Cannot get the old rear sway bar off

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Joined
Feb 20, 2020
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Location
North Georgia
My Car
1972 Mach 1 dark green
Went to install my new Addco 990 bar today and got stopped cold in my tracks.  The bolts holding the bushing mounts, all 4, are spinning with the nuts.  No idea how to fix this.

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Went to install my new Addco 990 bar today and got stopped cold in my tracks.  The bolts holding the bushing mounts, all 4, are spinning with the nuts.  No idea how to fix this.
Penetrating oil first. You need two wrenches, top and bottom. You got a new mount kit with the new bar, if all else fails, cut the rods, scrap anyways. You MAY have to drop the exhaust on one side depending on how your pipes were bent. I had to drop one side at the muffler, after that it was easy peasy. Just measure from the frame either side to make sure it's even. Mine was 4".

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Not talking about the end links.  The bolts come down from the box frame to mount the two bushings are the problem, no access to the top of them.

bushings.jpg

 
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Not talking about the end links.  The bolts come down from the box frame to mount the two bushings are the problem, no access to the top of them.
Ah, sorry I missed what you were talking about. My bad! I'm pretty sure those are (supposed to be) weld nuts on the inside of the frame. If they've broken loose, you got a problem. In earlier posts, there is a sketch of a mounting system for an aftermarket type sway bar that shows a sort of U bolt that can be passed through the frame and the bracket bolts up to that. You might have to cut the current bolts and find those U bolt thingys. Other than that, I feel your pain. See Lazarus's post April 26th. P 1,  Sketch.

https://7173mustangs.com/forums/topic/38104-sway-bar-brands/?do=getNewComment

 
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My 72 Q code rear sway bar frame bushings are fastened with coarse threaded, hex head, sheet metal screws. It surprised me but, it appears to be original. It sounds like the threads rusted away. Try to get a pry bar bushing strap and pry while turning the screw. Chuck

 
Cut them off and pop out the interior nuts. Then install a rivet nuts in there place. 

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My 72 Q code rear sway bar frame bushings are fastened with coarse threaded, hex head, sheet metal screws. It surprised me but, it appears to be original. It sounds like the threads rusted away. Try to get a pry bar bushing strap and pry while turning the screw. Chuck
Really!!! Ford must have wanted to cut costs big time to eliminate 4 weld-nuts. My 71 M code has 5/16-18 thread bolts with locator tips that obviously screw into weld-nuts. I'm still using the originals.

 
I was surprised as well. There were no other holes and the screws looked to be original. I re-used them with no problems. Chuck

 
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