The 1992 GMC Jimmy has a stabilizer bar that links the frame to the control arms, on the front of the truck. The stabilizer bar helps prevent horizontal swaying of the vehicle during cornering or turning. Stabilizer bars can rust completely, or become bent as a result of a front-end accident. Replacing the stabilizer bar will add greater congruity between the suspension and chassis of the 1992 Jimmy. The 1992 Jimmy was equipped with a 4.3-liter V-6 engine, and was available in both two-wheel and four-wheel-drive versions.
Instructions
- 1
Loosen the front wheel nuts on the Jimmy with a tire iron. Raise the front of the truck with a jack. Place jack stands beneath the front sub-frame rails, on both sides of the engine. Lower the truck onto the jack stands. Remove the wheel nuts completely, then remove both front wheels from the truck.
2Go to one side of the truck and position yourself at the wheel well. Insert an open-end wrench onto the nut that holds the stabilizer bolt in place. Insert a ratchet and socket onto the bolt head. Turn the bolt counterclockwise while holding the nut still with the open-end wrench, until the nut spins off the end of the stabilizer bolt.
3Remove the washer and bushing from the bottom of the stabilizer bolt. Use a hammer to gently tap the stabilizer bolt upward. Pull the stabilizer bolt free from the front of the truck with channel locks.
4Repeat steps 2 and 3 to remove the stabilizer bolt from the second side of the Jimmy.
5Lay beneath the front of the truck and position yourself beneath one of the stabilizer bar mounting brackets. Remove the stabilizer bracket bolts with a ratchet and socket, then remove the stabilizer bracket and bushing. Repeat this step to remove the second bracket and bushing from beneath the truck. Slide out from beneath the truck when both brackets have been removed.
6Position yourself at the passenger front wheel well of the truck. Pull the stabilizer bar out through this wheel well, as there are fewer parts hindering removal on this side. Pull the bar out horizontally, maneuvering the bar past the front suspension.
7Install the new stabilizer bar through the passenger's side wheel well. Install a new washer, then a bushing through the new stabilizer bolt on the passenger's side of the truck. Push the bolt upward through the lower control arm until it protrudes slightly. Insert a bushing onto the bolt, then install a washer. Install a new stabilizer sleeve around the bolt. Continue pushing the bolt upward to accommodate the new hardware. Install a washer, then a bushing above the sleeve. Slide the bolt completely through the stabilizer bar. Install a bushing, washer, then a nut onto the bolt.
8Insert an open-end wrench onto the nut, and hold the nut still. Tighten the stabilizer bolt and nut to 13 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket on the bolt head. Repeat the installation process in steps 7 and 8 to install the stabilizer bolt on the other side of the Jimmy.
9Lay beneath the front of the Jimmy and slide yourself in position to install the new bushings and mounting brackets. Install one bracket bushing onto the stabilizer bar at the same location you are going to install the bracket. Wrap the new bushing around the bar, then push the bracket onto the bar to hold the bushing in place. Install the bracket mounting bolts and tighten them to 24 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket. Repeat this step to install the second bushing and frame-mounting bracket.
10Install the front wheels onto the Jimmy and tighten the lug nuts snug, using a tire iron. Raise the truck off the jack stands, then remove the stands from beneath the truck. Lower the Jimmy to the ground and immediately torque the lug nuts. The lug nuts should be torqued to 100 foot-pounds with the torque wrench and a wheel nut socket.
