Manta A Spring Install

[Ooooner]

Hello! I have been rebuilding my 1974 Manta Rallye front suspension and have run into a problem or two. I have figured out that in order to re-install the springs, I need to take the sway bar off. The sway bar will not come out of the lower control arms, even though the bolts are out. I am assuming that the sway bar has rusted/seized to the inner steal bushing of the rubber bushing. I have sprayed penitrating oil on and will let it soak for a few days.

Do any of you have any "tricks" that you know of to get the sway bar loose?

Thanks! Roy

[cop]

try heating it up then cooling it down quick with water , then spray with petrating fluid , before you do this use a small screw driver or scriber to score around the areas then spray your fluid repeat process over a couple of days . if it doesnt go heat it up then cool it down quick as the shock should free it off, cheers steve

[611]

Hi Roy

Why do you need to remove the sway bar? if your putting the front springs back in you should be able to use a spring compressor to get them small enough to pop them back in with all the suspension as it is.

I wouldn't take the sway bar off unless your replacing bushes as its a lot of hassle to get them off and you shouldn't need to to do the springs.

Andy

[Ooooner]

Andy... The spring compressors do not compress the springs enough in order to get the shocks back into place. I have tried that. I wish it were that easy!

I have started to apply penitrating fluid and letting it soak in for a few days. I did score around the bar and bushings but have not tried to use heat. I may try that.

Thanks guys...

Roy

[upk]

Why not unbolt the anti roll bar from its mounts with the car and then you don't need to separate the bushes! Provided you are doing both sides at the same time you can lower the bottom arms with roll bar attached.

I do agree with Andy (611), you should be able to do this without so much hassle using spring compressors I would have thought!,

[611]

I know those standard springs can be a bit long but im with (upk) that i would try other options rather than taking that anti roll bar out, you could end up damaging that bottom bush and i havn't seen those about to buy for a while. I had one on a scrap cross member that i just wanted the lower arms off and i did all the stuff you have done and still ended up pulling the bottom bush out trying to get it off and had to cut the bush off the anti roll bar in the end.

Are the springs the ones you took out? as even when mine were the standard ones i did manage to compress them and with a bit of help from a friend we got them back in.

Andy