sway bar end link preload?
 

i got mazdatrix adj end links F and R for my 87 t2. I have st sway bars f and r.. I'm looking at the instructions and there is preload.

Anyone have any tips for me?

Can't I just lengthen them stock end link length?

Preload is when the bar is being twisted while the car is stationary. The goal is to get the preload off the bar by lengthening or shortening one of the end links as required. Make sense?


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If you don't know what pre-load is or why it matters then just set them to the stock length.

Better yet just use your stock links...

you probably need a lift to set adj end links properly.. but heres what you do:
install them both, length doesnt realy matter. make them about the same, and leave some room for adjustment in either direction.
install one all the way. on the second, leave one bolt out.
with the car sitting on the ground, adjust the loose link so that you can slide the bolt in with no effort.

voila

like i said, you probably need a drive-on lift to do this. or maybe you can do it during an alignment.

OK cool thanks. So when the car is on the floor, the links should go in without loading up the sway bars.

I know what preload is, especially for suspension bushings, but I never dealt with adj sway bars. Thanks people

Yep, you've got it. Pretty simple to do, but harder to understand sometimes... :)

Yeah, those instructions really confused me

lol im not all that great at articulating, thats for sure.
if something is unclear feel free to ask

Maybe he's talking about preloading.... the bushing? idk

I preloaded the bushing.

So this is pretty much what i've come up with from the info.

You don't want tnsion on the sway bar when your car is going straight! Haha