Swaybar out of position
05-30-12, 09:29 PM
#1
Swaybar out of position
So I have an interesting conundrum. For those of you who aren't familiar with the back story, about 6 months ago I suffered some damage to the front, right of my car. A donor section was welded in from my parts car. Everything is within 1/16" (probably less). As I've been bolting fenders and bumpers and suspension parts up...everything has lined up perfect...including the hood.
While doing my suspension, I realized that my sway bar on the driver side was a little off and I suspected the accident may have bent it. I picked up another one which moved the alignment of the end link closer to "center" but not perfect.
Looking at the car today, it certainly looks like the sway bar is not seated "straight" for lack of a better word going across the front of the car...the gap from the passenger side to the driver side seems to noticeably increase...even if it is slight.
My thoughts are:
1) New swaybar is bent (doubtful but possible).
2) I put the swaybar on backwards?
Always possible.
3) The swaybar mount was an extra I had to replace the damaged original...perhaps the mount is off?
Any thoughts denizens of the 3rd Gen Section? Oh...and a picture showing the correct sides of the OEM Swaybar would be nice even though I'm fairly certain it is correct. I didn't see a "This way front" arrow or even a stamped "R and L". I'd rather look stupid and fix the problem.
Thank you for suggestions!
While doing my suspension, I realized that my sway bar on the driver side was a little off and I suspected the accident may have bent it. I picked up another one which moved the alignment of the end link closer to "center" but not perfect.
Looking at the car today, it certainly looks like the sway bar is not seated "straight" for lack of a better word going across the front of the car...the gap from the passenger side to the driver side seems to noticeably increase...even if it is slight.
My thoughts are:
1) New swaybar is bent (doubtful but possible).
2) I put the swaybar on backwards?
Always possible.3) The swaybar mount was an extra I had to replace the damaged original...perhaps the mount is off?
Any thoughts denizens of the 3rd Gen Section? Oh...and a picture showing the correct sides of the OEM Swaybar would be nice even though I'm fairly certain it is correct. I didn't see a "This way front" arrow or even a stamped "R and L". I'd rather look stupid and fix the problem.
Thank you for suggestions!
05-31-12, 06:41 AM
#2
1. Sway bars are suppose to flex. If it looks true, then it's likely not bent. As you can see, the OEM front bar is pretty beefy.
2. If so, you should step away slowly....
3. Ding Ding Ding.... The mounts are natorious for bending, and breaking. The amount of load that they see is often a bit much for their design. RE-Speed & Rotary Extreme both make an upgraded mount, I would stat there.
2. If so, you should step away slowly....
3. Ding Ding Ding.... The mounts are natorious for bending, and breaking. The amount of load that they see is often a bit much for their design. RE-Speed & Rotary Extreme both make an upgraded mount, I would stat there.
05-31-12, 09:41 AM
#5
Jesus I was tired typing this last night. Left the "N" out of position on my thread title and I was hit on the left side, not the right side. Hahahah. Thank you for the advice...new mounts it is! Didn't even think about the hit pushing the bar enough to bend the other mount as well!
05-31-12, 10:30 AM
#6
Gringo, I had the same problem, I bent my drivers mount backing the car off a trailer. It's an easy thing to do.
I was looking at your build yesterday and I saw you welded in a new piece of the front frame rail. Was this piece forward of the sway bar mounting holes? If not it may have shifted where they mount slightly.
Also, is there any chance the subframe is tweaked from your off roading?
I was looking at your build yesterday and I saw you welded in a new piece of the front frame rail. Was this piece forward of the sway bar mounting holes? If not it may have shifted where they mount slightly.
Also, is there any chance the subframe is tweaked from your off roading?
05-31-12, 11:00 AM
#7
Hi Turk!
Great questions!
I replaced the subframe with an extra I had as I was concerned about it as you have noted. Where we cut and re-welded...I mean it can always be off but everything else lines up great and we took measurements repeatedly and all over before, during and after the welding to get the fit as perfect as possible. I'll never say it isn't off but my first guess would be the mounts or something else based on the response of everyone here.
Hey...worse case scenario? Cut the front off and tube it! =)
Great questions!
I replaced the subframe with an extra I had as I was concerned about it as you have noted. Where we cut and re-welded...I mean it can always be off but everything else lines up great and we took measurements repeatedly and all over before, during and after the welding to get the fit as perfect as possible. I'll never say it isn't off but my first guess would be the mounts or something else based on the response of everyone here.
Hey...worse case scenario? Cut the front off and tube it! =)
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07-07-12, 07:34 PM
#8
Just an update to this: I ordered 2 new brackets from AWR Racing and everything lines up perfect now.
Those of you who guess the accident actually bent the OPPOSITE side swaybar mount...*DING DING DING*
Very pleased with the AWR mounts. They were under $200 and are solid. The customer service was very impressive as well.
Those of you who guess the accident actually bent the OPPOSITE side swaybar mount...*DING DING DING*
Very pleased with the AWR mounts. They were under $200 and are solid. The customer service was very impressive as well.
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