6:00 PM

1. have son guide you up on ramps (make sure son understands that both front wheels need to be on the ramps).

2. spray swaybar bolts with liquid wrench.

3. go get a cold beer.

4. find ½ and 9/16 sockets/ratchet/ wrenches. (make note to self to lock tool chest whenever father-in-law is visiting).

5. assess situation: 6 bolts holding the bar to the frame, should be easy.

6. struggle with first bolt and activate memory file of rounding bolt heads.

7. spray bolts with more liquid wrench and sip on beer.

8. attack bolt again, patting yourself on back for coming up with good idea on how to keep end link nut from moving while turning the bolt.

9. get brilliant idea of using Crapsman electric impact wrench on bolt to speed process.

10. active memory file on bolt head rounding and go back to ratchet and socket.

11. after nut is removed, attempt to slip link bolt out.

12. wonder why bolt can not be removed yet turns freely.

13. pound on bolt with 5lb hammer remembering to close eyes so that falling debris does not get in them.

14. alternate between hammer, pry bar, screw driver in attempt to remove bolt.

15. look at clock and wonder where the past hour and a half went.

16. get another beer and put bandaid on cut.

17. put a bit more pressure on pry bar to remove end link bolt.

18. drink half bottle of beer as reward for getting bolt removed.

19. give though to calling it a nite but decide the swaybar will be removed completely one way or another.

20. next 5 bolts removed in what seems like 10 minutes but clock indicates 1 hour has passed.

21. swaybar / bushings / bolts are now sitting on garage floor. Finish beer as reward for accomplishing half of the job.

8:45 PM

*Remembered that dinner was missed and that boss wanted an early morning arrival. Decided to install new bushing / bolts tomorrow nite….

I am sure when the magazines say instalation is reverse of disassembly, they don't mean it takes as long or is as hard.
Assembly will go better if:
1. remember that a full six pack is an acceptable substitute for dinner
2. it requires in excess of 8 beers to comprehend that a 5 pound hammer is just not nearly heavy enough to do a proper job.
3. by beer #12, bosses really don't count and "early" doesn't happen till around 2 p.m.
Good luck

JK, enjoyed reading. I was beginning to think I was the only one here having a fun time with these old bolts. Key: the older the car, the bigger the hammer!

Re-installing the swaybar was a bit easier (only 1 beer). Once I figured out I had the darn thing upside down and how to compress the end link bushings, it wasn't too difficult..