the inside and outside of the new bushing with vegetable oil (used in cooking) to simplify reassembly.
Note: Don’t use petroleum or mineral-based lubricants or brake fluid — they will lead to deterioration of the bushings. The slits of the bushings must face the rear of the vehicle. Also, the bushings must be positioned to the outside of the bushing stop.
7. Installation is the reverse of removal. Tighten the fasteners to the torque values listed in this Chapter’s Specifications.