Front Sway Bar Replacement (w/o Lowering the Sub-frame) GM W-Body Cars DIY

The factory GM front sway bar is notorious for cracking and failing on W-body cars such as the Buick Regal/LaCrosse/Century, Chevy Impala/Monte Carlo, Olds Intrigue and Pontiac Grand Prix. I replaced the damaged & rendered useless front sway bar on my 2007 easily while not having to lower the sub-frame for removal/re-installation the sway bar itself like many do. Completed this DIY in about 90 minutes while saving myself roughly $250 over shop prices.

[@PopsMdub]

For me, this was an excellent video. You saved me a ton of time showing me that i didn't need to drop the sub frame to remove and replace the sway bar. I would not have thought of pulling the old bar out through the space between the drive shaft and the lower control arm by simply jacking the control arm up and out of the way. Brilliant, and a massive time saver. Other videos showed I had to lower the subframe and I was worried about doing that and breaking something. Others are bashing you for not showing each component of the r and r, but it was clear to me how to do all if that stuff, so I appreciated your brevity and simple explanation. Short and sweet. Good job!

[@diymakerdan]

Glad to hear it worked for you & appreciate the feedback. Cheers!

[@leeson6321]

Everyone complaining about him not showing him actually removing the sway bar……If you listen to what he’s SAYING, he tried to remove the links but they broke. If you can’t figure out how to take yours off, call a mechanic. He showed you got to remove a bushing, at least on one side, the other is exactly the same! After removing bolts from the bushing brackets he tells you he has to jack up the control arm and it “pretty much pulled it straight out. There was a little bit of a tug at the end but once I gave it a tug it pulled straight through”. Do you people seriously need a visual for every little detail?

[@paulmoreno3980]

Thanks brother. I have a 08 Pontiac Grand Prix and I bought it in 11 and still have it. Watching ur video just saved me hundreds of dollars. I bought sway bar links, wheel bearings, calipers, and now going to buy a sway bar to replace it. Notice a crack on both ends. Watching your video. I’m going to perform the job myself. Thanks a lot for the video.🤙🏼

[@AtomicProtogen]

THANK YOU SO MUCH; you have a wonderful simple explanation method, and our 97’ Grand Prix has a new sway bar thanks to your help!

[@ifixeditmyself1926]

Great video. Happy to see that it's not always necessary to drop the subframe. I have to change mine. Very helpful!

[@diymakerdan]

From one fixer to another you're most welcome & thanks for watching!

[@75kylew]

Thank you sir! Just changed mine on a 2001 Monte Carlo, $80 shipped. Slipped right in. Shop wanted $510 plus taking the ball joint end off (another $100 for alignment). Took me a couple hours, the ratcheting wrench saved me about an hour of work.

[@davidlaws1438]

Thanks for your video I'm in the middle of replacing mine on my 2000 GTP glad to know don't have drop sub frame, thanks again.

[@TheDarklabel05]

great video! i was surprised that almost every other video shows you having to mess with lowering the sub frame. i did not want to mess with that myself, so after seeing your video i might just give it a go myself now! i have a chevy impala 02, so fingers crossed it works out as well as this video! cheers!

[@brianasf-7051]

Did it work? About to do this myself to the same car😅

[@cmac1454]

Great easy to follow tutorial....the walls of the stock bar are very thin and not prepped against corrosion making them rust out from under you in due time

[@diymakerdan]

The ends of the stock bar also appear to be crimped flat causing a seam that will eventually split due to the rust issue you mention. The new bar does not seem to have that manufacturing defect.

[@whoami7566]

Now this is a solid video

[@apot35]

I have a 2001 Malibu and the passenger side snapped a few inches away from the end link. I was looking for a video and this was the closest to it and you didn’t have to lower the sub frame as the manual suggests. Will try it. Thanks man

[@jacobsigler9747]

It works you have to take it out from the drivers side. I just replaced mine today. I was hesitant when it wouldn’t come out from the passenger side.

[@ChrisHplusland]

I just did this on my 2008 Buick Allure 3.8 (Canadian Lacrosse) Had to jack up the control arm as suggested, real high. The sway bar just wiggled out. It's real tight against the converter. The new bolts for the sway bar mounts come shorter from Moog and the back spot on the drivers side sway bar mount bracket, near the brake lines, is easier to get back in. The Moog solid bar is 20 pounds versus the OE 10 pound hollow POS. Moog complete sway bar kit number: K170001 Thanks for this fucking video, helped me out a lot.

