Rear sway bar bushing bracket?

#1

Hello all. Has anywone tried to change their IE rear bushing bracket/sway bar to the Bimmerworld SpecE30 rear bracket/sway bar? Will the holes in the trunk and tabs line up? Thanks.

Tom

#2

I did. If there were any fitments problems they weren’t enough to stick in my mind. I had to drop the rear subframe by about a 1/2" to get the BW sway bar over the diff.

I might have just re-used the IE sway mount hardware, come to think of it.

The biggest hassle in the sway bar swap was with the diff vent hose. The BW sway and the diff vent hose want the same realestate.

#3

I changed an IE bar with a H&R and used the IE mounting hardware. Yep, had to drop the diff and unbolt a half shaft and shock to get the sucker in there.

The IE mounts are to low for the H&R bar. The bar hits the haft shafts under extreme load (up the hill before turn 5 at Barber).

I assume yours does not hit?

Tom

#4

[quote=“rustydawg” post=67118]I changed an IE bar with a H&R and used the IE mounting hardware. Yep, had to drop the diff and unbolt a half shaft and shock to get the sucker in there.

The IE mounts are to low for the H&R bar. The bar hits the haft shafts under extreme load (up the hill before turn 5 at Barber).

I assume yours does not hit?

Tom[/quote]
I looked up the BW order info and I did not order the BW mounts. Therefore I reused my IE mounts. Since the install the car has been to CMP and RA. If the sways are hitting my half shafts, I’ve not noticed it. I’ll take a look at them tonight.

#5

Thanks Ranger. The bar hitting sounded like a bad wheel bearing. The half shaft was literally grinding down the sway bar. I think you would hear it through turn one at RA.

The other option could be to go with a straight bar Suspension Techniques or Racing Dynamics.

#6

Just as another data point, I got the UUC bar, and I was able to get it installed without dropping the diff or removing any suspension components. It was a tight fit, and the nice silver paint on it didn’t remain nice and shiny. :smiley:

#7

I installed the uuc rear bar this weekend. 2 disappointments concerns
A torquing the drop links to specified amount crushed the rod end spacers or flared them before I reached recommended torque.
B similarly when torquing trunk mounting bolts as specified I wrung off bolts. Anyone else had similar issues with the hardware?

#8

Be wary about using OEM torque values on aftermarket products. Sometimes the design of the two is quite different. After a while you’ll get into a habit of looking at something and thinking “16ftlbs is too much. How about 10ftlbs and some blue locktite for you”.

#9

Actually I used the values supplied in the uuc instructions

#10

Hmm, I don’t remember torquing anything on my UUC bar. It hasn’t fallen off, and I didn’t ruin any of the hardware.

#11

[quote=“bronzite30” post=68606]Actually I used the values supplied in the uuc instructions[/quote] Then I am out of ideas.

#12

The saga continues… Moved on to the front bar today. The holes in the flat bushing brackets are too small for the cross member bolts! bolts fit through the u bracket holes fine but not the flat one…will have to drill them out a bit. Just surprised to have these issues with uuc.

#13

That is very strange. I know I didn’t have any issues with any holes on the front bar.

#14

A related rear sway bar bushing bracket question for those with ST and similar rear bars. What is the bushing bracket of choice? I need one for the SE30 build but not sure which to get. Turner, Bimmerworld, and AKG all seem to have similar designs compared to the IE aluminum block approach.Some price spread and different shiny choices. Pros/cons?

$124.95 for the Turner reinforcement kit (Blue)
http://store.bimmerworld.com/e30-rear-swaybar-reinforced-mount-kit-p1460.aspx

$99.99 for the Bimmerworld Zinc coated reinforced mount
http://store.bimmerworld.com/e30-rear-swaybar-reinforced-mount-kit-p1460.aspx

$95 for the IE billet mount
http://www.iemotorsport.com/bmw/E30-suspension-steering/e30swaymt.html

$75 for the AKG CNC mount(RSPBE30)
http://www.akgmotorsport.com/catalog/catalog.php?category=e30%20Chassis%20Reinforcement

Insights welcomed.

#15

If you can, get the hardware from the same outfit that made the bar. That reduces the liklihood of surprises.

#16

Makes sense, though I’ve got the Suspension Techniques rear bar and don’t see rear bushing brackets in their hardware kit. Turner has been selling the ST bars and their own blue bracket for a while. BW and AGK seem to be newer to the field?