Replace stabilizer bushings without raising?

[Cubey]

It's hard to tell from eyeballing, but is it mandatory that you raise/support for replacing the steering stabilizer bushings? I don't have the Haynes manual for my RV [van] but going by the one for my F250 with the same twin i beam setup, it says to do so. But is that actually required?

I would imagine it says the same thing for the rear shocks, but neither the truck nor RV got raised to replace those.

So, has anyone here done the stablizer bushings with all 4 wheels on the ground? Mine are in horrible shape, namely the upper ones on the connecting arms. I would just go ahead and replace them all though.

It's all right there, very easy to reach without raising it at all.

 

[chillman88]

Steering stabilizer or anti-sway bar?

I can't imagine the need to raise the vehicle to change the steering stabilizer bushings. I don't know why anyone would change just the steering stabilizer bushings and not the stabilizer itself.

Anti sway bar link bushings can be done on the ground. I had to loosen the frame mounts to line up the links properly. Then just tightened the frame mounts back up.

 

[IDIBRONCO]

The anti sway bar. He mentioned the upper bushings.

 

[Cubey]

Steering stabilizer or anti-sway bar?

I can't imagine the need to raise the vehicle to change the steering stabilizer bushings. I don't know why anyone would change just the steering stabilizer bushings and not the stabilizer itself.

Anti sway bar link bushings can be done on the ground. I had to loosen the frame mounts to line up the links properly. Then just tightened the frame mounts back up.

The anti sway bar. He mentioned the upper bushings.

The parts come up as stabilizer bar bushing/link on RockAuto, so that's what I was calling it. It's the bar that connects to the I beams with these. The bushings sitting separately in this pic are the ones that look in really bad shape, but I'm sure they all are.

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[Slicknik]

Based off the rock auto photo those look like they replace the rear end sway bar bushings and rod
but it’s confusing because you say it connects to the I beam which would mean the front sway bar
but I have a hunch you might be talking about the radius arm bushings?

(Post a pic and doodle a circle around it ?)

I added some photos for reference ,

In which case yes for the radial arm bushings

No for the front sway bar bushings
No for the rear bushings

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[Cubey]

Based off the rock auto photo those look like they replace the rear end sway bar bushings and rod
but it’s confusing because you say it connects to the I beam which would mean the front sway bar
but I have a hunch you might be talking about the radius arm bushings?

Nope, the part pic above is the front sway bar link. Here's a shot of mine. Remember this is van chassis, so it has a different sway bar and links.

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[chillman88]

Nope, the part pic above is the front sway bar link. Here's a shot of mine. Remember this is van chassis, so it has a different sway bar and links.

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Yeah that's odd but not overly surprising.

You should be able to get those without lifting the front end. Might need a helper to get everything lined up but it should go just fine as long as you can reach everything ok. I would put the bottom on the truck first and then guide the bar over the studs, probably easier than trying to line up the bottom bolt.

 

[chillman88]

The anti sway bar. He mentioned the upper bushings.

That's what I thought but

replacing the steering stabilizer bushings

So I just wanted to clarify.

 

[Slicknik]

Sorry @Cubey forgot your a van guy not a truck guy my bad

But no need to raise the vehicle, it does help the bushings settle in place better

 

[Cubey]

Sorry @Cubey forgot your a van guy not a truck guy my bad

But no need to raise the vehicle, it does help the bushings settle in place better

No sweat, but technically I'm both still.

Here is another shot from further back, showing how easy to reach it all is.

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[franklin2]

It's good practice to install any bushing with the weight of the vehicle on the suspension. If you need to lift the vehicle for access or replacement, do so and install everything but leave the bolts loose, let the vehicle down on the ground, bounce it up and down a couple of times, and then do the final torque down that squeezes the bushings in place with it on the ground.