I'm replacing all the bushings on my '82 GSL. I'm at the Tension Rod bushing part now. The new bushings have a small step on one side, the other side is flat.

My old bushings are so worn and falling apart it's hard to tell which side had the step. It looks like the step was on the washer side, which seems backwards to me.

Which way do they go?!

 

Step goes towards the main bracket, flat part to the washers. In other words, the steps face each other.

 

Is this accurate? It appears that the FSM states the opposite according to page 13:8 number 4

 

This is the way that I did it this spring. Works great.

 

I'm hoping to do this tomorrow, I have new poly ones to put on. Along with new control arms, and struts, camber plates and sway bar. I'm having a couple problems, though...Where the heck do you get a 26mm impact socket?!? I've looked everywhere, their selections always skip that size if they have metric ones that go up that far...Is it perhaps the exact same size as some standard one that's readily available? My nuts are totally seized. I hired a guy(my retired father, the car is at his house) to spray them everday this past week with pbBlaster. Hoping to see tomorrow if I can get them off. Do you have to be careful of the rear nuts' positions to not change some geometry or something? Anything to do with alignment? Just leave them alone, or get them moving and antiseized up so they can be adjusted if they will be needed for alignment afterwards?(Because of all the things I'm replacing at once) Also, tie rod ends...I didn't get new ones, the ones on it feel ok, but the boots are shredded. Should I get them(their adjusters) moving and lubed up in anticipation of alignment, too?
As always, any help is greatly appreciated, it's more important than ever I get this 11 month project completed...

 

I don't recall ever using or needed a 26mm socket. That big, find the closest standard 6 POINT, emphasis on 6 point, socket. You're looking at a 1 1/16" socket. 26mm is 1.02362. Otherwise I'd be thinking it's a 1".

Good Luck.

 

Thanks, I'll try a 1 1/16th". After lots of reading, I got all the other answers to the effects on alignment and whatnot. Caster