95mushroom Absolute Aurora Fanatic member is offline
Driving is a privilege, make the most of it
Joined: Jan 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 3,246 Location: Orlando, FL
STS sway bar upgrade « Thread Started on Jul 14, 2006, 8:03pm »
Got my bar in yesterday, installed it today. The bar was from a 2000 STS, from Highway 54 Auto Salvage in Trenton TN. Great place, was quote $25 for shipping, was charged actual shipping costs (a rarity nowadays). Was $30+19.01 shipping. Was in "A" condition (under 60k miles). I ordered new stabilizer bushings (2 @ 5 ea.) and links (2 @ $10 ea.) from gmpartsdirect.com. Luckily I checked the car first, you need 2 bushings.
You can noticed the difference between the old link and the beefy new link. The new link is ABS plastic vs. the rolled steel.
Here you can really noticed the difference between the original 17mm sway bar vs. the new 22mm bar. I painted the bar silver, a theme I'm kinda running with. The new springs and rear shock brace will be silver too.
Can't really see much here, besides the sparkles
The new bar came with the bushings/brackets still on them (presumably it took to much work it get off). I used their brackets with my new bushings.
Decent complete, shot of the bar installed.
Definitely can tell a difference right off the bat. Did a few quick slaloms, its not quite dead-flat, improved, but just a slight pitch through each, sorta like the car 'sets'. With my new springs, it should be dead flat. The biggest improvement seems to turn-in, much sharper. Took it on a quick spin through the town to check the ride quality, with my Mom and brother riding along. Went to go hit some one-wheel speed bumps, I think my Mom said it best "Is there supposed to be a difference?" Easily worth the $90, I found the bar through car-part.com. It was the cheapest one on there that specific FE3 supension. There's a few on there for $40-$50 bux.
95mushroom Absolute Aurora Fanatic member is offline
Driving is a privilege, make the most of it
Joined: Jan 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 3,246 Location: Orlando, FL
Re: STS sway bar upgrade « Reply #3 on Jul 15, 2006, 12:36pm »
Part #s; Bar - 25666234 Links - 25684759 Bushings - 25666235
Write up;
Removal 1) Jack up and remove both rear wheels and set the car on jack stands. 2) Unbolt each link, 13mm socket for the top bolt, 1 1/4" wrench for the bottom. 3) Unbolt the bushing brackets, 1/2" socket (I believe). They are rather long bolts. 4) Your gonna have to remove one of the bushings on either side to get the bar to fit out (stupid gas tank's in the way). A lot of WD-40 makes this easier. Once its off, rotate the bar so its long ways with the car and slide out, watching up you don't destroy the brake lines. 5) Remove the old bushings from the brackets and insert the new ones. Not much help besides, they're easier off the bar, and to use a lot of brute force . If you can't get the old ones out, you could always cut them out, and use a rubberized mallet to get the new ones in
Install Reverse the steps for the install. Remember to grease up all the components. When you install the bushing, while you try to get bushing up the bar, grease the bar about a thumb space after the bend because you'll loose most of the grease you already applied. The grease should also provide enough lube to help make getting the one on while the bar's on the car. Also double check first that the brackets/bushings are on correctly (bolt hole down, with the flat side of the bracket facing away from the link mounts).
Thanks guys. After some more wheel time, I almost get the sense that car is smoother as well. The rear used to sound like it 'crashed' a bit over rough patches, but everything feels more solid now.
95mushroom Absolute Aurora Fanatic member is offline
Driving is a privilege, make the most of it
Joined: Jan 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 3,246 Location: Orlando, FL
Re: STS sway bar upgrade « Reply #7 on Jul 18, 2006, 12:40am »
Thanks guys. It's always cool to have another sticky .
Quote:
Looks like a How To sticky to me! Awesome job. The only thing I don't like is it makes me want to go do it now!!! Grrr, darn you Shroom!
BTW, do you have KYB's on the front? I've heard they are supposed to be the best next to the F350 shocks upgrade.
Yep, I have KYBs on the front. Definitely a worthwhile performance upgrade.
The Rancho upgrade maybe be well suited to the Riv's that have them already. I feel the main point of them is the is to add acceleration grip, something every Aurora I've seen doesn't really need and the sacrifice in ride would be too much of a trade-off.
