Help! - sway bar bushing install

I purchased a set of black polygraphite bushings from energy suspension the other day for my stock bar (68 GTX)and have spent the last hour trying to get those @#$% things on. They slip on the bar (sans bracket) rather easily with the supplied lube, tight but still manageable. I just cannot get the bushings into the frame bracket once its there. In frustration, I took the bushings back off and tried to insert them into just the brackets - very tight and had much trouble getting them in. I did it, but had to really get ignorant with them using channellock pliers, and there's no way I can see doing that again while the bushings are on the bar. My brackets are not bent either, and I used plenty of lube. There's got to be someone out there who has done this before - maybe a trick or two you could pass along?

Some people go to the trouble of removing the brackets and then rewelding them with the bushing in place.
I have always just lubed them up with WD -40 start them first at the top of the triangle part of the bushing and work my way to the bottom on each side. I use stong language, channel locks, large plyers, and large vise grips to get them to go in.
It is rough but it can be done.

I agree. I did the ones on my 69 Charger and fought with them tooth and nail using some colorful language even having a screw driver slip off and gash my palm of my hand pretty good. Like Mike said, try some lube, either WD-40 or some other type of grease with the channel locks. It won't be easy by a long shot, but they usually will go in. I've also heard that the way that was done originally was to slip the bushing on and then weld the strap in place.

I ran into the same problem on my Dart. I eventually was able to get one side done, but not the other. Ended up cutting the bracket.

Bushing

..yes this is a miserable task.
it is a little easier starting right at the end
where the end link goes..it's a little narrower there.
..i trimmed a little off the top ridge to help as well.
..if you have someone who regularly gives you some grief
send him a set!

I just did a set. Did not have to cut the bracket.

Grease the heck out of it. I used channel locks and a Phillips screw driver and just worked it a little bit at a time, then there is a point where it pops in. I agree with the earlier comment, do it by the narrower diameter of the bar.

Be patient!

cut the bracket and reweld, worked great for me. done in minits.

using all that grease and wd40 causes havoc with the paint job on the other parts not to mention the dripping oilly mess for weeks.

I'll be installing new bushings in my sway bar in the near future. I thought that I might be able to use my shop press to help get the bushing pushed in. Am I delusional?

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I'll be installing new bushings in my sway bar in the near future. I thought that I might be able to use my shop press to help get the bushing pushed in. Am I delusional?

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No working room, the bar has to be in the rubber bushing before it can be squeezed in to the bracket.

Again, it can be done, I did it with a couple of hand tools and just some patience. Really.