Hotchkis 80016 User Manual

2236 Sway Bar Install a tion Instructions

Thank you for your purchase of this Hotchkis Performance product . Your stabilizer bar set was

designed with the performance and durability you’ve come to expect from Hotchkis Performance.

Special Note:
We’ve noticed that our front sway bar only works wit h certain steering idler arms. The pr oblem is
that some aftermarket idler a rms have larger body diameters. This causes clearanc es issues. The
original GM idler arm clear s just fine. If you need to replace your idler arm make sure the ball joint
body diameter is 1.75” and the body height is 1.5”. See photos below.

The replacement idler arm ca n be found from Classic Industries pa r t # 18753

Front Bar Installation:

1F. Look at the current bar i nstallation and note t he position of the anti-sway bar.
2F. Loosen, but do not remove the front bushing bolts.

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3F. Remove the endlinks from the sway bar and lower c ontrol arms.

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4F. Take the bolts out of the frame brackets and remove the stock sway bar from the vehicle.
5F. Using the included white silicon grease, lube the inside of the new 1 3/8” front bushings.

NOTE: the grease can be cleaned up with WD-40

6F. Install the bushing on the new Hotchkis bar. Make sure the split on the bushing faces the front

when the bar is installed in the vehicle. Look at the placement of the original stock bushings
on the stock bar for guidance.

7F. Place the greasable bracket over top the bushing.

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8F. Put the new bar assembly into the vehicle and start the frame bolts. Do not tighten the frame

bolts completely, only start enough threads to hold the bar in place while your work on the
endlinks

9F. Install the new endlinks and tighten them till the bushings are squeezed just enough that their

diameter is just larger than the supporting washer.

10F. Tighten the frame bracket bolts.

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Rear Bar Installation:

1R. Jack up the vehicle and properly support with jack stands or lift jacks. Make su re the rear end

is supported with the vehicle’s load on the leaf springs. This is to ensure yo u i nstall the rear
bar in the proper position.

2R. Take the bushings and grease the inner surface with the included white silicon grease.

3R. Install the bushings on the ba r . (5) Place the bracket over top of the bushing. (6)

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4R. Take the sway bar assembly and hold it up under the rear end of the car. The arms will point

forward and the dog bone end links point up. Check for exhaust clearance in this area. You
may have to have the exhaust pipes re-bent to provide clearance for the new sway bar
assembly. Any competent exhaust shop can handle this modificat ion easily.

5R. After you determine there’s enough clearance for the bar, note the approximate location o f the

sway bar axle bushing.

6R Take a screwdriver and ca r efully pry up the brake line to allow the U-Bolt to drop down over

the axle. (10)

7R Install the U-Bolts on the axle and slip the axle bracket over the U-Bolt on the bottom side of

the axle. Use masking or duct tap e to secure them. Place the sway bar assembly under the
axle and slip the U-bolt legs t hr ough the sway bar brackets. Place washers and nylock nuts on
the U-Bolt. Snugly fasten the nylock nuts a bit , but do not fully tight en at this time.

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