Are UUC sway kits a worthwhile investment?

[bwawuz02]

i don't know why people like to argue with a suspension engineer...

[Hellabad]

No it doesn't. You need to have the sways parallel to the ground at ride hight in order for them to work best and give the amount of "spring" they were designed to deliver. Trust me I've set up sways with the wrong end link length and the ride is not the same.
If the end links are too long, you end up with a much stiffer bar.



OP: Don't set them up too stiff or you will overpower your springs and loose grip

Sorry guys, I don't intend to argue, or even to continue a harsh discussion, but I can't let anybody be mislead.

On an e30, which we are discussing here, the ends of the sway bar are about 1 1/2 inches above the control arm.

If we make an assumption that the sway bar needs to be parallel to the ground and make the sway bar closer to the arm, then everything will hit.

I agree the sway bars work best if perpendicular to the endlinks (which is completely different than "parallel to the ground"), but it is even more important that the sway bar doesn't hit anything. On an e30, the sway bar remains very perpendicular to the end links, even after being lowered.

This applies to both e30 and e30M3 sway bars, front and rear,which both have the same clearance and would have the same problems if you alter the endlinks without thinking about it first.

[mr2peak]

This is absolutely not true.

As the suspension moves up into the car, the end link/ sway bar relationship stays exactly the same throughout the travel. The end link length has no correlation to ride height.

No it doesn't. You need to have the sways parallel to the ground at ride hight in order for them to work best and give the amount of "spring" they were designed to deliver. Trust me I've set up sways with the wrong end link length and the ride is not the same.
If the end links are too long, you end up with a much stiffer bar.



OP: Don't set them up too stiff or you will overpower your springs and loose grip

[Hellabad]

It doesn't matter what ride hight you are at for the sway bars, what matters is the length of the endlinks. Lower cars need shorter endlinks, vice-versa.

This is absolutely not true.

As the suspension moves up into the car, the end link/ sway bar relationship stays exactly the same throughout the travel. The end link length has no correlation to ride height.

[slammin.e28]

I have them on my e46 w/adjustable endlinks. They are the best thing I think one could do to a car. Stock or not. As mentioned, you can always sell them if you don't like them. You will like them.

[OhioriderAaron]

UUC frequently has sales (15% off, +free shipping, etc) that would make it cheaper than buying it for that price. I'd wait and go directly through them when you're ready to purchase.

[StereoInstaller1]

You still stock height?

[EN318isPDX]

Look at it like this: if you bought that kit and installed it you might be the first stock height E30 in the world to get big sways. If you didn't like them, take them off and sell them.

I love my big sways!

[StereoInstaller1]

Look at it like this: if you bought that kit and installed it you might be the first stock height E30 in the world to get big sways. If you didn't like them, take them off and sell them.

[KenC]

The stock sways are suited fine for stock springs/shocks. I would just get some M3 springs and make sure your shocks/struts are good. Refreshing the bushings and endlinks on your stock sways will make a difference as well.

[Stanley Rockefeller]

The reason for my question is b/c a local seller has the kit for 420, but wants to deal with rust issues instead of installing this kit. The kit is new and still in it's orig. packaging, and since it's local will save me on shipping and USD differences.

i dont' plan on ever tracking the car, just like to have a nice handeling e30 with stock ride height.

[KenC]

Seem a little aggressive for stock springs and shocks.

[Stanley Rockefeller]

What size are the UUC ones? As mentioned, you just need to adjust the end links.

22 front and 19 rear

[KenC]

What size are the UUC ones? As mentioned, you just need to adjust the end links.

[mr2peak]

It doesn't matter what ride hight you are at for the sway bars, what matters is the length of the endlinks. Lower cars need shorter endlinks, vice-versa. Just call them and ask, it's a decent chunk of change.. 678-679-5360