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5 hours to install front sway bar

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Old Jul 12, 2005 | 04:56 PM
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5 hours to install front sway bar

i called my dealer today they said to install front mazdaspeed sway bar it would take about five hours at a cost of about 400.00 dollars . does it really take that long .
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Old Jul 12, 2005 | 05:17 PM
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I got the Racing Beat one put on in about 1hr. It would have been a lot harder but I have access to a Lift, I don't know if you could get it on without one.
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Old Jul 12, 2005 | 05:54 PM
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not a chance it should take 5 hours.
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Old Jul 12, 2005 | 06:05 PM
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Well the Mazda install instructions could have you removing the whole front suspension & bumper. The install of the exhaust finishers is a good example. If you follow Mazda’s way you have to take off the whole rear end when it can be done in less than 20 minutes without removing anything. See if any forum members are by you and offer two cases of beer & a Pizza to help.

EDIT: It took me 90 minutes but I was taking photos for a DIY & I also had to drill the A arms for the larger RB front end links.

Last edited by expo1; Jul 12, 2005 at 06:57 PM.
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Old Jul 12, 2005 | 06:19 PM
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only took me 1.
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Old Jul 12, 2005 | 06:54 PM
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Originally Posted by pritch
i called my dealer today they said to install front mazdaspeed sway bar it would take about five hours at a cost of about 400.00 dollars . does it really take that long .

I can do it in 30 minutes without taking the front undercover off even

1. Break front wheel lugnuts
2. Put front end up on jackstands
3. Remove front wheels
4. Unbolt swaybar endlinks from bar ends
5. Unbolt swaybar pivot bushings
6. Push swaybar as far toward driver side as possible may require some twisting of bar to get it all the way over
7. Pull driver side bar end forward to get it over tierod end
8. Now pull bar as far toward passenger side as possible
9. Pull passenger side bar end forward and over tierod end
10. Pull bar out from driver side, requires maneuvering bar by lower radiator hose

Reverse the above to install the new bar

Last edited by TeamRX8; Jul 12, 2005 at 07:02 PM.
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Old Jul 12, 2005 | 07:05 PM
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Yeah, it will take you 5 hours.....if you are Stevie Wonder.
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Old Jul 12, 2005 | 07:20 PM
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fwiw, the MS bar is only barely stiffer than OE, you should wait for the TeamRX8 adjustable tubular bar which is designed to work with the OE rear bar just several more weeks out
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Old Jul 12, 2005 | 07:21 PM
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Less than an hour......not the easiest thing to get out.....but if you loosen the plastic trim around the inner wheel well...it goes real easy
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Old Jul 12, 2005 | 07:31 PM
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ok any body in the lehigh valley area pa that wants to do it i will pay.
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Old Jul 12, 2005 | 07:31 PM
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Do it yourself, save some bucks for another mod. Took me 1-1/2 hours for the front.
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Old Jul 12, 2005 | 07:41 PM
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only reason why they're quoting you 5 hours is b/c it's probably customer pay. normally it would take them less than an hour. but since you're paying for the labor, they're going to jack up the price. everything they charge you in a dealership isn't really how long it actually takes them.
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Old Jul 12, 2005 | 11:22 PM
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That's a lot of padding. The install given you know what you're doing shouldn't take long and is pretty straight foward. I wouldn't pay for 5 hours. 2 hours max. Even though it took me 5 hours, but i'm no technician.
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Old Jul 13, 2005 | 01:54 PM
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the dealer quoted me for wrong car he thout i had a protege turbo. job only took 1hr and a half so its on right now.
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Old Jul 13, 2005 | 02:16 PM
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yeah the front sway bar of the protege is a real pain in the ***, that thing you HAVE to lower the front crossmember to remove

glad your dealer was honest! lol
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Old Jul 13, 2005 | 02:20 PM
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^seriously most dealerships wouldn't of com out and said "opps out bad wrong car" most would've taken the money and run
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Old Jul 13, 2005 | 02:25 PM
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yes it took a little longer than what he re quoted me but he stuck to it. he came and said he wont quote a hour and half maybe 2 or morel

Last edited by pritch; Jul 13, 2005 at 02:31 PM.
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Old Jul 13, 2005 | 02:30 PM
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glad everything worked out.
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Old Jul 13, 2005 | 06:09 PM
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which stearlership did you go to - Young?
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Old Jul 13, 2005 | 07:54 PM
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yes
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Old Jul 19, 2005 | 04:16 AM
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LOL. Stealership. I like that.

Want to know, anybody having trouble taking off ther wheel nuts.

At first i thought I was abit weak to unscrew the wheel nuts with the stuff supplied in the boot,

but i ended up getting 2 mates to have a go, they also couldn't do it!

****! Looks like gotta pay for the labour now. What am i going to do when i bust a tyre?!
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Old Jul 19, 2005 | 05:47 AM
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I removed an oversized aftermarket front bar in under 15 minutes Sunday night, pretty easy once you know what to do
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Old Jul 19, 2005 | 07:22 AM
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Originally Posted by pritch
ok any body in the lehigh valley area pa that wants to do it i will pay.
pritch --

Nevermind...

Craig
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Old Aug 4, 2005 | 03:04 PM
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Does anyone know the torque settings for the end links and bushings? In the Middle of an install, HELP please
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Old Aug 4, 2005 | 03:18 PM
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31-44 Ft Lbs
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