Pre-load?

[E30 B27]

I'm about to install ST sway bars on my car, and I keep heating about this pre-load... I don't know what that is, all i know from reading is that its bad. so before i install these things, I would like to know what pre-load is, and what do I do to keep from getting it

[Bearmw]

My mind is going all over the place with possible answers. Prelude, Pre-load, whatever. I think you may be referring to having the weight of the car compressing the suspension normally as it sits on the ground when you are tightening the sway bar parts. Search for sway bar installation. Is it not in the instructions?

Anyway I hope your "pre-load" issue gets resolved with a happy ending

[E30 B27]

Hmmmm... Yeah, there it is "ST sway bars" right in my post. So obviously I was talkin about suspension. Then again I forget some people forget how to read.

[E30 B27]

Not to mention its posted in the sways, springs, and shocks section. Not so witty now huh? ;)

[Massimo]

You could just google it. Anyway install your sway bars weather you do it while on jack stands or on the ground dose not matter. With after market sway bars you can adjust the height of the links, you do this to have the sway bar a parallel to the ground on lowered cars, but this can also cause Preload.

Preload is when the links are different heights therefore putting twist into the sway bar creating preload. That is all it is.

[E30 B27]

Thank you

[801coppertop]

http://www.944spec.org/944SPEC/technical-articles/171-corner-balancing?start=2

not an e30 but it gives you the right idea. Pre-load is just setting the sway bar to the point where it has minimum tension while sitting static (with driver weight in car). Im not sure if it is supposed to be done after the suspension has settled in, although im sure its a good idea. You basically don't want much tension on the sway bar when sitting, that way you get the right blend of sway bar goodness when there is tension. I think....

[einstein57]

Nothing you can do with the fronts on the standard ST kit. Its pretty hard to adjust the rears on a lowered car with out an alignment rack or 4 ramps because of their location.

[coreyw]

You can weld mounts onto your strut housings. Then buy a set of adjustable swaybar (drop) links.

[einstein57]

Yes. Buy my sway bar links. :hitler: