Rear Sway Bar Installation Question

[e30wontstart2]

Hey all,

I am redoing my rear convertible suspension (will do the front in a few weeks). I just put on Bilstein sport shocks, Eibach Pro springs, and a 16mm Eibach sway bar. So far it's gone smoothly, but it looks like if I assemble the sway bar using the supplied hardware, there will be excess bolt length that can bash into the spring when it compresses. See the attached photo.

Does anyone else have this issue? I can't believe the proper way to install it is to reverse the bolt direction - that would mean the threads would be exposed to the forces from the sway bar. It's still susceptible to hitting the spring that way.

Also, on the bushings that mount to the frame, does it matter if the opening slit is positioned on the top or bottom?

[dude8383]

usually the sway bar comes with spherical endlinks... that setup will NOT work.

http://www.akgmotorsport.com/product/adjustable-rear-sway-bar-stabilizer-link-set-e30-e36-318ti/

thats what you'll need to make it work properly :up:

[e30wontstart2]

I bought the set on BavAuto. The parts shown in the picture are what came with it. That's pretty aggravating. I'll call BavAuto and/or Eibach tomorrow and see what I can learn.

Thanks though - the spherical end links look like a good solution. Just wish they would have included them in the set.

One more thing: Don't the threads get crushed or bear the entire force from the sway bar in the spherical end links as well? It looks like the threaded parts is what fits thru the opening in the sway bar.

[roguetoaster]

If you really need it to work temporarily why not just rotate the bolt so the nut is inboard?

As to your other question, the bushings should only fit one way, unless they are some new design I've not seen. If they're round you can place the slit anywhere as it might rotate anyway.

[dsphil]

That is not going to work with that setup. If the bolt is long enough, you probably need a jam nut in between. I have H&R sway bar that uses shoulder bolts to fit the stock links nicely. Their holes are drilled 10mm and I use m10 12mm shoulder bolts.

[e30wontstart]

Update

OK everybody I bought the spherical endlinks as suggested. They seemed to have solved the spacing issue. I am guessing the threads will still be crushed by the sway bar where the bolt passes though? This is a bad design but appears as though it will get the job done.

Does anyone know about setting the distance between the center nut and two chrome nuts that the green arrows are pointing to in the picture? What does adjusting this setting alter?

Thanks for the help guys.

[bmwstudent]

The threads will not get crushed where they pass through the bar. It is a great setup. Adjust the link so there is zero preload on the bar at ride height.