[@diymakerdan]

That's exactly how I remember it going. Glad the video helped you save some $$$. Thanks for sharing your experience with your Allure

[@chuckroast5735]

Mine on my 06 LaCrosse was extremely tight against the converter. I cut the curved end off of the old hollow bar on the passenger side and it pulled out extremely easy from the driver side. New one went in like a breeze. Dorman part # 927-100 or Moog # k170001

[@rotitnhoj]

i have an '07 grand prix that i need to do this on. will be attempting it on Monday, thanks for the upload

[@fatboyshadetree5139]

hope i can get my old out and new one in as easy. i was not looking forward to dropping that subframe.

[@chuckroast5735]

Tip: Cutting about 7 inches off the passenger side of the old bar makes removal much easier. The original bar is hollow and cuts easily with a grinder.

[@carlphelan9168]

I tried to do as instructed but my sway bar is complete, end part not broken off, half the bolt hole for the sway bar link broke off. Comes out 1/2 inch beyond the rotor then stuck. Tried tapping with sledge not budging. Stuck between exhaust and sub-frame. I think if the sway bar was like the sway bar in video would come out. Not sure if the after market sway bar has a slightly different angle, but the bend in the middle prevents extraction. The video doesn't include removal or installation of sway bar so hard to duplicate bolt removal was easy as illustrated. 2008 Buick Lacrosse

[@kellyybundy8192]

Awesome video thank you very much for showing this girl how to do it!!!!!

[@edgardelossantos29]

Thank u for sharing! I'll change mine tomorrow! Hope is as easy as it was for you😂😂😂

[@diymakerdan]

How'd it go?

[@mikeodonnell2314]

great video....Saved me a couple hundred

[@diymakerdan]

Glad it helped

[@genogee4736]

Wish you would have shown you taking it out because it’s not working with mine gonna have to lower sub frame tomorrow

[@user-qn7nw9dw4b]

Definitely would have been nice if your title would have matched your video. The thing is you never show how you don't get it out without dropping the subframe, or put the new one in.

[@raylopez167]

I'm changing the control arms at the same time as the stabilizer bar, that negates the need for me to jack up the control arm since they will be off and out the way, correct?

[@diymakerdan]

That should make it easier for you with the control arm not in the way.

[@vortire6040]

Apparently the weld on the inner bracket bolts fastening thread broke free, so it rotates endlessly. Gonna break the head off and replace it with a nut and bolt.

[@darrelloseyii6561]

Is this the same for 2009 buick lacrosse

[@johnny-becker]

You make it look so easy. My sway bar on.my 06 Malibu is shot and if I can follow the same procedure, I myself might save myself $25o

[@diymakerdan]

Malibu's are made on a different car platform if I'm not mistaken, thus you may not be able to execute the replacement the same way I did. If you do choose to attempt it always remember to be safe while working safe at all times. Good luck!

[@TheVick7]

Awesome video! I had the sway bar link break in half like yours, what was the best way for you to get it out?

[@diymakerdan]

For me was to jack up the control arm for clearance and wiggle the bar out sideways.

[@drivewaygarage1561]

I just bought a 2004 Chevy impala with a broken sway bar, this is going to be much easier than dropping the subframe. Thanks

[@McNateDoggYT]

How’d it work out doing mine in the next couple days

[@drivewaygarage1561]

@@McNateDoggYT it was pretty easy

[@McNateDoggYT]

@@drivewaygarage1561 thanks man!

[@thefitzwater4805]

Didn't show the main point of the video....

[@diymakerdan]

Sorry bud, I wish I could have captured all footage but i just kept getting in the way of the camera

[@219Fishing]

I have the same problem on my 2011 Chevy Impala. Will this work for my Impala without dropping sub frame ?

[@diymakerdan]

It might, I can't say for certain without doing it on your exact year/make but I would like to think that other cars that use the same platform as my GP the job should go similar., If not expect to lower the subframe.

[@jeffvance4069]

@@diymakerdan I have an 07 impala lt. If replacing both inner and outer tie rods and control arms anyway, should that leave enough space to pull the sway bar out without any real resistance?

[@adrianfoster7432]

Saved me from dropping frame

[@diymakerdan]

What year/make? Will be helpful for others.

