So yeah, no instructions with mine. Which way is the front bar supposed to be (looking at the ends), like this:



Or this:



Also, any pics of the rear bar mounted? I'm not sure which way is the top and which is down. How do I adjust it: shorter=softer, longer=stiffer?

 

i just installed a RB front sway bar last week. i had the same problem. after looking at it for a minute i figured out it goes the way of the top pic. with the slant going inward and down.

 

and you have to enlarge the opening on the stock brackets

 

You do not need to enlarge the hole, only cut off the extended piece of the bushing. The extended piece was used to fit into the sway bar ends, but were not designed to match the chassis mounting locations. I spent alot of time on the phone with Jim Langer, RB's tech support man, and we finally came to the conclusion that there should only be 2 bushings per side with the extension. I don't know if they plan to correct this but just trim the piece and it will all bolt up fine, same with the rear bar if you get/have it. The hard part of the install is getting the tension rod mounts bolted back up if your doing this solo. But once they are on the rest is a breeze. Also the instructions don't say which way the front bar is positioned. I guess they just forgot to mention that. For the rear bar, if you lay it flat on the ground the part the goes around the LSD housing is supposed to tilt downwards. Longer = softer, shorter = stiffer. Make sure you jack up the axle housing or it will be a PITA to get it all on. That damn bar took me hours to figure out.

 

the rear bar is nice to change just to have new parts on your car, but isn't really required as it's a solid rear axle. The front bar, though, makes a world of difference!

 

Slightly off topic, but I heard that adjustable strut tower braces, If you jack the car up, attach it and stretch it to its maximum, and then put the car back down, it is stiffer than just installing it on the car w/o raising it?

 

I say BS. On of the ones I have installed (both RB and TMC), I had to enlarge the opening of tension rod brackets.

 

Well my tension rod brackets arent modified at all and it went in. However the holes are more ovalish than round, so the sway bar ends have to go in one particular way.

 

wacky-- i just installed a RB front sway bar. i didnt have to enlarge any wholes.

 

I didn't have to modify anything either. It just bolted right in.

 

Are you saying that changing the roll stiffness of the rear end doesn't effect handling? If so, I disagree.

 

Me and my bud had to gring some off of the bar to fit it in the holes also wacky. The top pic looks right. We put it on backwards and then realized it was on wrong after a while. lol

 

They put the stupid decal on upside down! Don't let this fool you into installing the bar upside down as well. This really pissed me off because I had to remove and reinstall.

I didn't have to grind or cut anything. Its a direct fit if you put it on right side up. Remove the tension rod mounting brackets (at least one) and it will go much easier. Good luck, and yes it makes a hell of a difference!

 

my bad. The TMC springs are slightly thicker than RB.