I've got my whole front suspension/steering back together and have now run into a problem with the sway bar end links. The bolts are too long in the kit I got from NAPA. I compared them to the old rusted ones I took off and the new ones are a few inches longer.
Thought maybe NAPA gave me the wrong kit but I also have a MOOG end link(new) laying around for 70 chevelle and it is the same length bolt as the NAPA.
Am I running into this problem because I put Hotchkis 1" lowering springs on the front? Will the weight of the engine(currently out of the car) push the upper control arm far enough up and out of the way that I won't have a problem?

Any help appreciated. :confused:

On my last Camaro, the end link bolts also hit the ball joint. On my current Camaro, they come real close. I just trimmed to bolt to clear, and all was OK.

I've got a '70 and just finished my front suspension this weekend. I put in the Hotchkis 1" lowering kit and their big swaybar - my end links do not hit. If you want, I can measure my bolt and compare to yours, but it will have to be later tonight.

Did you put the bolt down through the top of the end link, and put the nut on from the bottom?

Xtreme,
Dang bolts are too long to come down from the top so I went up from the bottom. The a-arm and ball joint were in the way as I tried several angles to get it started down from the top but no go. That would definately solve my problem as the "extra" could hang out the bottom of the a-arm or I could cut it off.

I'll measure my bolt at lunchtime today as I have one out in the truck. Let me know what yours is. Did you go up from the bottom or down from the top with yours?

Wolfhunter, it was a PITA as you said, but I was able to angle it in from the top while the car was jacked up. No way it would have worked if the tires were on the ground.

I'll measure mine tonight and let you know, but I think it will work from the top if you play with it. If not, I have a set of shafts that would require a nut on both ends that would solve the problem also - they are made specifically for this purpose, but I didn't need them. You're welcome to them if needed.

Xtreme,
They checked the part# for me at Napa and it's supposed to be correct for years 64-72. I measured it and it is 8 1/8" total length while the old one is 7 1/8" total length.

I will do as you suggested and jack the car up again. I'll be a little more "determined" this time around since I know it's probably supposed to be a PITA from your experience! I'll keep you posted.

Thanks graemlins/thumbsup.gif

I ran into this exact problem last year when I was doing my 70. I bought Moog parts. Both boxes (one for each side) had the same part number but one box had a bolt that was an inch or more longer. I took it back to the auto parts store and they found me a matching "short" one.

Wolfehunter, my bolts are about 7-1/4" including the head, looks like yours are just too long. If you have real trouble getting the right length, I have extras, just email me & let me know.

Xtreme,
Thanks for the measurement. I tried every angle last night and just can't make these Napa bolts work. Car jacked up, car down, going down from the top and up from the bottom. I think you're right when you day the bolts are just an inch too long.
I'll return them and maybe order a kit from Ground Up or something. I'll let you know if I need to get yours from you. Thanks again.

graemlins/thumbsup.gif