VZ - sway bar strut link replacement - the double ball joint ones

[Samantha666]

Good mornings boys n girls... newbie here.. if this has been covered please ref the post -- about to start replacing my sway bar strut links.... Q..?... apart from putting the front end on a couple of support stands... is there any preload spring pressure on this set up that needs to be released before I start undoing the nuts... Love my VZ... they're one of a kind! xxx samantha666

 

[Hrd455]

Welcome to the site, when I replaced mine all I did was drive up onto some ramps and then replaced them, don't have to disconnect anything or support anything

 

[Surfwagon]

As Hrd455 said use ramps not stands unless you place the stands under the suspension arms to keep the suspension compressed at standard load and that way the links should not be under stress.
If you let the suspension hang down the swaybar and weight of the wheel/tyres will be hanging off the link.

 

[diysv6]

Have a good quality/fit in the ring spanners, sockets you are going to use when undoing the locknuts. Mine were extremely tightly done up, and the nuts had a tapered face which faced outwards which made it easy for the spanner to slip if not snugly fitted.

 

[wortus]

I wouldn't recommend supporting the car on jack stands under the lower control arms. They are a cast steel arm and not designed to take load like that and could break.

As Hrd455 said use ramps not stands unless you place the stands under the suspension arms to keep the suspension compressed at standard load and that way the links should not be under stress.
If you let the suspension hang down the swaybar and weight of the wheel/tyres will be hanging off the link.

 

[uniacidz]

I used jack and stands

Stands on the chassis and jack under the hub and raised it

Much more room to play with and can do a overall inspection of the area too