Front end problems.

[newyorker1]

anybody?????? whats the size of the stabilizer bar?

is the stabilizer bushing-20.5m or 22m on a ford 2000 winny. thanks

[Lbert]

Originally Posted by newyorker1

anybody?????? whats the size of the stabilizer bar?

is the stabilizer bushing-20.5m or 22m. thanks

1996 3.8L

I measured the outside diameter of the sway bar to be 21.3mm so I'm not sure if it is considered 20.5 or 22 mm. I ended getting part number Autozone's oem FA7035. I measured the inside diameter to be 21.5mm so I went it. Nothing on the box to indicate the size.

Now to start the job. Piper, or anyone else. After raising the car using its front jack supports and supporting the subrame separately with 2 jacks, do you loosen any other things other than the 2 large bolts supporting the rear subframe?

[northern piper]

CAUTION: Suspension fasteners are critical parts because they performance of vital components and systems and their failure can result in major service expense. They must be exchanged with the same part number or an equivalent part if an exchange is necessary. Do not use an alternative part of lesser quality or substitute design. Torque values must be used as specified during reassembly to make sure these parts are properly retained. Note: Make sure the steering wheel is in the unlocked position. Raise and support the vehicle.
Remove the wheel and tire assembly.





Remove and discard the front stabilizer bar link nut. Repeat on the other side.





Remove and discard the front stabilizer bar link nut and remove the front stabilizer bar link. Repeat on the other side.
Using suitable jack stands, support the front subframe.





Remove and discard the two front subframe bolts.
Lower the front subframe 5 - 8 cm (2 - 3 inches) to gain access to the stabilizer bar bracket retaining bolts.





Remove the front stabilizer bar.
1 Remove and discard the four front stabilizer bar bracket bolts.
2 Remove the front stabilizer bar brackets.
3 Remove the front stabilizer bar.
Installation is the reverse of the above.

The stabilizer bar links get torqued to 66 ft-lbs, the sub frame gets torqued to 66 ft-lbs, the stabilizer bar bushing brackets get torqued to 46 ft-lbs. When I dropped the sub frame I didn't detach the stabilizer bar links at the strut as I felt that there was enough room. You may want to remove the link. I used bottle jacks under the sub frame to slowly lower the frame.


Using new fasteners, follow the removal procedure in reverse order.


Piper

[newyorker1]

do you need to buy new ones?

[northern piper]

welp this is something you'll need to decide. When I replaced my bushings both time I did not replace the subframe bolts. When I inquired at my local Ford if they would the parts guy looked up the last time they'd bought sub frame bolts for a 2000 windstar. They hadn't in 4 or 5 years. He did follow that with "we replace a lot of stabilizer bar bushings". So, use common sense here, if they look good, I'd clean them up and reinstall.

Your decision.

[newyorker1]

thank you northern piper, i still havent found the correct size for the bushings....also when you remove the subframe bolts do you do them one side at a time or they need to be both removed together. like is the subframe one whole piece? that has to lowered together? thanks. is there bushings for the subframe mounts?

[northern piper]

I put a bottle jack underneath both sides of the frame and carefully lowered them together, going back and forth 1/2" or so per side until the whole thing was about 1.5 to 2 inches down. This allowed me to get a wrench on the bolts and remove them. IIRC the diameter is the smaller bushing, not the larger. It's a tough fit for the smaller bushing which is what you want. The larger bushing once again IIRC slips on way to easy. It should be tight and upon fastening the bracket and torquing the bolts will be quite stiff. Possibly your sway bar is thinner by .1 or .2 mm due to normal wear and that's way it's measuring under.

Piper

[newyorker1]

Originally Posted by northern piper

I put a bottle jack underneath both sides of the frame and carefully lowered them together, going back and forth 1/2" or so per side until the whole thing was about 1.5 to 2 inches down. This allowed me to get a wrench on the bolts and remove them. IIRC the diameter is the smaller bushing, not the larger. It's a tough fit for the smaller bushing which is what you want. The larger bushing once again IIRC slips on way to easy. It should be tight and upon fastening the bracket and torquing the bolts will be quite stiff. Possibly your sway bar is thinner by .1 or .2 mm due to normal wear and that's way it's measuring under.

Piper

thanks again,

[Scrapper]

i agree racs going to be your worst nightmare. the tie rods are easy you may need a pickle fork but also you can smack right on the edge where it goes in the hole any they will usualley will come right loose.

good luck...

scrapper1

[newyorker1]

Originally Posted by scrapper1

i agree racs going to be your worst nightmare. the tie rods are easy you may need a pickle fork but also you can smack right on the edge where it goes in the hole any they will usualley will come right loose.

good luck...

scrapper1

thanks scrapper.

[newyorker1]

whats the size of the stabilizer bar bushing-20.5m or 22m on a ford 2000 windstar thanks.

[Lbert]

Originally Posted by newyorker1

whats the size of the stabilizer bar bushing-20.5m or 22m on a ford 2000 windstar thanks.

If you have a caliper and get a reading of around 21.3 mm, then get the 22mm. Otherwise, get both and return what you do not end up using. My '96 3.8L calls for a 22mm.

I finished the job today. After having the van sit on jack stands, I used 2 floor jacks to lower the subframe just enough to get the clearance to remove the bolt.

[Scrapper]

not a problem glad i could help you out a little.

scrapper1

[newyorker1]

Done, thanks

[s1120]

I have to do this repair soon on my 96. The sway bar snapped in half!!

So do only the front bolts of the cradle need to be romoved?? Is there any aftermarket bars avable for the Windstars? Something maybe a little thicker, to improve handeling any??