If someone really wanted to, a similar upgrade (for 95's and 96's) would be to upgrade to the 97+ Aurora's 29mm front bar from our 27mm. That's only a 7% difference in thickness vs. the 33% from 17mm to 22mm on this upgrade. I dunno if anyone could actually tell the difference between the two fronts.
Joined: Nov 2006 Gender: Female Posts: 124 Location: Portland, Oregon
Re: STS sway bar upgrade « Reply #10 on Nov 19, 2006, 6:44pm »
Hi 95mushroom-
Nice pictures of your job there, very detailed.
I have a couple of questions for you:
Do you know if the anti-roll bar from the 2000 STS will fit the 2nd generation Aurora?
Regarding the end-link kit: I'm confused about where you got it - the GM Parts Direct Store, or the car-part.com place? I did visit the gmpartsplace, but can not figure out how to find the item. Do you happen to have a stock number?
Joined: May 2004 Gender: Male Posts: 6,158 Location: The Old Dominion
Re: STS sway bar upgrade « Reply #11 on Nov 19, 2006, 7:28pm »
Quote:
Do you know if the anti-roll bar from the 2000 STS will fit the 2nd generation Aurora?
The STS rear sway bar is 22mm. The 2nd gen Aurora bar is 20mm. Both cars have a 30mm front bar. I don't think there is much benefit to swapping in the STS bar on the 2nd gen Aurora.
![[Home]](http://s1.images.proboards.com/menu/home.gif)
![[Help]](http://s1.images.proboards.com/menu/help.gif)
![[Search]](http://s1.images.proboards.com/menu/search.gif)
![[Login]](http://s1.images.proboards.com/menu/login.gif)
![[Register]](http://s1.images.proboards.com/menu/register.gif)
![[Search This Thread]](http://s1.images.proboards.com/search2.gif)
![[Send Topic To Friend]](http://s1.images.proboards.com/buttons/sendtopic.gif)
![[Print]](http://s1.images.proboards.com/buttons/print.gif)
Author
![[avatar]](http://imagehost.auroraclubna.com/images/avay2.jpg)
![[homepage]](http://s1.images.proboards.com/buttons/www_sm.gif)
![[image]](http://xs103.xs.to/xs103/06286/linkssway1.jpg)
![[image]](http://xs103.xs.to/xs103/06286/comparo2sway1.jpg)
![[image]](http://xs103.xs.to/xs103/06286/leftoutsway1.jpg)
![[image]](http://xs103.xs.to/xs103/06286/underleftsway1.jpg)
![[image]](http://xs103.xs.to/xs103/06286/underrightsway1.jpg)
![[image]](http://xs103.xs.to/xs103/06286/underright2sway1.jpg)
![[image]](http://xs103.xs.to/xs103/06286/underbothsway1.jpg)
Logged
![[avatar]](http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y193/inurok/preview-visitor-logo.jpg){kind=logo}
![[image]](http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y193/inurok/GM.jpg)
![[avatar]](http://a.random-image.net/aurora40/proboards.jpg)
![[yim]](http://s1.images.proboards.com/yim.gif)
![[aim]](http://s1.images.proboards.com/aim.gif)
![[image]](http://a.random-image.net/aurora40/aurora.jpg)
. If you can't get the old ones out, you could always cut them out, and use a rubberized mallet to get the new ones in 
![[avatar]](http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v321/Javidogg/th_8682378.jpg)
![[image]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/Javidogg/AuroraWideScreen.jpg)
![[image]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/Javidogg/SpecialSig2.jpg)
![[avatar]](http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b367/89Corvette6pdFX3/Aurora/IM001909.jpg)
![[image]](http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b367/89Corvette6pdFX3/Aurora/Nice-1.jpg)
![[avatar]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v131/scottydl/hood.jpg)
. ![[avatar]](http://i46.tinypic.com/152jq8h.png)
![[image]](http://i47.tinypic.com/2u8jw4g.png)
![[avatar]](http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p94/terrafirma06/100-1.jpg)
![[image]](http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p94/terrafirma06/200-2.jpg)
2002 3.5 L Burgundy/Charcoal![[avatar]](http://s1.images.proboards.com/avatars/devil.gif)
![[avatar]](http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp155/lanceslambos/25511840014_medium.jpg)
![[image]](http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp155/lanceslambos/009modified-1-1.jpg)