I know this is a noob question so try not to laugh too hard. The one thing I know very little about is suspension...

My problem: I started (and almost completed) the install of my Skunk2 lowering springs last night and I got to the last corner of the car, and went to drop the rear sway bar end link (as per DIY instructions). It was really crusty and I got the nut most of the way off. Then the allen key spot in the bolt stripped. So basically, I can't get the end link off without cutting it and eventually installing a new one.

My question: Can I roll without a rear sway bar for a few days until my new end links (ordered new adjustable ones) come in? Can anything catastrophic happen without a rear sway bar? Or will the handling just be worse?

Someone please answer this asap as I may just cut off this endlink and remove the sway bar so I can drive my car until the endlinks come in. Thank you in advance.

P.S.- My rear springs seem to not have a distinct side that they go on. The fronts are labeled FR (I hope passenger) and FL (I hope driver) while the rears are labeled identically (RC). Is that normal?

 

Normal driving - nothing
Spirited/evasive driving - massive under steer

 

The springs at the rear are universal, it does not matter what side they go on. Good luck.

 

^maybe the springs are slightly different from side to side to compensate for the weight of the driver (keep the car level with a driver in it)? just a guess.

 

kinda lost, your installing a sway bar too? reason i ask because i never touched mine when i put my springs in.

 

The differentiation between FR and FL springs are normal. My coilovers are the same way.

FR is the passenger....FL is the driver.

 

its easier to put the springs in if you disconnect the swaybar. not necessary though. i think that is why he tried to loosen it.

 

Yes...that is what both DIYs I read through said to do. I don't see how I could have done it without removing the link.

 

i removed the bolt at the end of the control arm (the bolt that holds 1 of 2 of the rear lower tie bar) after that the spring just hangs. it was a bit of a bitch to put back in though. i just used my jack to line up the holes and a another pair of hands to help align.

 

I have the same situation as u today, so I ended up cutting the endlink. there are so much rust it's impossible to get it out. You can try to heat it up and get it out, I dun have the torch so I am force to cut it.

p.s. u can drive the car no problem. Correct me if I am wrong, but the dx model for 8th gen civic does not even comes with rear sway bar. So u r good, unless u r pushing your car to the limit.

 

just take it easy in the corners and you will be fine

 

my friend has a 95 integra he drove for like 6 months with no sway bar haha but yeah deff dont drive fast bc ull be everywhere. and how long did it take you to do the springs. im about to do my springs monday when they come in. and what shocks r u using

 

It didn't take very long. Probably a total of 3 hours (including me thoroughly cleaning the inside of my wheels while they were off). I am using the stock shocks for now, but I may eventually upgrade to Skunk2 sport shocks.

PS-I should mention it took 3 hours doing it by myself on jackstands with handtools. I'm sure on a lift, with air tools and another set of hands, you could probably shave a half hour-hour off of that time.

 

When you first lift the rear, you should have lifted both ends evenly to avoid putting any strain on the sway bar. I had the same issue, but I just used two floor jacks to even out both rear wheels. Not that this will help now, but for future reference. Hope you get your sway soon 2008Fiji.

 

I removed the strain from the sway bar by jacking up the control arm. The bolt was just verrrrry rusty.

 

**** if yours is already that rusty, I wonder how mine's gonna be with my car being 2 years older when I go to swap out my rear sway bar.

 

Yeah...I was really surprised. Remember though...I have to deal with road salt and snow, while that usually isn't a problem in Texas. I had to disconnect the driver's side front end link and that loosened without a problem. Whatever...just an excuse to get adjustable endlinks...lol.

 

Dam dude working on the floor doing suspension really sucks we did my on a lift at work and i took us 30 mins to change out the front springs and about 5 mins to do the rear. I dont understand why they wanted you to remove the rear end links to get the spring out that is wierd unless you are installing a new sway bar. The easy way is to just remove the rear bottom shock bolt and pull down on the control arm and the stock springs come right out. Good luck.