Help me make a good decision (Sway Bars)

[Rsully70sev]

I want to tighten up, and obviously stiffen the suspension. Right now I'm on H&R Sports, but in about a month I'll be running GC's. My current OEM sway bar endlinks are shot, so I figured this is a good time to upgrade.

I've been looking at IE sway bars, but I can't decide between the 22F/19R or going all out with the 25F/22R.

The car is S50 powered, not really tracked-it's usually my DD. But I would like to improve the sways, and it could see some track time once I get my coils on.

I know this is the wrong section, but the dedicated section doesn't get a lot of traffic, so I'm hoping I can get some feedback/input/experience here. Thanks guise

[R3Z3N]

22/19 especially if using on the street. Still, with that reinforce the front subframe as needed, and use the rear IE billet mounts along with the AKG trailing arm reinforcements. I am on GC 500/750 FR with 22/19 and honestly it is a little hassle on bad streets, or entering driveways. It is still quite stiff enough for autox and track use.

[Rsully70sev]

Thanks for the recommendation. The 22/19 set comes with the billet mounts, could you send me a link for the AKG trailing arm reinforcements. I've never heard of those, are they necessary or just a nice "just in case" part?

[F34R]

http://store.uucmotorwerks.com/share...t=products.asp

I own this, amazing how firmer it is now. If I jack up my front right, it will lift the other front right up. But I have a SHIT ton into my suspension. It did it before the sways, but now it is almost even when lifted. Before had a 4-6" difference.

[Rsully70sev]

Shit, I literally just confirmed my order. Welp, looks like I'm going IE 22/19.

[MR 325]

I know this is the wrong section

We have sub-forums for a reason. Thread moved.

[jlevie]

Thanks for the recommendation. The 22/19 set comes with the billet mounts, could you send me a link for the AKG trailing arm reinforcements. I've never heard of those, are they necessary or just a nice "just in case" part?

Reinforcement of the sway link pickup points on the trailing arms isn't optional. Without that you will bend the tabs the first time the car is driven.

[jeffnhiscars]

Reinforcement of the sway link pickup points on the trailing arms isn't optional. Without that you will bend the tabs the first time the car is driven.

Jim, is that due to the diameter he is contemplating and/or type of driving or should they be reinforced routinely ?

I'm thinking to add a 12 or 14mm rear sway to my bar-less 318i

[giantkeeper]

I recently went to GC coils and rather than upgrading my sways I actually changed over to the strut mount end link and I think it has made the car run significantly "flatter".

*edited - I see you ordered already, so the above is simply my experience.....lol

[Rsully70sev]

We have sub-forums for a reason. Thread moved.

I know. This gets very few footsteps through though and I needed a quick answer to get my order in before Monday. My bad about posting in the wrong section.


Help: can someone link me to the proper trailing arm reinforcements? I looked on the website but there were 3-4 different ones. I'm not sure which ones to use. (or even if I should use AKG?)

[jlevie]

Jim, is that due to the diameter he is contemplating and/or type of driving or should they be reinforced routinely ?

I'm thinking to add a 12 or 14mm rear sway to my bar-less 318i

The need for the reinforcements is driven by the stiffness of the bar. Any rear bar much bigger than those used by BMW will need reinforcement.

[Northern]

would changing to an M3 style droplink with a stock 325is swaybar increase the stiffness as much as upgrading to a front 22mm bar and keeping the stock endlinks?

[E30_fiend]

Rsully70sev- if you bought from I.E., they will supply you with these little triangle pieces that are the reinforcements for the tabs on the trailing arms. They need to be welded on. But anyway, you'll have what you need if you bought the bars and end links from I.E.

Northern- there is some lore about the m3 tabs on the strut tube. Many people claim the stock bar, when used in unison with the m3 tabs, will react like a larger bar. It changes the geometry of the bar which makes it react differently.

So, yes. It should make a difference. Will it be a huge difference? Probably not.


Taylor

[bmwguy325is]

would changing to an M3 style droplink with a stock 325is swaybar increase the stiffness as much as upgrading to a front 22mm bar and keeping the stock endlinks?

An m3 bar in the front is longer than a standard 325i bar. The control arm setup is a better way to go. Than you dont have to re-enforce the strut tabs.

[Rsully70sev]

Rsully70sev- if you bought from I.E., they will supply you with these little triangle pieces that are the reinforcements for the tabs on the trailing arms. They need to be welded on. But anyway, you'll have what you need if you bought the bars and end links from I.E.

Taylor

Awesome. Andrew with IE sent me an email explaining everything. Looks like I should be set!