OEM 2001 Dodge Neon Sway Bar Kit

2001 Dodge Neon Sway Bar Kit Parts and Q&A

• Q: How to Service and Repair a Sway Bar Kit on 2001 Dodge Neon?

  A: Before you work on the sway bar kit, lift up the vehicle. Hold the upper end of the link retainer/nut with a wrench and turn the link bolt to loosen and remove the link from its place on the bar. Following this, get rid of the sway bar cushion retainer bolts and retainer nuts and then remove the whole bar and cushions. Roll out each cushion by opening it up at the notched spot and carefully placing it aside once you've lifted it. Examine each cushion and link on the silencer before fitting the sway bar kit and replace any that fall short during your inspection. If you remove the sway bar cushions, set them on the bar using the slit cut in the cushion, making sure to position them at the bar's straighter end which is nearest the farthest curve. Be sure the sway bar isn't upside-down; the curved end closest to the outside should face toward the ground. Make the sway bar go in place, with the slits in each cushion directed toward the front and sitting on the protrusions made from the stamping on the crossmember. Align the rough sides of the retainers with the cushions' main grooves, fasten each with its own bolts and make sure the bolts are not fully snug. Reconnect both sway bar links, beginning with the bolts, adding bushings at each end as you pass them down through the components. Secure them just enough not to reflect the torque when testing, but avoid tightening them before the suspension is installed. Reduce the height of the car and since these bolts are hard to get to, use a platform hoist or alignment rack to reach them at curb level. Lastly, put a wrench on the upper retainer/nut, crank the sway bar link by 31 Nm (275 inch lbs.) and tighten the bolts on the cushion part of the sway bar to a torque of 28 Nm (250 inch lbs.).