Technical Sway/anti-roll bar links

[nigelvan]

I'm attempting to change my sway bar/anti-roll bar links (I'm not sure what the UK word for it is). It should be an easy job according to e-lean. Unbolt 1a and unbolt 1b, like always it doesn't go according to plan:
On both sides the bottom nut to the wishbone comes of rather easy with a breaker bar/impact wrench. But the nut to the sway bar itself doesn't budge. I've tried penetrating oil, WD-40, breaker bar and different impact wrenches. I've also causiously heated it with a heat gun, making sure I don't melt the CV Boot nor the rubber bushing. I'm kind of out of ideas, it seems like the nut is welded on. Anyone out here who faced the same issue?

 

[jackwhoo]

Hi,
You may have to persevere with oil and heat. Clearly snapping the the threaded part off the anti roll bar would be bad.
If you are really determined to replace the anti roll bar drop links you may end up filing or grinding through one side of the nut and then using a chisel.
Best wishes
Jack

 

[The Panda Nut]

I borrowed a battery impact wrench. I bought one straight afterwards as they make this and many other jobs easy. In UK they are cheap things and worth every single penny. Top nuts on struts for example just spin off as well as the anti rollbar links. Usefulfor caliper carriers and wheen nuts. I only ever use the torque wrench for final tighten now.

 

[nigelvan]

I borrowed a battery impact wrench. I bought one straight afterwards as they make this and many other jobs easy. In UK they are cheap things and worth every single penny. Top nuts on struts for example just spin off as well as the anti rollbar links. Usefulfor caliper carriers and wheen nuts. I only ever use the torque wrench for final tighten now.

I did try a battery impact wrench.

 

[nigelvan]

Hi,
You may have to persevere with oil and heat. Clearly snapping the the threaded part off the anti roll bar would be bad.
If you are really determined to replace the anti roll bar drop links you may end up filing or grinding through one side of the nut and then using a chisel.
Best wishes
Jack

Yeah, I'll let it soak for a few days. I got the advise elsewhere to use a chisel to hit one side of the nut so it will open up a bit. I don't want to damage the threads or snap off a piece of the anti roll bar... so patience I guess.

 

[Googlebot]

If you are heating it up, the nut will be screwed anyway, buy some new nuts, grind it down and chisel it off. Or see if you can use a nut splitter, you don’t risk the bar snapping then.

 

[nigelvan]

Update: after letting it sit and soak for a few days the nut finally came off with the impact wrench. But, the link itself is stuck all the same on the sway bar. I've been hammering it all day but it doesn't move.

 

[Googlebot]

Update: after letting it sit and soak for a few days the nut finally came off with the impact wrench. But, the link itself is stuck all the same on the sway bar. I've been hammering it all day but it doesn't move.

Grind it off.

 

[nigelvan]

Yeah, good plan. First I'll drive a bumpy road with the nut screwed on loosely, it might come loose. My yearly inspection is due in a few weeks so I'll go there first with the old links (don't think they'll bother about that) so I don't have to stress when damaging something major and missing the deadline.