Hotchkis 2253 User Manual

2253 FRONT AND REAR SPORT SWAY BAR SET

65-66 CHEVROLET B-BODY

Thank you for your purchase from our line of classic Chevrolet B-body suspension parts.

Please call us at (877) 4NO-ROLL if you have any questions regarding your Hotchkis

Performance products. Visit us online @ www.hotchkis.net

This installation will require drilling new mounting holes for both the front and rear

sway bars. Please read instructions carefully to avoid unnecessary drilling.

INSTALLATION OF HOTCHKIS PERFORMANCE FRONT SWAY BAR

1) Securely block the rear wheels of the vehicle. Use a jack to raise the vehicle and support with
jack stands only if you need additional clearance under the vehicle. You will have to lower the
vehicle onto its wheels in a later step to remove and install the front sway bar.

2) Unbolt the stock sway bar bushing brackets. Remove the bushings once the brackets are loose.
Unbolt and remove the end links from each end of the bar. The bar should now be free moving
and is held in the vehicle only by the two holes in the frame. Retain the stock bushing retainer
bolts. You may discard the end links, as they will not be re-used.

3) Turn the front wheels to point straight ahead. If you jacked up the front of the vehicle, you
should now lower the vehicle so that the weight is on the front tires. Slide the stock bar towards
the passenger side of the vehicle. The end of the sway bar should contact the rear edge of the
brake drum preventing you from fully removing the sway bar.

Turn the front wheels to the left until the end of the bar can slide past the rear edge of the brake drum.

On some disk brake applications it may be necessary to remove the caliper to allow the sway bar to

slide past.

4) Move the sway bar end towards the rear on the passenger side of the vehicle until the opposite

end of the bar clears the slot in the frame on the driver’s side.

5) The end of the bar on the driver’s side should now be free. Pull the end of the bar towards the
front bumper and rotate as necessary to remove the bar from the vehicle. Do not
front wheels at this time. They should still be turned slightly towards the driver’s side of the
vehicle.

straighten the

6) With the stock bar now removed, insert the Hotchkis bar by reversing the previous directions.

Make sure the center “hoop” of the bar points down when installing the bar. If the bar is put in
backwards, then the bar will contact the balance pulley on the front of the motor. Start by
inserting the end of the bar into the round hole on the passenger side of the vehicle frame

NOTE: To avoid damage to the powder coat surface of the bar, cover the edges of the holes in the

frame. Use a towel, duct tape or similar product to accomplish this.

7) Slide the end of the Hotchkis bar between the coil spring and the brake drum in the same
fashion as was used to remove the stock bar.

The leading end of the bar should eventually swing into the slot in the frame on the driver’s side of the

vehicle. The bar will be free moving, but in the proper orientation in the vehicle.

8) Use the grease pack provided to put a heavy coat of grease on the inside of the sway bar
bushings. Place the bushings over the bar with the cut in the bushing towards the rear of the
vehicle. Push the bushing retainer brackets into place on the bar and bolt them into place using
the stock mounting hardware in the front holes only. Do not tighten the stock hardware.

9) With the brackets in place, install the new end links included in the Hotchkis kit at each end of
the bar to establish the proper fit of the front bar. The vehicle weight should be on the front
wheels to establish the proper ride position of the sway bar in the vehicle.

10) With the final position of the bar now determined, you will need a scribe or some other tool to
mark with. Mark the center position of the holes for the rear side of the bracket. Remove the
brackets, bushings, end links, and stock hardware. Drill the existing front mount hole out to a
7/16” diameter and drill a new rear mount hole at the same size where you marked the frame.

11) Use the 3/8” bolts from hardware kit #1735 to attach the Hotchkis bar. Drop the bolts down
through the drilled out holes in the frame. Start the washers and nylock nuts onto the ends of
the bolts. You will use only four of each nut, washer and bolt. DO NOT THROW THE EXTRA
HARDWARE AWAY, as it is used for the rear sway bar. Torque the hardware to 35 ft/lbs.

12) Re-place the end links removed in step 10 and tighten them into place. Tighten the end links
until the nut meets slightly stiff resistance. The bushings will have a slight bulge when tight.

13) Re-check all hardware for tightness. Cover the z erk fittings in the brackets with the grease caps
that came attached to the brackets. You are finished with the front sway bar installation

IMPORTANT: For maintenance, use the zerk fittings to grease the bushings at least once a year

(15,000 miles) or when excessive noise occurs. Use a non-lithium based grease only

grease can wash out with water and should not be used.

