Sway Bar - Rear

This procedure covers the removal and replacement of the rear sway bar (stabilizer bar) on a 2016-2021 Honda Civic with 1.5L turbo engine, including disconnecting the sway bar links and removing mounting brackets.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear sway bar (stabilizer bar) × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Sway bar bushing set × 1 — Replace if worn or damaged

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks in front of front wheels
3. Loosen rear wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground (do not remove)
4. Raise rear of vehicle with floor jack at designated jacking points
5. Support vehicle securely on jack stands placed under rear subframe or chassis rails
6. Remove both rear wheels completely
7. Spray penetrating oil on sway bar link nuts and bracket bolts if corrosion is present

Procedure

1. 1

   Access rear sway bar
   Locate the rear sway bar running laterally across the rear suspension. Identify the two sway bar links connecting the bar to the rear suspension arms and the two or four mounting brackets securing the bar to the subframe or chassis.
2. 2

   Disconnect driver side sway bar link
   Insert a 6mm Allen key into the shaft end of the sway bar link to hold it from spinning. Use a 17mm socket to remove the upper or lower nut (whichever provides better access) connecting the link to the sway bar. Once disconnected, move the link aside.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Disconnect passenger side sway bar link
   Repeat the same procedure on the passenger side: hold the shaft with a 6mm Allen key and remove the nut with a 17mm socket. Both sway bar links should now be disconnected from the sway bar.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Remove sway bar bracket bolts
   Locate the sway bar mounting brackets that secure the bar to the rear subframe or chassis. Using a 14mm socket, remove the bolts securing each bracket. There are typically two brackets, one on each side of the vehicle centerline. Support the sway bar as you remove the final bolt.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Bracket Bolts45 Nm (33 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Remove sway bar and bushings
   Lower the sway bar from the vehicle. Remove the rubber bushings from the sway bar by sliding them off. Inspect bushings for cracks, tears, or excessive wear. Clean the sway bar mounting surface with a wire brush if installing the same bar.
6. 6

   Prepare new or cleaned sway bar
   If installing a new sway bar, ensure it matches the original in length and diameter. Install new or reused bushings onto the sway bar in the correct orientation, ensuring the split in the bushing faces the correct direction (typically toward the rear or front of vehicle per factory orientation).
   ℹ️Bushing orientation matters. Note the position of the bushing split before removal or consult service manual diagrams.
7. 7

   Install sway bar to vehicle
   Lift the sway bar into position under the vehicle, aligning it with the mounting bracket locations on the subframe. Ensure the bar is centered with equal length extending to both sides.
8. 8

   Install mounting brackets
   Position the mounting brackets over the bushings and align with the bolt holes in the subframe. Start all bracket bolts by hand to ensure proper threading. Torque the sway bar bracket bolts to specification using a 14mm socket and torque wrench.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Bracket Bolts45 Nm (33 lb-ft)
9. 9

   Reconnect sway bar links
   Align the sway bar link ends with the connections on the sway bar. Install the nuts onto the threaded studs. Hold the shaft with a 6mm Allen key to prevent spinning and torque the nuts to specification using a 17mm socket and torque wrench. Repeat for both sides.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
10. 10

    Reinstall wheels and lower vehicle
    Reinstall both rear wheels and hand-tighten lug nuts in a star pattern. Raise vehicle slightly to remove jack stands, then lower vehicle completely to the ground. Torque lug nuts to 108 Nm (80 lb-ft) in a star pattern with wheels on ground.

Reassembly

1. Ensure all sway bar link nuts and bracket bolts are torqued to specification
2. Verify sway bar is centered with equal extension on both sides
3. Check that bushings are properly seated in mounting brackets
4. Confirm wheel lug nuts are torqued properly after vehicle is on the ground

Verification

• Visually inspect all connections to ensure hardware is properly installed and torqued
• Gently push down on rear bumper and release to check for unusual noises from sway bar area
• Test drive vehicle at low speed over bumps to verify proper sway bar operation and absence of clunking noises
• Perform a final visual inspection after test drive to confirm no hardware has loosened

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