End Links front Sway Bar

[PTGT Redman]

I'm installing my front Eibach Sway.
How tight should the end link bolt be tightened on the front Eibach sway bar?
It has a lock nut on the end, and I'm not sure if I tighten it until it is all the way tight or not.
HELP please.

[Gear_Head]

Service manual states that those bolts through the rubber cushion should be torqued to 250 Inch pounds.

Exerpt from 2001-2004 PT Cruiser service manual:

(3) Clean the threads of the stabilizer bar link
bolts, then apply Mopart Lock And Seal or equivalent
to the threads.
(4) Install both stabilizer bar links back on vehicle
(Fig. 35). Start each stabilizer bar link bolt with
bushing from the bottom, through the stabilizer bar,
inner link bushings, lower control arm, and into the
upper retainer/nut and bushing (Fig. 1). Do not fully
tighten the link assemblies at this time.
(5) Lower the vehicle.
NOTE: It may be necessary to put the vehicle on a
platform hoist or alignment rack to gain access to
the stabilizer bar mounting bolts with the vehicle at
curb height.
(6) Tighten each stabilizer bar link by holding the
upper retainer/nut with a wrench and turning the
link bolt. Tighten each link bolt to a torque of 28
N·m (250 in. lbs.).
(7) Tighten the stabilizer bar cushion retainer
bolts to a torque of 28 N·m (250 in. lbs.).

[PTGT Redman]

Alan,
I got the retainer bolts set.
With regard to the endlinks, Eibach supplies a replacement set.
It has a lock nut that gets thread onto the bolt. The bushings are a little softer than the OEM ones. It seems as that I can tighten it a lot even after the bushings seat into the depression in the end of the bar. I just don't want to overtighten the links.

[GTSteve]

If you use a ft/lb torque wrench be sure to divide by 12. That means that 250 in/lb = 21 ft/lb.

[Gear_Head]

I just went back to all of the instruction sheets that I could find from the kit (BTW I SAVE EVERYTHING) and could find no indication of any info that was read out as being different from the factory spec on the torque of the end link bolts. I used that spec (250 in/lbs or like steve said 21 ft/lbs) and after a few days I rechecked and retightened to that spec. On the retighten it was very minor........

[PTGT Redman]

Just got off the phone with Eibach. They said to tighten the end link bolt and nylock nut until the bushings are well seated and kinda bulged so they don't dislodge.

[Gear_Head]

Thanks much, I'll have to recheck mine to insure that they're tight enough. Good Luck.......

[PTGT Redman]

took it for a ride, feels right.
Gonna put in the rear bar later tonight.

[rice_killing_GT]

PTGT Redman, good luck with the rear bar. the nuts for the retaining clip are a real PITA, be ready to bend some tools.

[PTGT Redman]

yeah, already ground down a wrench to 15mm and the cars on ramps now.
How tight do the endlinks that attach to the side of the wheel well have to be?
I have the torque specs on the other bolts. Also, the tabs on the bushing retainers should be bent, that may make it easier to install the retainers in that bracket. I'll let ya know