sway bar install party!

Discussion in 'Meetups & Events' started by SonicBoom, Nov 25, 2004.

  1. SonicBoom

    SonicBoom Active Member

    Hey guys,
    O.K.... I don't know any of you guys, have any tools, a garage, or anything... but I have a set of whiteline swaybars with endlinks I just bought that need to go in!
    What I could have is lots o beer and food for any helpers... Please help...
     
  2. FTZ

    FTZ ^.^

    I've never installed swaybars but I don't think is to hard. When do you want to do it?
     
  3. SonicBoom

    SonicBoom Active Member

    A.S.A.P! I have awesome handling sitting in my back seat just waiting to be intstallled! It's killing me!.......
     
  4. FTZ

    FTZ ^.^

    Well I work tomorrow. Any time Saturday or Sunday would be good.
     
  5. BelvnAWD

    BelvnAWD I'm Vin, Bell-Vin...

    I just got an adjustable Perrin for the rear. If this goes down I will bring tools to help, and then we can do my bar! :)
     
  6. SonicBoom

    SonicBoom Active Member

    Sounds good guys, sounds like we just have to set up a date/time. Unfortunately, I'm working weekends nights right now and won't be ready to do this until next week. I'm off Tuesday thru Thursday so hopefully one of these days will be good...
    By the way, belvn & 420..what are your names? As you can tell by my super-creative username mines chris...
     
  7. FTZ

    FTZ ^.^

    Jason
     
  8. GTscoob

    GTscoob Black is Beautiful

    So many Jasons in the ATL suby community . . .

    Genya, Jeb, Porter, BlackandBlue, the list goes on

    Good luck with the install.
     
  9. BelvnAWD

    BelvnAWD I'm Vin, Bell-Vin...

    Scott, not siegel...
     
  10. miloman

    miloman Retired Admin

    depending on when u guys decide to do this, i might swing by... dunno how much free time i have though with finals coming up next week
     
  11. Suby1128

    Suby1128 Member

    I need an uppipe installed (just got it for my bday :bigthumb: ), preferably next saturday, and I have no idea how to do it. I was going to see if Miranda would be gracious enough to let me use her house, and was hoping yall could help. Maybe we could combine the day into a huge install fest :D .
    Craig
     
  12. ScoobyMike

    ScoobyMike OG Mod

    The uppipe is a bitch in a half to put in, but if you need help let me know.
     
  13. ScoobyMike

    ScoobyMike OG Mod

    When is everyone wanting to do this install party? I'm down I have most of the tools needed. If anyone needs help, let me know.
     
  14. SonicBoom

    SonicBoom Active Member

    Glad 2 see interest is brewing!! Tuesday-Thursday next week would still be the best time 4 me....
    Sounds like we have plenty of tools/hands, anyone have a garage we can use? We could do it at my apartment but a garage or even driveway would be better.
    If the majority are voting 4 weekends, I'm off next Sunday...
     
  15. BelvnAWD

    BelvnAWD I'm Vin, Bell-Vin...

    Hey guys,
    I actually did my install yesterday so that I could try it at an autox today. It made a positive difference and the install went well. I took some pics and will do a write up. All in all, it was fairly easy. I'll post the write up later tonight or asap...
     
  16. FTZ

    FTZ ^.^

    I'd be down with Sunday. I could ask my brother in law and sister if we could use thier garage for an afternoon. I doubt they would mind.
     
  17. GTscoob

    GTscoob Black is Beautiful

    I could probably help out sometime next week.

    Tuesday I'm planning on towing my car up to SOG to get my tranny rebuilt but I'm free on Wed or Thu.
     
  18. miloman

    miloman Retired Admin

    bobby: u going to SOG tomorrow (tuesday)? im probably going in tomorrow too
     
  19. GTscoob

    GTscoob Black is Beautiful

    I'm planning on going up there next tuesday.
     
  20. Porter

    Porter Member

    What's up everybody...

    if you need help putting those sways on let me know, I've done a million of 'em... ;)
     
  21. BelvnAWD

    BelvnAWD I'm Vin, Bell-Vin...

    Well, heres a heads up. My install went well, and as I said, I will do a write up with pics as soon as I get time. Only trouble I had was getting the end links lined up. No matter what I did, they would not flush up against the swaybar. Now, I had my car on jack stands, and when I put the tires back on and put the car down, causing the sway to begin bearing a little weight (or suspension load, as some say), the end links seemed to line up much more. Everything was great with a noticeable improvement in cornering ability. However, I have developed the infamous clunk. There are so many theories as to what causes this that I will be spending a little time trying to fix it I imagine. I will porbably go ahead and order endlinks. Porter or Scott, do either of you have aftermarket end links in stock? Maybe I could swing by and pick some up. I need more crush washer anyway for the oil drain plug....
     
  22. Porter

    Porter Member

    I no longer work at Classic.

    I'll let you know about my new situation over the weekend. ;)
     
  23. GTscoob

    GTscoob Black is Beautiful

    Maybe use ramps instead of jacks next time?
     