! A lithium-based

MOVE ON TO THE REAR SWAY BAR INSTALLATION

Please call us at (877) 4NO-ROLL if you have any questions regarding your Hotchkis

Performance products.

This installation will require drilling new mounting holes for both the front and rear

sway bars. Please read instructions carefully to avoid unnecessary drilling.

INSTALLATION OF HOTCHKIS PERFORMANCE REAR SWAY BAR

1) Securely block the front wheels of the vehicle. You will not need to jack up the rear end of the
vehicle to perform this installation.

2) Begin by placing the u-bolts provided over the rear axle. Place them roughly the same distance
from the center of the axle, with the ends of the u-bolts pointed straight down.

3) Use the grease pack provided to apply a heavy coat of grease to the inside of the sway bar
bushings. Place the bushings over the bar. The split in the bushings should face towards the
rear of the vehicle with the bar installed. Push the brackets over the sway bar bushings.

4) Use the grease provided to apply a heavy coat of grease to the sides of the bushings on the

“dog bone” end links. Attach the mounting brackets to the end links using hardware kit #T1712.
Attach the other end of the links to the sway bar. Leave the attaching hardware loose.

The large washer should be used to contact bushing surfaces and the small washer should be

used to contact metal surfaces. This prevents the bolt from pulling through the bushing. You will have

2 large washers and 2 small washers left over. This is extra hardware and may be discarded.

5) Hang the sway bar from the u-bolts on the axle. Place the axle brackets over the ends of the u­bolts first. Slide the bushing brackets over the u-bolts to rest against the axle brackets. Install
with the nuts loosely started onto the u-bolts so that the sway bar hangs freely from the axle.

Use the anti-seize provided with the u-bolts to lubricate the threads. Failure to lubricate the

threads can destroy the nuts and possibly break the u-bolt or seize the nut in place when tightened.

6) Slide the u-bolts along the axle until the bar is centered with the vehicle. Tighten down the nuts
on the u-bolts to secure the position of the u-bolts and brackets. Tighten the nuts evenly to
avoid pulling the u-bolt to one side of the axle!

7) Snug down the hardware connecting the end links and brackets to the bar. Do not fully tighten
the hardware at this stage. You should still be able to rotate the end links without difficulty.

8) Rotate the bar upwards, so that the brackets are resting against the frame. Once the brackets
are in place use a scribe or some other tool to mark the center of each hole for drilling.

Drill out the holes for the brackets to 7/16” diameter. To accurately determine the location of the holes

the end links must not be loose enough to move left or right. Make certain the axle is at its normal

driving height for an accurate fit.

9) Once the holes are drilled, drop the remaining 3/8” bolts from hardware kit #1735 in through
the top of the frame with the bolts hanging down for the brackets to attach to.

10) Unbolt the bracket from the end link. Hold the bracket back up in position to the bolts hanging
from the frame. Use the nylock nuts included to hold the bracket on the bolts. Tighten the
hardware holding the bracket to the frame. Torque the nuts to 80 ft/lbs.

11) Re-attach the end links to the brackets and tighten the hardware into place. Torque the end link
hardware to 80 ft/lbs.

12) Check that all hardware is tight. Use the caps provided to cover the zerk fittings and you’re done
installing the Hotchkis rear sway bar!

IMPORTANT

(15,000 miles) or when excessive noise occurs. Use a non-lithium based grease only

: For maintenance, use the zerk fittings to grease the bushings at least once a year

! A lithium-based

grease can wash out with water and should not be used.

SEE NEXT PAGE FOR PARTS LIST

65-66 Chevrolet B-body Sway Bar Kit, Parts List

P/N 2253

Ho tchkis P/N Item Description

1 228 10006 Fr ont S way Bar, 65-7 0 Chevrolet B -body 1

2 230 90074 Sway Bar Bu shin g Ret ai ner B rack et, Greas eab le Heavy D uty Uni vers al 2

3 56 37.01 1 -1/4" S way Ba r B ushing, Greas eabl e Heav y Dut y 2

4 T2211 Sway Bar Axle Mount Bracket Kit (two brackets per kit) 1

5 9 8128G Endlin k Kit , 65-70 Chevro l et B-bo dy ( tw o end l in ks & hardware) 2

