409industries
09-30-2007, 12:29 PM
I have a 2004 STi. I discovered that the previous owner of my STi got aftermarket swaybars and i dont think he upgraded the endlinks (whoops). This was discovered when the dealership said that they were loose and tightened the bolts down for me during my last visit. I think they may have torqued them down too hard because i cannot get them off, unless there is some special trick / method that i dont know about. 33 ft/lbs should be easily breakable by my cordless impact wrench.
I read some instructions on cobb tuning's website about the stock rear STi endlinks.
DOGBONE STYLE REAR ENDLINKS (STi, FXT, LGT, 04-06 WRX Sedan)
1. Remove the 14mm nuts form the sway bar end links. Instead of the 5mm allen wrench
that you used to hold the front endlink studs still you will need to use either a deep socket
on the inside nut and a 14mm open end wrench on the outside or, two 14mm open end
wrenches. The endlink stud has notches that fit a 14mm wrench on the outside of the
bar. Remove the endlinks.
Source: http://www.cobbforums.com/forums/images/Endlinks.pdf
Basically that you need a 14mm open ended wrench on the outside of the endlink and a deep socket on the inside. well, check out this picture:
http://www.dirtyimpreza.com/hosting/imagehosting/stubborn_sti_endlinks/stubborn_rear_endlink1.jpg
Theres no sides on the bolt for the open ended wrench to grab on the outside of the swaybar, if there is, my 14mm isn't catching anything. I can get the top bolt to spin around with the impact wrench, but the bottom one doesn't seem to budge.
http://www.dirtyimpreza.com/hosting/imagehosting/stubborn_sti_endlinks/stubborn_rear_endlink2.jpg
1) are these not really OEM endlinks?
2) how the F am i supposed to get these things off my car?
I have tried with the car on ramps (swaybar / suspension loaded) and with the car on jackstands (suspension / swaybar dropped) and it doesn't seem to make any difference. I think a whole can of liquid wrench has been used on these nuts as well.
I really don't want to have to take my car to a shop for something seemingly as simple as swapping out endlinks.
Can someone point me in the right direction? Thanks.
I read some instructions on cobb tuning's website about the stock rear STi endlinks.
DOGBONE STYLE REAR ENDLINKS (STi, FXT, LGT, 04-06 WRX Sedan)
1. Remove the 14mm nuts form the sway bar end links. Instead of the 5mm allen wrench
that you used to hold the front endlink studs still you will need to use either a deep socket
on the inside nut and a 14mm open end wrench on the outside or, two 14mm open end
wrenches. The endlink stud has notches that fit a 14mm wrench on the outside of the
bar. Remove the endlinks.
Source: http://www.cobbforums.com/forums/images/Endlinks.pdf
Basically that you need a 14mm open ended wrench on the outside of the endlink and a deep socket on the inside. well, check out this picture:
http://www.dirtyimpreza.com/hosting/imagehosting/stubborn_sti_endlinks/stubborn_rear_endlink1.jpg
Theres no sides on the bolt for the open ended wrench to grab on the outside of the swaybar, if there is, my 14mm isn't catching anything. I can get the top bolt to spin around with the impact wrench, but the bottom one doesn't seem to budge.
http://www.dirtyimpreza.com/hosting/imagehosting/stubborn_sti_endlinks/stubborn_rear_endlink2.jpg
1) are these not really OEM endlinks?
2) how the F am i supposed to get these things off my car?
I have tried with the car on ramps (swaybar / suspension loaded) and with the car on jackstands (suspension / swaybar dropped) and it doesn't seem to make any difference. I think a whole can of liquid wrench has been used on these nuts as well.
I really don't want to have to take my car to a shop for something seemingly as simple as swapping out endlinks.
Can someone point me in the right direction? Thanks.