First TRX with a rear swaybar!!! Handles amazing!!!

SpamSpamSpam · May 21, 2021

Received my kit a few days ago, just opened it up. I found instructions for the Ram but also what appears to be the proper sized bolts for the end links…. I had purchased some from Amazon and included one of those in the comparison picture.

Tom488 · May 21, 2021

SpamSpamSpam said:
Received my kit a few days ago, just opened it up. I found instructions for the Ram but also what appears to be the proper sized bolts for the end links…. I had purchased some from Amazon and included one of those in the comparison picture.
View attachment 13592 View attachment 13593 View attachment 13594

No - those are the stock bolts that come with the end links (the longer one on the left), that are meant to be used as through bolts with the supplied nuts. I believe they are 7/16x20 (SAE NF) thread. You'll use them to bolt the bottom of the end links to the sway bar. But for the top of the end links, you need the M10x1.5mm bolt (the one on the right) to thread into the factory captured nut in the frame rail.

SpamSpamSpam · May 21, 2021

Tom488 said:
No - those are the stock bolts that come with the end links (the longer one on the left), that are meant to be used as through bolts with the supplied nuts. I believe they are 7/16x20 (SAE NF) thread. You'll use them to bolt the bottom of the end links to the sway bar. But for the top of the end links, you need the M10x1.5mm bolt (the one on the right) to thread into the factory captured nut in the frame rail.

Thanks. Saved me some time messing with it tomorrow.

TReX-RAM · May 21, 2021

SpamSpamSpam said:
Thanks. Saved me some time messing with it tomorrow.

Tomorrow?!? You need to live in the “now” for crying out loud. I had a flood light and two flash lights when I did mine. And still f’d off around the neighborhood afterwards. Turned my first 3.9 that night.

LordExplorer · May 30, 2021

I have never installed a sway bar so forgive my ignorance. When I installed it the bar was level like instructions stated. Now the truck bed is fully loaded almost to pay load capacity and the sway bar is angled down. I’m assuming this is normal but just want to verify. All good?

Two · May 30, 2021

Yes. But it sure looks like you could shorten the links a bit.

TReX-RAM · May 30, 2021

LordExplorer said:
I have never installed a sway bar so forgive my ignorance. When I installed it the bar was level like instructions stated. Now the truck bed is fully loaded almost to pay load capacity and the sway bar is angled down. I’m assuming this is normal but just want to verify. All good?
View attachment 14252

Maybe adjust it to be a little tighter and use the middle hole instead?

Badbrad · May 30, 2021

LordExplorer said:
I have never installed a sway bar so forgive my ignorance. When I installed it the bar was level like instructions stated. Now the truck bed is fully loaded almost to pay load capacity and the sway bar is angled down. I’m assuming this is normal but just want to verify. All good?
View attachment 14252

Washer on wrong side?

Tom488 · May 30, 2021

It is normal.. The sway bar is supposed to move up and down with the suspension. It's purpose is to resist differential suspension travel (one side articulating more than the other - which would cause the sway bar to twist). It is free to move up and down through the full range of suspension travel, as long as both sides are equal.

No, the washer is not on the wrong side. They're supposed to be right next to the bushings, acting as sort of a backer for the bushing, giving it something to compress against when the bolt is tightened. It also isolates the bushing from the mount, so that the sway bar doesn't tear up the urethane during movement.

LE - everything is fine with your setup. Nothing to worry about.

Steiger · May 30, 2021

Tom488 said:
It is normal.. The sway bar is supposed to move up and down with the suspension. It's purpose is to resist differential suspension travel (one side articulating more than the other - which would cause the sway bar to twist). It is free to move up and down through the full range of suspension travel, as long as both sides are equal.

No, the washer is not on the wrong side. They're supposed to be right next to the bushings, acting as sort of a backer for the bushing, giving it something to compress against when the bolt is tightened. It also isolates the bushing from the mount, so that the sway bar doesn't tear up the urethane during movement.

LE - everything is fine with your setup. Nothing to worry about.

Agree with above. Everything is as it should be.

GP-Des · May 30, 2021

Tom488 said:
It is normal.. The sway bar is supposed to move up and down with the suspension. It's purpose is to resist differential suspension travel (one side articulating more than the other - which would cause the sway bar to twist). It is free to move up and down through the full range of suspension travel, as long as both sides are equal.