  24. BelvnAWD

    BelvnAWD I'm Vin, Bell-Vin...

    I know many people say you should use ramps, but the directions from Perrin state that you should use jack stands and remove the wheels, so thats what I did. I am not sure how I woul dhave been able to access some of the spaces with the wheels on the car...
     
  25. ScoobyMike

    ScoobyMike OG Mod

    I would get sway bars if my car ever worked. And Classic didn't blame me for my center diff going bad. God I hate Classic. Never again. Going with SOG from now on.
     
  26. SonicBoom

    SonicBoom Active Member

    Well guys, looks like the sway bar install will be Sunday afternoon. A friend of mine(another wrx owner...a.k.a. Shewb) has been gracious enough to offer his garage/tools... So it looks like I'm all set.
    It would probably be o.k. if a few of you guys want to come along to help and b/s about subaru's... So let me know and we'll set up a small caravan...

    P.S....We are going to try to do this using ramps, and switch to jacks if neccessary. I know one of you guys just installed a perrin bar so it's fresh in your memory. Also, didn't know if it matters that i'm doing endlinks in the rear too(as far as weight on wheels).. Porter...u out there?

    Anyway....can't wait for some power induced oversteer!!!!(I know, I know...get used to it slowely....)
     
  27. BelvnAWD

    BelvnAWD I'm Vin, Bell-Vin...

    Actually the endlinks are the easiest part. I have to go out for awhile, but since your planning on tomorrow, I will try to do my write up post my pics today, hopefully, this will help you out. Where did you get your endlinks and which kind? I know have the infamous sway bar clunk and have a feeling upgraded endlinks would solve the issue...
     
  28. FTZ

    FTZ ^.^

    I am willing to help in any way I can, again, I have never done this install, but I don't think it is hard, let me know. If you want you can call me at 404-444-7644.





    Jason
     
  29. kevingroover

    kevingroover Member

    sway bar install

    Have tools, time, and garage. and done it before.
    I can do it today if you want to come to winder
    Kevin Groover
     
  30. BelvnAWD

    BelvnAWD I'm Vin, Bell-Vin...

  31. Shewb

    Shewb Member

    Does anyone have experience installing the front sway bar on a 2003 WRX? The installation instructions are not matching the hardware. The instruction say the front end link should have a bolt and nut but there is no bolt, the nut just spins endlessly? There is nothing to hold onto on the other end? Can anyone help or does anyone have Porter's number?
     
  32. Porter

    Porter Member

    Your front endlinks are one of two styles... either it uses a 14mm shank you can hold with a 14mm wrench and then hit the nut, or it has an allen wrench socket in the end of the "bolt". You would need to use a 14mm closed end wrench on the nut while holding the bolt still with an allen key.

    My cell is 864-414-zero eight one eight if you need to get ahold of me. Call anytime
     
  33. SonicBoom

    SonicBoom Active Member

    Hey guys...Installed swaybars/endlinks Sunday night and all is well. Took about 3 hours total with 2 people. We used ramps and kept the wheels on. Front was more time consuming only because you have to remove some plastic and subframe. Only snag we encountered was the front endlinks are weird lookin, there's no way to hold the end of the bolt to tighten the nut. After speaking to Porter, I find out you have to stick an allen wrench into to the threaded end of the bolt and tighten the nut with a open end wrench....strange...
    Anyway, haven't pushed the car real hard yet, it's been raining since I put them on.. but definetely noticable difference. Almost no body roll anymore, turn in seems sharper, great purchase! Actually had my first power induced oversteer this am, fun, fun!Updates to follow after more testing..
    Belvn, Thnx for your instructions/pics..very helpfull..FYI, I have whiteline endlinks, very nice pieces, look like they belong on a tank. Not having any issues at all, no clunk...
    wrxfan, I apologize for not calling ya, I got a late start on my day and was running out of daylight so I was in a hurry...
    kevin, Thnx for the offer!
    Porter, Thnx for ur help, looking forward to seeing you at Topspeed to get my uppipe/Tbe installed...

    Thanks everyone! good to know everyone is so nice/helpfull, looking forward to meeting everyone!
     
  34. Porter

    Porter Member

    Awesome!

    :bigthumb: :bigthumb:
     
  35. siegelracing

    siegelracing Registered Vendor<br><b><font color="#666666">bion

    The two most common clunk causes that I've seen are the bar not being centered and hitting the lower control arm, and the bolts not being tight. If it happens while going straight, slow, like even in a parking lot, check to make sure the end-links are tight. If it's when loaded in a certain direction corner look for interference between the bar and the lower control arms.
     
  36. BelvnAWD

    BelvnAWD I'm Vin, Bell-Vin...

    Thanks Scott, and you were dead on with your diagnosis. I meant to post this earlier, but I went out and tightened everything down again and the clunk disappeared. I have read that this becomes a maintenance thing unless you lock tite the bolts. I am not planning on doing that, so I guess I'll just have to get under there and check everything when I do my oil changes...
     

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