Let's talk about sway bar endlinks and old bars

[wagonizzle]

As I was installing new bits under the car yesterday, I decided to inspect my front swaybar endlinks and had new ones for the rear, since I hadn't done them before. I seem to keep breaking the OEM style front endlinks; bushing opened up wider than it should be, and the rubber boot for the ball joint leaking goo. I decided NOT to install the rear, as I found the ones that are there are adjustable ball joint style, rather than a rubber bushing. Then I looked at a stock 12mm rear bar my friend had pulled off of his car and mine looks to be about a 16mm or so. Then I realized that the first owner had replaced (circa EARLY 90's) the sway bars with aftermarket, which explains why the 20mm sway bar bushings for the front bar don't fit very well. There is no paint or label to be seen on either bar. Any guesses on brand/size? I want to get some proper endlinks for the front to tighten things up.

Cliff notes: I don't know what sway bars I have and I need to know about adjustable endlinks because OEM keeps breaking

[jlevie]

You could probably use the end link setup from an IE or ST sway set on the fronts.

[StereoInstaller1]

What style endlinks are you running, M3 or standard?

From what I can guess, the M3 style has way better geometry, so it might have an easier time not breaking.

As far as how to size your bar, grab some large metric wrenches if you don't have calipers handy.

[wagonizzle]

Luke I've been running regular ones, mostly because I didn't realize they weren't stock, having nothing to compare it to. I think they might be RD 22/16's. They were big in the early 90's, and it seems the bars are about that size. I can't find anyone else who had that size setup. Luckily they still have e-30 stuff on their website, so maybe that will fix me up...

[StereoInstaller1]

Score!

Finding nice parts on a car you bought used is so cool, isn't it?

I would go M3 style if you can. If anything, you then have bragging rights.

Luke

[wagonizzle]

I would go M3 style if you can. If anything, you then have bragging rights.
Luke

fuh raze

[Danny]

I have E36 end links on mine.

I likes them.

[iwillhunt]

I have the spherical end-links that came with my ST sway bars, and I don't see how they could possibly brake. As previously suggested, you could look into those.

[Hellabad]

As I was installing new bits under the car yesterday, I decided to inspect my front swaybar endlinks and had new ones for the rear, since I hadn't done them before. I seem to keep breaking the OEM style front endlinks; bushing opened up wider than it should be, and the rubber boot for the ball joint leaking goo. I decided NOT to install the rear, as I found the ones that are there are adjustable ball joint style, rather than a rubber bushing. Then I looked at a stock 12mm rear bar my friend had pulled off of his car and mine looks to be about a 16mm or so. Then I realized that the first owner had replaced (circa EARLY 90's) the sway bars with aftermarket, which explains why the 20mm sway bar bushings for the front bar don't fit very well. There is no paint or label to be seen on either bar. Any guesses on brand/size? I want to get some proper endlinks for the front to tighten things up.

Cliff notes: I don't know what sway bars I have and I need to know about adjustable endlinks because OEM keeps breaking

Check to be sure that your front end links are going into the bar the right way. Sorry that none of my e30 stuff is stock anymore, so I can't tell you, but compare your car to another e30 (not M3) that is not breaking end links.


jay

[wagonizzle]

Check to be sure that your front end links are going into the bar the right way. Sorry that none of my e30 stuff is stock anymore, so I can't tell you, but compare your car to another e30 (not M3) that is not breaking end links.

They are in correctly, I just think the bars are too stiff for the crappy ocap endlinks to handle. Even so, I think I will look into the balljoint style. More stiffer!