Rear Sway Bar End Links Install 325iX

[Liakos]

Hi Everyone,

I have been lurking here for a few months, mostly reading.

I picked up a 1990 325iX 4 door a few months back and have been slowly replacing and repairing the vehicle.

Yesterday I attempted to swap out the rear sway bar end links and realized that I would need super human strength to get these on the bar, without removing the bar from the vehicle.

I did some research and found out that the iX and M3 share rear the same size rear sway bar 14.5mm vs the stock 325i which is 12mm. But the part does not seem to come up differently on BavAuto, ECS or Pelican. There appears to be just one rear sway bar drop link for all E30s....

Any tips on this job? Is it just a matter of removing the bar from the vehicle after dropping out a spring and pressing them on, or is there a specific part/process?

Thanks for the tips!

[Kershaw]

I popped new end links on my ix a few months ago. Just grease them well and they'll slide on. Not the easiest thing though.

[ghatid]

Hi Everyone,

I have been lurking here for a few months, mostly reading.

I picked up a 1990 325iX 4 door a few months back and have been slowly replacing and repairing the vehicle.

Yesterday I attempted to swap out the rear sway bar end links and realized that I would need super human strength to get these on the bar, without removing the bar from the vehicle.

I did some research and found out that the iX and M3 share rear the same size rear sway bar 14.5mm vs the stock 325i which is 12mm. But the part does not seem to come up differently on BavAuto, ECS or Pelican. There appears to be just one rear sway bar drop link for all E30s....

Any tips on this job? Is it just a matter of removing the bar from the vehicle after dropping out a spring and pressing them on, or is there a specific part/process?

Thanks for the tips!

What part of the process are you actually having problems with? The sway bar end links, if I remember correctly, have a metal bushing inside which should slip on the bolt with no issues.

[Liakos]

The part which slides onto the sway bar, not the side connecting to the trailing arm.

I have tried copious amounts of axle grease, heating the end link in boiling water, pry bars at different angles, etc...

no luck...

[Nisse Järnet]

I just put new links on my ix too, it took some swearing and grease but they went on without tools :) I can check what I ordered exactly to see if they were ix specific or not.
I noticed that if you get them moving a little don't stop just keep pushing/bending a little. Put a rag between the link and your hand to make it easier on the hand :P

[8o5e3o]

Having this same issue plus mounting my FCAB on the control arm.

[madman23]

Just put new ones on last week. Take large channel locks and squeeze from the link to the bar and work it on as you keep constant pressure. Popped right on when I did that. Oh, and if grease doesn't work try windex.

[nando]

They are not ix specific. The ends of bars are the same size.

Just lube them up with hot soapy water, they will push right on. You are going to have a bad time if you try to put them on dry.

Don't use grease either, unless you want them to slip off. Use soapy water - once it dries, it's basically locked on there.