Stock Front Sway Bar Link Length Question

[Delirium]

Would someone mind measuring the length of the stock sway bar link bolt and sleeve on their 60 series for me please? I'm trying to see if the Man-A-Fre extended sway bar links will work on my BJ74 with an OME lift. I'm looking at SB190LINKKIT here:

http://www.man-a-fre.com/pa5/60SeriesHeavyDutyHighAngleSwayBarLinks.htm

Thanks,
Nick

 

[Output Shaft]

It seems that if new springs lift the vehicle 2" higher than stock, then the SB190LINKKIT seems like a good length.
The stock old front springs (IIRC) had the rubber bump stops about 1" above the axle pad. If the new springs give a 2-1/2" gap or more... those MAF links would be good.

I made mine links out of stainless steel tubing and stainless steel bolts to fit my springs. They don't articulate like the MAF, but they'll never rust either.

onlinemetals.com
(will cut to any length)

Support Tube:
Stainless T-316/316L
Seamless Tube
0.625" x 0.12" x 0.385"
Your length

Sway bar support stainless steel bolt:
3/8-16" X your length" (qty 2)
3/8-16" nylock nut (qty 2)

+ rubber bushings and those weird bushing washers (that will rust)

 

[Delirium]

Thanks for the info. I looked into grade 8 threaded rod and tubing but the cost, without bushings, would be the same or more than the MAF links. So, while I've been all about fabbing my own stuff in the past, if I can get a direct fit item for cheaper AND save myself the time messing with it then I would prefer that road as I have much less free time these days

If anyone has those Man-a-fre links and could give me the length of the bolt and the sleeve then that would also tell me what I need to know. I already tried contacting them 2 days ago.

The stock links on my BJ74 are 7.5" and the sleeve is 3.25-3.75" I (can't remember exactly off hand).

 

[Delirium]

So finally heard back from Man-a-fre and they said the overall link length is 8.5", since my stock ones are 7.5" and I have the OME 2.5" lift, I'm not sure that would be sufficient. What length did the ones you made end up being and how long was the final tube that you used for the sleeve?

 

[Delirium]

and is yours lifted?

 

[Output Shaft]

The front springs are not too ideal right now..too stiff.. 7 leafs
The winch and 2nd battery are out. That's 200 lbs off the nose of the car.

So now that it's a lot lighter & the car is unloaded, there is 4-1/4" inches of space between the rubber bump stop and the top of the axle pad. It's too high (I don't have spacers under the front bump stops).

So with that amount of lift, The 6 in. stainless spacer tubes were a good length. See pic.

Used a SS bolt and tube spacer this time, not so much because it was absolutely necessary, but because I got tired of looking at the old rusty things I had in the past.

 

[Delirium]

So the bolt is about, what, 8.5 inches?

 

[Output Shaft]

10". There's a lot of stuff taking up the space at the bottom.

 

[Delirium]

Ok, thanks for all the info! You don't have your old ones and could tell me the overall length of those by chance do you?

 

[Output Shaft]

Nope.. sorry.

 

[lcwizard]

whether or not it's needed for sure, the man-a-fre ones are kinda cool in a tech kinda way. One end is a ball end , like a tie rod end, so it
articulates in every direction. Theoretically this would relieve some stress on the link and reduce the time between periodic replacement of
the bushings. I've never really had the chance to test the pieces since my sway bars tend to be the first thing to hit the scrap pile on my personal rigs. Stock sway bars don't like long travel suspensions