Trouble Removing Sway Bar End Link?

[LostBoy]

Hey everyone, I'm trying to install my Bilstein 5100 struts on my 2021 F150 4x4 with 5.0L. I got all the way to the sway bar end link and could not free it from the sway bar for anything. I only had my front passenger side jacked up on a jackstand, while the other 3 wheels were on the ground. Is it normal practice to lift the entire front end and do both sides at the same time? That's my only assumption is that maybe lifting the other side would free up some binding.

Is there any other tips or tricks you could give, or what to watch out for when installing a leveling kit/struts? As i understand it, i will need to remove the tie rod, sway bar end link, uca at ball joint, and loosen the uca in order to get the strut assembly out. Any and all help is greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time.

Sponsored

 

[ImChris]

Is there any other tips or tricks you could give, or what to watch out for when installing a leveling kit/struts? As i understand it, i will need to remove the tie rod, sway bar end link, uca at ball joint, and loosen the uca in order to get the strut assembly out. Any and all help is greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time.

The first time I installed my Ford Performance Bilstein kit, I followed their instructions perfectly. It took me a while (something like 5 hours). Here are those instructions: https://performanceparts.ford.com/download/instructionsheets/IS_M-18000-F15B_MM_20221031.PDF



The second time (when I set my perch from the 2, to the 2.5 setting), I followed this video and removed the LCA and took the front out that way. It probably took me 2 hours to do the entire job. Here is that video:





I think the top is 'official', but when it comes to 'tips and tricks' I think the YouTube video is the faster, easier process. You'll FOR SURE need an alignment (either way) but especially when doing the second version as it's hard to get your LCA lined up perfectly the way it was (at least in my case).

-Chris

 

[diambo4life]

The purpose of a sway bar (a misnomer, really an anti-sway bar) is to resist deflection so with only one wheel off the ground, the link would have the greatest force exerted on it than if both wheels were raised. I have not done it on an F150 but anytime I have done a sway bar link, I needed to apply some force on the swaybar close to the link with a cheater bar to relieve some of that exerted tension.

Sponsored