6 229 10006 R ear Sway Ba r, 65-66 Chevr olet B -body 1

7 T1722 3" U-bolts w/ hardware, kit (s

8 15.12.06.39 Sway Bar Bushing Retainer Bracket, Greaseable Car Style 2

9 252 10035 3 " End Li nk Kit , Dog Bone Style (t wo end l i nks per k i t) 1

10 53 40G 1" Sway B ar Bushi ng, Greas eabl e Car S tyle 2

11 23410011 Rear Sw ay Ba r M ount Br acket , 65 -66 Chevr ol et B -body 2

ee hardw are kit li stin g s)

Hardware Included in Kit # T17 12 (one per kit 2253)

12 12-20 X 3" 1/2" Bolt, 3" long 2

13 1/2-20X2.75" 1/2" Bolt, 2-3/4" long, Hex Head 2

14 7/16USS F W 7/1 6" Flat Washer 8

15 1/2A N 1/2" Flat Wash er 4

16 1/2-20 N UT 1 /2 " Nyloc k Nu t 4

Hardware Included in Kit # T17 22 (one per kit 2253)

- T1722 3" U-bolt, Stainless Steel 2

17 7/16A N 7/1 6" Fla t Washer 4

18 7/16NYLOCK 7/1 6" Ny lo ck Nut 4

19 ND9 07 Anti-S i eze, 1/8oz. T ube 1

Hardware Included in Kit #1735 (one per kit 2253)

20 3/8- 24X 1. 25 3/8 " Bolt, 1. 25" Long, H ex H ead 8

21 3/8A N 3/8" Flat Wash er 16

22 3/8N YL OCK 3/8" Nyloc k Nu t 8

Items Not Shown

23 9.11 108 Grea se Pack 2

24 501 5 Puffy Bl a ck/ Chrome Stic ker 1

25 n/a Instruction Set 1

Quantity

per kit

1

CHECK OUT EVERYTHING ELSE HOTCHKIS PERFORMANCE MAKES FOR YOUR 65-70

B-BODY CHEVROLET!!

Double adjustable panhard rod to positively locate your axle and keep it in

place! Perfect for re-centering the axle on a lowered car!

Boxed lower trailing arms to help stiffen up the rear end!

Features a welded spring seat for easier spring installations!

Double adjustable upper trailing arm to help reduce pinion angle vibrations!

Visit Hotchkis Performance on the web at www.hotchkis.net or

Call [phone] to order!

Hotchkis Performance LLC

Return Policy & Limited Warranty

Effective December 1, 2010 all Hotchkis products must be registered to qualify for
warranty at www.hotchkis.net
product, within 30 days of the original purchase date.

IMPORTANT: This warranty supersedes all other warranties included with this
product.

Return Policy

We want you to be completely satisfied with your Hotchkis Performance product. For products,
presenting signs of shipping damage please contact the freight carrier immediately. All our
products are guaranteed to be free from manufacturer’s defects. If your order arrives with a
manufacture defect, please contact our Customer Service Department at [phone]. You
will be assigned a Returned Goods Authorization Number (RGA). The package you return must
show the RGA on the outside of the package, include the original invoice and be shipped prepaid
to our facility. The product has to be unused and in its original packaging materials. Exchanges
or refunds made after 30 days will be subject to a 20% restocking charge. If you purchased

your Hotchkis Performance product from an authorized dealer, you are still covered by
this return policy. All returns however, should be made to your dealer, not to Hotchkis
Performance directly.

Limited Warranty

Hotchkis Performance offers a Limited Warranty against defects in materials and workmanship
for the term of 36 months (3 years) from the date of purchase of this product. This Warranty only
applies to the original retail purchaser who retains ownership of the vehicle on which the product
was originally installed. If the product is determined to be defective, Hotchkis Performance will
repair, replace or refund the purchase price of the defective product at Hotchkis Performance's
sole discretion, which shall fully satisfy and discharge any and all warranty claims. Any repaired
or replaced product will be returned to the sender excluding the cost of freight. Products must

be registered to qualify for warranty at www.hotchkis.net or via the mail-in warranty card,
included with the product, within 30 days of the original purchase date.

