endlink/bushing messed up (pic inside)

[dmw319]

when i installed my new sway bars/endlinks/bushings everything seemed to be ok now i drove my car for about a few days and looked around and its off:

www.dmwacoustics.com/camaro/endlink.JPG
^^ pic of drivers side rear endlink


any ideas why/how can i fix it? thanks.

[hockeyman]

How tight is the bolt holding it down? I have a slight opening in my endlinks too, but not quite as bad as your pic.

[dmw319]

i tightened it all the way (at least i thought).

is there such a thing as too tight? i guess ill try tightening it down more?

[zlexiss]

Do you have a torque wrench?

[dmw319]

just a socket wrench

[hockeyman]

I'll have to get under my car again and inspect the endlinks. I remember a very small gap right at the spot you're talking about, but I don't remember it being that much.

When I installed my new endlinks, I tightened the bolts down all the way until they wouldn't go anymore. I figured that was good enough.

[dmw319]

thats what i did. but it doesnt look like my endlinks/sway bar in the back line up very well. so its not sitting directly on top of the bushing for the endlink.. more like to the side.. like in the pic.. any ideas anyone?

[wenbanfirebird01]

This is a guess. I thought the endlink spacer should be the same length as the factory spacer? Or is it over tightened.

[dmw319]

(the metal piece inbetween?) its the same.

[V6Bob]

"is there such a thing as too tight? i guess ill try tightening it down more?"

Tightness of suspension bolts is critical. Bolts need to be tight enough to stretch the bolt just a little so it will spring back. That spring force is what holds everything together. Too little and the bolt will loosen over time, maybe fall out and crash the car. If you tighten the bolt too much the bolt stretches permanently and is ruined.

Here's a usable torque wrench for 25 bucks. If you're gonna work on suspension, you need one.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00944690000

[ October 06, 2005, 01:37 AM: Message edited by: V6Bob ]

[shenanigans]

did you put the endlinks on with the car in the air or with it on the ground?

[dmw319]

in the air. whats the benefit of a torque wrench? i think ill pick one up next time im by sears.

[shenanigans]

so you when you put bolts on you don't put them on too tight r too loose.

BTW Its my understanding you are sumpposed to tighten endlinks down while the suspension is compressed.(car on the ground)

[dmw319]

hm ok.

[V6Bob]

"in the air. whats the benefit of a torque wrench?"

Short rough answer. It helps you turn the bolt just enough so it acts like a strong spring holding things together, and not so much that the bolt stretches permanently. You need to know the specified torque for each bolt from a service manual.

Longer answer, still a little rough:

http://www.dansmc.com/bolts.htm

The really good answer:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846