A few days ago, I heard a clunking coming from the front right side, and found a broken swaybar link.
I was able to find the nice Moog units on Amazon for the lowest prices (couldn't get them at my local parts shop). Checking out conditions under the car, I ordered a new set of bushings for the swaybar as well. I also sprayed down the bolts with penetrating oil.
Figuring that it would be easiest to change the bushings without the links in place, I removed the left link (the right, broken side was already off) and went to town. The bolts holding on the brackets that surround the bushings are a 10mm caphead and 10mm x 1.5 thread pitch bolt. Driver's side came off easily. Passenger side broke off in the frame.
On further inspection, the bolts go through a flange on the inside of the frame, through a welded-on nut, and protrude above the flange. Because of the design, it captures water and crud, and the bolts had rusted in place. It was a PITA to drill out the bolts, but I was able to do so, and then re-thread the welded in nut. I called my local Chevy dealer and they advised that the bolts are $12.50 each and would take 3 days to get in stock.
A quick trip to NAPA later, I was able to pick up 4 bolts of the proper length, size and pitch for a couple bucks. Since these bolts were standard hex head instead of caphead, I also picked up washers. For the passenger side (which had been drilled and tapped), I also picked up 2 nuts.
I reinstalled the driver's side bolts (with neverseize) loosely, then the passenger side. As per Moog recommendations, I did NOT lubricate the bushings. On the passenger side, I ran the bolts through the welded-in nuts and into the new nuts (on top). I ran washers on both sides.
Those in place, I installed the Moog links (again with never seize). Installation was easy-peasy. If I wasn't doing the bushings, the links would have taken 10 minutes and didn't require a jack or lift. If the bushings had cooperated, this should have been a 30 minute job. With the broken bolts, it became a several hour job. If you're doing the bushings on an older Yukon/Tahoe (mine is an 07), you should look into picking up the bolts to have on hand, in case you face an issue like I did.
I was able to find the nice Moog units on Amazon for the lowest prices (couldn't get them at my local parts shop). Checking out conditions under the car, I ordered a new set of bushings for the swaybar as well. I also sprayed down the bolts with penetrating oil.
Figuring that it would be easiest to change the bushings without the links in place, I removed the left link (the right, broken side was already off) and went to town. The bolts holding on the brackets that surround the bushings are a 10mm caphead and 10mm x 1.5 thread pitch bolt. Driver's side came off easily. Passenger side broke off in the frame.
On further inspection, the bolts go through a flange on the inside of the frame, through a welded-on nut, and protrude above the flange. Because of the design, it captures water and crud, and the bolts had rusted in place. It was a PITA to drill out the bolts, but I was able to do so, and then re-thread the welded in nut. I called my local Chevy dealer and they advised that the bolts are $12.50 each and would take 3 days to get in stock.
A quick trip to NAPA later, I was able to pick up 4 bolts of the proper length, size and pitch for a couple bucks. Since these bolts were standard hex head instead of caphead, I also picked up washers. For the passenger side (which had been drilled and tapped), I also picked up 2 nuts.
I reinstalled the driver's side bolts (with neverseize) loosely, then the passenger side. As per Moog recommendations, I did NOT lubricate the bushings. On the passenger side, I ran the bolts through the welded-in nuts and into the new nuts (on top). I ran washers on both sides.
Those in place, I installed the Moog links (again with never seize). Installation was easy-peasy. If I wasn't doing the bushings, the links would have taken 10 minutes and didn't require a jack or lift. If the bushings had cooperated, this should have been a 30 minute job. With the broken bolts, it became a several hour job. If you're doing the bushings on an older Yukon/Tahoe (mine is an 07), you should look into picking up the bolts to have on hand, in case you face an issue like I did.
