OEM 2003 Toyota Highlander Sway Bar Kit

2003 Toyota Highlander Parts Questions & Experts Answers

• Q: How to replace the rear Sway Bar Kit on 2003 Toyota Highlander?

  A: The first step to replace the rear sway bar kit is to take out the rear wheel. Drop the rear sway bar link assembly left-hand side by taking out two nuts from it yet use a hexagon wrench (5 mm) for holding the stud whenever the ball joint turns with the nut. You should repeat these same steps to replace the right-hand side sway bar link assembly. The ball joint stud on the left-hand side sway bar link assembly requires 5 back-and-forth rotations before receiving the nut to be torqued at a steady pace between 2 - 4 seconds per turn until the 5th turn reaches a torque range of 0.05 - 1.0 Nm (0.5 - 10 kgf-cm, 0.4 - 8.7 inch lbs.). The separation of the rear sway bar bracket No. 1 requires the removal of 2 bolts and the left-side bushing as well as right-side bracket and bushing. Install the new rear sway bar kit and rear sway bar bracket No. 1 by placing the bushing and bracket with its two bolts on the left side while ensuring a torque of 19 Nm (195 kgf-cm, 14 ft. lbs.). The bushing must be positioned inside the bushing stopper on the sway bar kit. The procedure should be repeated for the right side installation. The next installation step requires you to put the rear sway bar link assembly on the left side by taking out the 2 nuts from the sway bar link then tightening the nuts to 39 Nm (400 kgf-cm, 29 ft. lbs.) while using a 5 mm hexagon wrench to stop the ball joint from turning with the nuts. Repetitive steps should be followed for installation on the right side of the bushing stopper and sway bar kit. Complete the rear wheel installation through tightening it to 76 ft. lbs. and check the alignment accuracy of the rear wheel.