Rear MSA sway bar install questions

  • rayjay
    rayjay
    Member
    • 45
    #1

    Rear MSA sway bar install questions

    So I purchased MSA front and rear sway bars some years ago for my 86tand I was running only the front MSA bar while I left the back one stock. After refinishing my rear subframe and adding an LSD, I’m ready to install the rear bar.

    So so I got under the car today and I had some initial obervations. Firstly, the new bracket holes didn’t quite fit on the mounting studs on the rear crossmember. 30 seconds of light filing and they cleared the studs easily. Then, I had a hell of a time getting everything up and bolts started and needed to use a jack to help, which I guess isn’t so unexpected. But when I took a closer look, it seems as though the sway bar makes contact with the crossmember not to far away from the mount closer to the centre of the car. Is it supposed to touch like that? Hopefully the pics below work.

    https://imgur.com/4fp0HuZ

    https://imgur.com/78zbFUG

    The other things is that it looks like the bar bushing doesn’t quite come together completely and deforms slightly when I tighten it all the way. Is this normal?

    in any case, it’s installed and the mounts just needs to be snugged up before I install the end links. I don’t remember if the bars came with instructions but I’m pretty sure I lost them.

    any tips and tricks related the the MSA rear bar would be greatly appreciated. If i’m not missing anything, all good!

    Thanks!
  • rayjay
    rayjay
    Member
    • 45
    #2
    Some other images

    https://imgur.com/a/LhVmPtL

    https://imgur.com/a/2yQ5bPb

    https://imgur.com/a/HQ3vmqI
    Last edited by rayjay; 05-21-2018, 10:36 AM.
  • Dunkine
    Dunkine
    Senior Member
    • 255
    #3
    Do you have it upside down? Shouldn't be touching like that.

    That has to be upside down, the front of the bar should go down, not up.

    The bushings look like they are for a smaller diameter sway.
    Last edited by Dunkine; 05-21-2018, 04:15 PM.
  • rayjay
    rayjay
    Member
    • 45
    #4
    Well, I don’t think it’s upside down. From looking at my stock bar, the ends of the bar that connect to the endlinks should be sweeping up, not down, which is how I have it installed.

    As for the bushings, those are the ones that came in the kit from MSA and when I put them on the bar prior to installation they fit around the bar perfectly. They just deformed slightly when I started to snug everything up.

    Seems pretty odd odd to me. I haven’t installed the endlinks yet because I didn’t want to get it all installed before asking on ththe forum. Do you think with the endlinks installed it would correct it?
  • rayjay
    rayjay
    Member
    • 45
    #5
    This bar’s ends are clearly sweeping up, not down.

    https://imgur.com/a/lLjP4bP
  • rayjay
    rayjay
    Member
    • 45
    #6
    Does anyone have a picture of a rear MSA sway bar installed for a reference?
  • rayjay
    rayjay
    Member
    • 45
    #7
    Looks like this one is almost touching too, but it isn’t an MSA bar I don’t think.

    https://imgur.com/a/zLhbVLi
  • Dunkine
    Dunkine
    Senior Member
    • 255
    #8
    Yeah, looks like the others go up too… If it's hitting you could trying shimming the mounts to give you some more space.
  • nater86zx
    nater86zx
    Senior Member
    • 694
    #9
    I have the MSA bars and I never had any fitment issue. I will try to get a pic up soon, if you still need it.