End Links for stock sways?

[MikesJo]

Hi guys, I'm running on H&R Race/Bilstein sports on a 318is. My front sway bar end links are going and soon the control arms. What sway bar links would you recommend for the stock sway bar? Adjustable/Non-adjustable? Brands?

Thanks :).

[StereoInstaller1]

The way I see it is you are in the same boat as me.

Stock bars currently, but have plans for bad boys in the semi-near future, so don't wanna spend money on these.

I am gonna cut the bottom joint off of my sway bar endlinks, thread the remaining part, and put Heim joints on them to simply make a shorter link.

I was thinking cut the little post out and weld the 2 halves together...decided against that, but cannot remember why.

Total cost (die, 2 heim joints) is about $25. I already have a spare subframe with reinforced motor mounts and new swaybar bushing locations, reinforced, ready for the Energy bushings that are sitting with it...

Now if I can find the time.

GL!
Luke

[jtb_29]

You can use two heim joints on each side. One male and one female with the same threads with some jam nuts to make adjustable sway bar links on the front. Pretty simple and cheap and a good upgrade. If the threads arent long enough you could use a short thru-thread bolt to tie them together also. Look on summit or a similar website.

[MikesJo]

I'm not very good at making things on my own, so suggestions to ready made products would be better :).

[StereoInstaller1]

You can use two heim joints on each side. One male and one female with the same threads with some jam nuts to make adjustable sway bar links on the front. Pretty simple and cheap and a good upgrade. If the threads arent long enough you could use a short thru-thread bolt to tie them together also. Look on summit or a similar website.

Y'know, that is exactly what I thought of. I wanted to keep the "ball joint" end on the bar...and I really don't know why.

As far as I understand, the goal is to have the bar paralell to the ground. I need to have the endlinks pretty short if so.

Luke

[jtb_29]

Yeah, if you use two heim joints it will essentially make the sway bar more effective because of the little to no deflection that the heim joints offer over the stock rubber end links. Also like you said they would be adjustable.

[IS]

Having your swaybar and links perpendicular is not critical. You're basically only changing the effectiveness of the bar and you may want it to be softer/stiffer. Main purpose of the adjustable links is to dial out preload. Every single e30 out there with stock links is preloading the bar.

[NC325iC]

what does preloading do?

[Mr Deagle]

prealoading tweaks ur suspension up, like twists your car kind of....