Exclusions from Warranty

Items offered but not manufactured by Hotchkis Performance are warranted according to the
manufacturer's terms and are not covered by this limited warranty. Hotchkis Performance shall
not be responsible for any labor, removal, installation, re-installation or maintenance costs. This
warranty does not cover the cosmetic finish or plating of any product or any normal wear and tear
to any product including, but not limited to bushings, brackets, end-links, hardware, steering
components, shocks or springs. In addition, this warranty does not apply to any products that
have been:

 Improperly installed or installed by someone other than a qualified, licensed auto

mechanic experienced in the installation and removal of suspension products;

 Improperly serviced, misused, or modified, altered or subjected to abuse, negligence,

accident or collision;

 Installed in any vehicle that has been modified;
 Installed on any vehicle that has carried loads in excess of automobile manufacturer

suggested weight limits; or

 Installed on any vehicle that has been subject to abnormal or excessive use, including

rallying, racing, or racing-type activities or off-road use.

Limitation of Warranty

This limited warranty is the entire and only warranty for the products and may not be modified or
supplemented by any other pers on or company in any form. Any description of the products, by
anyone, is for the sole purpose of identifying them and is not part of the basis of the bargain, and
does not constitute a warranty that the products will conform to that description. The statements

or via the mail-in warranty card, included with the

of any salesperson do not constitute part of this limited warranty and cannot be relied upon as a
warranty.

THERE ARE NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY
IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE, WHICH EXTEND BEYOND THE DESCRIPTION ON THE FACE HEREOF.
ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES ARE DISCLAIMED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT
PERMITTED BY LAW. THIS WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES, LOSS OF TIME OR REVENUES, INCONVENIENCE, LOSS OF USE OF
THE VEHICLE, DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE OR COMPONENTS OF THE VEHICLE,
ANY OTHER TYPE OF CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OR OTHER INCIDENTAL OR
INDIRECT DAMAGES. HOTCHKIS’ MAXIMUM LIABILITY UNDE R THIS WA RRANTY
SHALL IN NO EVENT EXCEED THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE P RODUCT.

states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts or the exclusion or limitation
of incidental or consequential damages and in such states the above limitations or exclusions
may not apply. This limited warranty gives the purchaser specific legal rights and the purchaser
may have other rights that may vary from state to state.

Technical Information

Hotchkis Performance makes every effort to ensure that you are provided with the most accurate
and up-to-date technical information. However, all technical information is approximate and may
vary upon application. Additional suspension components may be needed in some applicatio ns,
depending upon the make, model, engine and chassis of the vehicle. Hotchkis Performance is not
responsible for any consequences resulting from manufactu rer’s technical mid-year changes.
Hotchkis Performance products should only be installed by a qualified, licensed auto mechani c
experienced in the installation of such products.

Warranty Claim Procedure:

The answer to ALL the following questions should be YES before making a warranty claim:

Some

 Did you register the product at www.hotchkis.net or via the mail-in warranty card

within 30 days of purchase?

 Is the product appropriate to your application?
 Did you carefully and thoroughly read the instructions provided along with the

product?

 Do you have the original invoice or sales receipt?
 Is the return date within 36 months from the purchase date?
 Are you the original purchaser?
 Was the product properly installed by a qualified, licensed auto mechanic?
 Has the product been installed on the original vehicle on which it was installed at all

times?

 Is the product unmodified and clean?
 Is the reason for return a legitimate product defect?

If the answer to all these questions is YES, please contact our Customer Service Department at
[phone]. You will be given a Returned Goods Authorization Number (RGA) valid for 60
days. You will also be asked to ship the product prepaid to our facility. All shipments MUST be (i)
prepaid, (ii) include the original invoice or sales receipt, (iii) show the RGA on the outside of the
package and (iv) include your name, address, make and model of the vehicle, and a brief
description of the claimed defect, including the circumstances under which the defect occurred. If
the warranty claim is deemed valid then Hotchkis will estimate shipping costs to return the
repaired or replacement part and contact you for payment. Hotchkis’s Limited warranty requires
that any repaired or replaced product will be returned to the sender excluding the cost of freight.
Warranty related inquires should be sent to the following address:

HOTCHKIS PERFORMANCE, LLC
C/O CUSTOMER SERVICE
8633 Sorensen Avenue
SANTA FE SPRINGS, CA 90670

Hotchkis Performance will not accept product returns without the RGA number, receipt and the
information described above. C.O.D. or collect shipments will be refused. Once the returns are
received at Hotchkis Performance, we will evaluate the products, verify the sales receipt, and
investigate the warranty claim. Any repaired or replaced product will be returned to the sender.

Effective December 1, 2010. This return policy and limited warranty supersedes all

previous policy and warranty statements. Policies and warranties are subject to

change without notice. Hotchkis Performance is not responsible for printing

errors.