No, the washer is not on the wrong side. They're supposed to be right next to the bushings, acting as sort of a backer for the bushing, giving it something to compress against when the bolt is tightened. It also isolates the bushing from the mount, so that the sway bar doesn't tear up the urethane during movement.

LE - everything is fine with your setup. Nothing to worry about.

Good info.
my directions showed to have washer not between the bushing and the bar. Makes total sense though, I was wondering why the instructions showed it that way as well.
may just grab another pair of washers and add, but will go re orient mine now.
my links look a little shorter than yours as well. I did have a small amount of payload in the bed, maybe 50 pounds, as well as 3/4 tank of gas so maybe that’s why my level link may be shorter...

Badbrad · May 30, 2021

Tom488 said:
It is normal.. The sway bar is supposed to move up and down with the suspension. It's purpose is to resist differential suspension travel (one side articulating more than the other - which would cause the sway bar to twist). It is free to move up and down through the full range of suspension travel, as long as both sides are equal.

No, the washer is not on the wrong side. They're supposed to be right next to the bushings, acting as sort of a backer for the bushing, giving it something to compress against when the bolt is tightened. It also isolates the bushing from the mount, so that the sway bar doesn't tear up the urethane during movement.

LE - everything is fine with your setup. Nothing to worry about.

So Instruction pictures and other members who installed and posted did it wrong? The factory 1500 also doesn’t have them? I guess more washer won’t hurt as long as the bolt is long enough.

Tom488 · May 30, 2021

Badbrad said:
So Instruction pictures and other members who installed and posted did it wrong? The factory 1500 also doesn’t have them? I guess more washer won’t hurt as long as the bolt is long enough.

Truthfully, I admit to never reading the instructions

- I just intuitively installed them with the washers sandwiching the bushing, as that's how all urethane and rubber bushings are always done (on shocks, struts, etc.) whenever there's a soft bushing being compressed.

KnightMare · May 30, 2021

Make sure you guys check your bolts for your upper endlinks. Mine came out on one side. Quick trip to Lowes and its fixed.

Tom488 · May 30, 2021

Loctite is (almost) always a good thing to use. Mine went in with blue Loctite on all bolts, followed up with AvE-approved torque specs (tighten till you hear the crack... back off 1/4 turn)

cortc · May 30, 2021

GP-Des said:
Good info.
my directions showed to have washer not between the bushing and the bar. Makes total sense though, I was wondering why the instructions showed it that way as well.
may just grab another pair of washers and add, but will go re orient mine now.
my links look a little shorter than yours as well. I did have a small amount of payload in the bed, maybe 50 pounds, as well as 3/4 tank of gas so maybe that’s why my level link may be shorter...

The washer is correct when it goes on the outside, the bushing should rest on the sway bar and the washer should be on the hex head side.

LordExplorer · May 31, 2021

Thank you all for the insight. We reached a destination on our road trip yesterday that we’ll be at for a few days so unloaded the truck (mostly). Still about 200lbs in bed but the sway bar is still angled down even though the squat is far less. Didn’t seem to adjust after removing about 300lbs of weight. I might need to get some tools to adjust. Truck seems to handle fine (better than stock) with the bar in current position so hopefully that means it’s not detrimental not being level. Drove Evan’s Rd from Lake Isabelle CA yesterday. For all you fellow motorcyclist that road is a freaking wet dream. Truck handled great on it considering the weight was at payload capacity. Although I almost caused a few accidents from people rubber necking to stare at it! Man this truck attracts a lot of attention

KnightMare · May 31, 2021

I fixed the sway bar for now. Going to check on it in a few weeks to make sure every thing is in place. Next time I'll use locktite if it comes out again

Two · May 31, 2021

cortc said:
The washer is correct when it goes on the outside, the bushing should rest on the sway bar and the washer should be on the hex head side.

That is a highly unusual way of doing it. Normally the sleeve is supposed to move in the bushing, but having the bushing against the sway bar encourages movement of the bushing in the link.

Either way, I have lots of washers so the bushing will get one per side in normal fashion, and then one under the bolt head.