Sway links

#1

Having just put on the rear sway and adj. links I am wondering if they are installed correctly. Could someone look at this picture and help me out?

#2

the sway bar link bracket (one that mounts to trailing arm) IMO should be turned 90 deg from what you have in the picture. I also installed bolt heads (on the sway bar link) towards the springs as I thought that it might interfere with the spring if it was the other way around.

HTH,
Igor

#3

Ditto.

Make sure you re-enforce the trailing arm tabs (can’t tell if you did from the pic). Otherwise, you’ll bend the tabs in a day at the track. Have them welded:

I used the ones that Turner sells:

and also used the Ireland ones for double the protection!

By using both, it’s more weight in the rear of the car for better distribution :wink:

#4

4bimmers wrote:

[quote]Having just put on the rear sway and adj. links I am wondering if they are installed correctly. Could someone look at this picture and help me out?

[/quote]
Igor is correct. If you set the car down on the ground now you will likely bind the lower link mount and cause damage to it. The link needs to pivot from front to back so that when the sway bar loads up it will be able to move with it.

#5

I haven’t done my rear susp yet so these pics are interesting.
Craig, in your picture the spherical bearing is in the middle of the sway bar attachment - is that just a different brand compared to 4bimmers clamp?
cheers,
bruce

TheRedBaron wrote:

[quote]Ditto.

Make sure you re-enforce the trailing arm tabs (can’t tell if you did from the pic). Otherwise, you’ll bend the tabs in a day at the track. Have them welded:

I used the ones that Turner sells:

and also used the Ireland ones for double the protection!

By using both, it’s more weight in the rear of the car for better distribution ;)[/quote]

#6

leggwork wrote:

[quote]I haven’t done my rear susp yet so these pics are interesting.
Craig, in your picture the spherical bearing is in the middle of the sway bar attachment - is that just a different brand compared to 4bimmers clamp?
cheers,
bruce[/quote]

Good eye Bruce. The original poster, 4bimmers has the link on the outside of the clamp attachment. I should be in the middle like the one in Craigs linked picture.

#7

screwynewy wrote:

[quote]
Good eye Bruce. The original poster, 4bimmers has the link on the outside of the clamp attachment. I should be in the middle like the one in Craigs linked picture.[/quote]

The clamp would need to be modified to accomplish that, no?

#8

mskeen wrote:

[quote]screwynewy wrote:

[quote]
Good eye Bruce. The original poster, 4bimmers has the link on the outside of the clamp attachment. I should be in the middle like the one in Craigs linked picture.[/quote]

The clamp would need to be modified to accomplish that, no?[/quote]
It looks to me like the clamp was tightened down so much that it closed the space where the link is supposed to be. I may be wrong though.

#9

Wow, you guys are meticulous. I missed that as well from the original picture. Yes, the spherical bearing is supposed to be in the middle of the clamp. I believe the clamp is aluminum therefore it’s pliable - hence, 4bimmers ability to close it all the way down. It’s so that you can bend it a hair to be able to change the position on the bar. 4bimmers is incorrect. The bearing needs to be inside the clamp.

Ireland makes great stuff, but if they just included a zeroxed copy of a pic or instructions, many people’s lives would be easier.

#10

If I am not mistaken my IE rear bar has a link just like the picture shows. I don’t think there is any way to get it into the center. May be an inferior design compaired to what you mention.

Michael O.

#11

At closer inspection it might be different design between two pictures posted - mine is as one in the link where eye of the bearing goes in between the bracket. From the original picture I can’t figure out if it is way clamped down or it’s different design (by comparing material thickness of the bracket)
Igor

#12

I posed the question to Jeff Ireland who makes the sway links and this was his response…

"It looks pretty much ok. Just make sure the rod end have room to move and don’t bind throughout the range of movement. In the picture the rod end on the clamp may need a washer the keep it from binding against the clamp."

While Carmine at Carr Industries writes…

"Looks ok. The only thing I notice is the bottom mount for the link needs to be rotated so it matches the geometry of the trailing arm. You can do this by loosening the jam-nut on the sway bar link."

On the matter of placing the pivot in the middle of the clamp, that is not possible. True, it will open up somewhat when loosened but not enough to fit the pivot in the middle.

Andy

#13

I posed the question to Jeff Ireland who makes the sway links and this was his response…

"It looks pretty much ok. Just make sure the rod end have room to move and don’t bind throughout the range of movement. In the picture the rod end on the clamp may need a washer the keep it from binding against the clamp."

While Carmine at Carr Industries writes…

"Looks ok. The only thing I notice is the bottom mount for the link needs to be rotated so it matches the geometry of the trailing arm. You can do this by loosening the jam-nut on the sway bar link."

On the matter of placing the pivot in the middle of the clamp, that is not possible. True, it will open up somewhat when loosened but not enough to fit the pivot in the middle.

Andy

#14

My IE kit from Bimmerworld has each unit preassembled with the link in the middle and the reinforcement tab in place. Now if I can just remember that when I take it apart to put it on…:pinch:

#15

cmcintyre wrote:

Yeah, I got mine directly from Ireland and it came preassembled as well (link in the middle of the clamp, shown rotation, etc)… Fun stuff.

#16

I can say with relative certainty that getting it right is paramount. Last year, I was tinkering with the links and accidentally put the link of one on the outside of the bar and one on the inside of the bar (it should function the same, right?).

Going into turn nine at Summit the car would plant in the corner for a while, then snap around. I did some agricultural exploration on the inside of the track after turn nine in places I never wanted to be.

Make sure that it is correct. :slight_smile:

-Steve

#17

Steve

I enjoyed reading your post, specifically the agricultural exploration. I got a real good laugh. I’ll be sure to properly install my sway bars and links.

Dave

#18

When mine came from Ireland, they were pre-assembled as well and the pivot was not in the middle of the clamp. I wonder if they sent me the wrong clamp block?? The geometry of the sway bar setup definitely makes sense to have the pivot in the middle but the block does not appear to be made that way. I am going to address it and get it right.

#19

When mine came from Ireland, they were pre-assembled as well and the pivot was not in the middle of the clamp. I wonder if they sent me the wrong clamp block?? The geometry of the sway bar setup definitely makes sense to have the pivot in the middle but the block does not appear to be made that way. I am going to address it and get it right.

#20

I just had an issue with the Ireland rear bar - was at a shop getting exhaust work done. Lowers the car off the lift, the end links "flop" the other direction (pointing towards the rear, not the front of the car) and stop resting on the axles. The car is essentially 5" or so too high in the rear. A buddy of mine just had the same thing happen to his car as well (same IE rear bar setup). Has anyone else had this happen?