[@robinware15]

Where can you get a 2010 Buick LaCrosse sway bar from ?

[@mrbreezeet1]

Is this about the same for a 2001 Grand Prix se? I do not want to have to drop the subframe. How was dehydrated and passed out and took out a stop sign and a street sign and hit a wall with my wheel bent the inner tie rod end and bent the heck out of the control arm and the sway bar is out of position I don't know whether it's been or not at this point just yet. To "add insult to injury" even though I passed out, I was still excited for failure to control vehicle $125 ticket.

[@diymakerdan]

Should be the same repair but ymmv if things are bent up.

[@easytoaquatics638]

How did you get the bar out exactly? I need to do this on my 05 lacrosse and I just want to know the little trick in wiggling the bar out . thank you .

[@diymakerdan]

No real trick. Mine just needed a sideways tug and it came right out, just wiggled the new bar back in place while having control arm raised with a jack so you don't have to pop the tie rod ends loose.

[@mrbreezeet1]

You mentioned two 15 mm bolts what are they for the bracket that holds the sway bar in I thought you said they were 13 mm heads

[@diymakerdan]

New ones supplied were 15mm so I used those.

[@adrianfoster7432]

Cam you make one that replaces motor mount and trans mount very educational

[@diymakerdan]

If they break I sure will.

[@jimmiller7361]

Superman that is literally all I needed was how to get it in there what the fuk how'd you get it in there

[@markrogers6742]

I have a 2005 Buick LaCrosse would I be able to do it the way showed in the video.

[@diymakerdan]

I didn't know it was possible until I tried. YMMV

[@DrFrankensteam]

I need to do this with my car, does it matter which side you pull the bar out from? Nice video by the way, I really appreciate the post!

[@diymakerdan]

I'd like to think it would come out either way but did mine just through the driver side. It hangs up slightly going in and out towards the end but a little pull/shove gets it right in there. Popping the tie rod ends loose is another alternative for more clearance and easier removal through either side I would think.

[@PopsMdub]

I removed the old and inserted the new through the driver's side and they both sailed right out and in once the control arm was jacked up.

[@ThunderAppeal]

We'll see how well this advice works out. I have an Impala with a similar problem and it appears that the subfame needs to be lowered. We'll see if youre using 'TV magic' or if its possible.

[@Deadbuck73]

So did we see? Magic or not?

[@wondererisme8997]

Were you able to wiggle it out without disconnecting the tie rod end?

[@diymakerdan]

Yes.

[@topflair3684]

Its not very helpful if all your doing is showing and talking then skipping the actual procedure of doing it. For example, you say you took the bushing off and "that was easy" then completely skip to where the bar is completely off the car. Like how is that a explanation video...it tells me little to nothing. Could have took you a whole week to take it off and the viewer wouldn't know or be aware of the exact procedure and difficulty. That happens to be where I need assistance. Judging from first quarter of video... not very good or informative.

[@jimmysyoung9754]

Iam wit u skip all the steps but its a diy video fuck dat

[@jimmysyoung9754]

Not helpful at all bro u skipped all the important parts of the job no no n9

[@topflair3684]

@@jimmysyoung9754 did you get it done? I was doing it on a customers car... It was hell but I got it done.

[@jakeherrell3539]

Dose anyone no the the size of the bar 20 mm or whatever

[@vincedameion2631]

Thank you

[@jamesklinski3890]

What year Grand Prix? I have a 98 and need to do this

[@diymakerdan]

2007

[@bryaneffinturner]

thank you!

[@brandontalley4288]

Just bought me a sway bar from zz performance

[@Veemack21]

🙏 thanks

[@clever7334]

why not show the whole veido it would be alot more informative some might say b,s

[@diymakerdan]

Some can call it bs then and feel free to try alternate methods.

[@clever7334]

@@diymakerdan just saying if i found a way to remove it with out lowering the sub frame I WOULD BE PROUD TO SHOW HOW ITS DONE AND PROVE IT CAN BE DONE

[@cramertw2]

Good until you lubed the insulators

[@wyattlacey1]

Dude, NO burnout?! C’mon!

[@diymakerdan]

I thought it was right after the part with the dancing panda bear.

[@stephendaniels9219]

What was the point of this video, Fix the stupid title

[@lblittle1207]

yeah lot easier when stablizer shaft is broken on one end! Don't show how you got it out!