DC-5/RSX Rear Sway Bar & Brace Bar DIY


Here are a couple of items you may want to grab before you begin. The blue mechanic gloves, WD40 , and the lantern of course aren't necessary, but they made this install easier for me.


Step I

Loosen the lug nuts on both rear tires.

Place the rear end on stands and remove rear lug nuts and tires.


Note:

You may want to put a jack on each of the control arms, so they stay in the position desired when you unbolt them from the center of the frame.


Step II

Remove the four bolts from the pair of sway bar bushings (highlighted in blue). Then removed the two lower control arm bolts (highlighted in red).


Step III

-This is what it should look like when you complete Step II. The sway bar should be able to move up and down freely.

This mount (circled in red) is one of my after market muffler brackets. You may or may not have one of these, no worries.


Step III

Follow your stock sway bar back to your rear end links (both sides) and remove the top nut only if you wish to keep your stock end links, remove both nuts if you want to upgrade to stronger end links.

I ended up striping the hex key bolt on both my end links due to rust, if you want to grab a pair of Ingalls, I highly suggest them.


Step IV

Grab the biggest bolts that came in your kit, or the stock control arm bolts if you bought it used along with two washers. If you have the Proggress rear tie bar, you'll need the two spacers as well.

I ended up striping the hex key bolt on both my end links due to rust, if you want to grab a pair of Ingalls, I highly suggest them.


If you need a little help, here is the order they go in before bolting the rear tie bar on.


You'll have to wiggle around both rear control arms in order to get the the main bolts to pass through to the other side. Tighten these bolts up enough so they screw through to the other side, but don't tighten them down completely just yet. You'll want the tie bar to be a little loose for the rest of the installation.


Step V

If your going with new end links go ahead and install them as well. As with the tie bar don't tighten these down all the way yet. You'll want the extra play when you put the actually bar in.


Step VI

Grease up your bushings with White Lithium Grease. I used the grease supplied in the Progress kit. It was more than enough to cover both bushings.

If you bought your rear sway bar used, you can pick up this grease at any automotive parts store.


Step VII

Remove the bushings from their mounts and slip them onto the bar. There is a small line that keeps the bushings from completely connecting, find it, pry it open a little, and pop each one onto the sway bar.


Step VIII

Put the mounts back around your bushings and install the bar onto your RSX using the 4 smaller bolts and washers that came with your kit. If you bought a used sway bar, then just use the four bolts that came off your stock mounts.


Step IX

Connect both end links to each side of the sway bar. Go ahead and completely tighten the nut to the sway bar and don't forget to completely tighten the other nut we left lose earlier as well. Recheck all your bolts (6) and end link attachment nuts (4) for tightness. Go ahead and throw the wheels back, lower back down , and get those lug nuts torqued down.


Note:

If you have a performance exhaust, these two are going to vibrate. Find a piece of high temp rubber and wedge it between the two, then find a way to secure it. Zip ties will melt, need to find a more permanent solution later.


Ten easy steps and you're done! Not only have you added performance to your ride, but style as well. Next to the HKS Turbo set up, this is my favorite mod on my car. You notice the difference right away when cornering at medium or high speeds.