I installed the front and rear addco swaybars today after work. I am a member of the auto club at the base, so I have access to a lift and most available tools.

It took me exactly 4 hours to do the front and rear. The rear is very straightforward: simple R&R.
The front is trickier. The shop manual calls for seperating a tierod and disconnecting the downpipe. WIth a stock exhaust, I am fairly certain you aren't getting the bar out of there without disconnecting the downpipe. I know I couldn't, but feel free to try if you think you are spectacular. I didn't feel like messing with the exhaust because of the rust and hassle.

To get the old front swaybar out I seperated one tierod and dropped the rear of the subframe by detatching the 4 bolts and supporting everything with a transmission jack. It took some persuading, but if finally pulled out. It really isn't all that difficult. I recommend you do this if you change your bar yourself. Alternately, you could change it at the same time as a 3" downpipe. That would be ideal.

Since I ended up with 2 pairs of endlinks, I replaced the rear ones too while I was at it. The stock lower bushings on the rear endlinks were in pitiful shape. The rear GM OEM orange bushings are noticeably firmer than the stock 17mm ones. They have the exact outer shape, so they fit perfectly in the clamps. For the front, I used energy suspension greasable poly bushings instead of the supplied addco bushings and brackets (Truth be told I wasn't sure I was going to get them). Honestly, I think they are exactly the same as the new ones addco sent me, except for the zerk fitting, which is to cut down on squeaking. I also used the mounting plates addco sent me. Using the supplied addco bushings, clamps and mounting plates will work fine too, just make sure to grease the bushings before installing them.

I'll get a writeup done when I get a chance, but for now I have no pics. I lent my camera to my GF for her trip to Europe.

The swaybars make a very noticeable difference. It eliminates alot of wallowing and body roll yet the soft springs still offer a great ride for a cruiser (admittedly, stiffer springs would be nice). I can take curves at much higher speeds than before and the car stays nice and flat. I think the swaybars are the correct size and very well proportionned. The stock rear bar looks like a coat hanger next to the new one, and the front bar is massive.

All in all, a great mod. It is everything I expected. Next up: DHP tuner

Nice to hear. Do you have a part # for the rear bushings? I still haven't got mine, and don't think I will, so I'm going to just buy a pair and get this 5-month-old bar installed.

you sould call addco to get what you are owed. They also are supposed to send you 2 front clamps and mounting plates. These will work better than the undersized, soft front stock bushings you have. Give John a call at 1-800-338-7015. He knows the pn of the rear bushing, but might have forgotten about you.

rear GM bushing p/n 25666235

Thanks, I'll have to give them a call.

i replaced my front links/bushings with a with a heavy duty version with poly bushings and treated bolt and separator sleeve. It was a direct fit for the front. I don't intend to replace my bars. I'm very much satisfied with the STB and HD links but I was thinking about replacing my rear sway bar bushings with energy-suspension's universal poly bushings. the bushings look pretty much like the fronts. Question is do you think those bushings will fit well on the back? I haven't really looked too much at the rears yet


here's a pic of the front HD links


The true reason I replaced them is because the previous owner replaced the link on the passenger side with a standard one and the driver side was OEM which really bothered me (type A personality i guess)

turtleman, where did you get the HD links?

Look for a PM, Dave. I know Addco should send me what I've paid for, but if Jack isn't interested, I'd appreciate it if you sent yours to me. If I ever get mine from Addco, I would gladly give them to someone else.

yes I told Addco that the parts for the front fit. John said he would amend the kit to include the bushings, mounting plates and brackets. You should call them to make sure you get them though.

I also have a second set of rear bushings. If you don't receive yours from addco or Dave, let me know and I will give you mine.

You can get HD front endlinks either from energy suspension or with addco's kit. They are included.

I'm getting some squeaking from the front bushings as they are poly, I will have to give them another shot with the grease gun. I have to say the improvement the bars make is tremendous. I feel like I am driving a different car. Compared to these swaybars, the STB does very little.

PM sent.

Do we have a write up on changing the sway bars yet??

I took pics of the front installation. I was planning to do the rears here in the next couple weeks, then do a write-up for everything. If you can use a write-up on the fronts, I could put something together.