Is there a difference between aftermarket and oem endlinks? I prefer OEM just because it's OEM and I know it would work.

But what about aftermarket? I don't need adjustable ones (don't know if they would even work).

Any input / insight / knowledge is appreciated. I don't know a thing about this which is why I'm trying to learn now before I buy the wrong ones.

PS - the setup is ASR brace / 23mm ITR bar on a 99 civic.

 

OEM are fine for most people, if they bolt up to your chosen swaybar.

If you race the car, and have a threaded spring perch suspension, then you can get the car corner balanced. When doing so, it is good to have adjustable length endlinks, to avoid preloading the swaybar.

Another advantage of aftermarket is that some of them offer spherical bearings instead of rubber or polyurethane bushings. While these have a much lower usable lifespan than a rubber bushing, they have no bushing "slop" or deformation, and make the swaybar more effective.

 

Thanks for the input.

My car is a DD. So I guess I don't need the "corner balancing" feature.

Now when you say spherical bearings have a shorter life span, how much shorter? I want to get into autocrossing this summer and that's pretty much it. I do take corners pretty hard already with my lowering springs / shocks so that'll probably put a little more wear on them. But realistically, how short of a life span do they have?

 

For lifespan, I think many factors come into play, including salt and moisture, and actual design (some have rubber dust caps).

My Comptech endlinks are exposed sphericals, and are in acceptable condition for being nearly 3 years old, but they have developed noise over time (last year and a half or so) and are probably due for replacement soon. I drive less than 9k miles a year, but do 10 - 12 autocrosses. I haven't checked for play in some time, but I can't see how noise would develop without it. I also live in SoCal, rarely have rain, never drive in snow/salt, and garage park the car, which helps everything live longer.

I've heard anything from yearly to every 5 years for replacement of sphericals used in suspension parts. Of course, YMMV.

 

Ah gotcha. Appreciate the input!

Yeah I live in NY and my car is a DD so it sees salt like you wouldn't believe. Our area LOVES salt =/.

Do you think OEM Si's would hold up fine? I'm pretty sure OEM Si end links would bolt up to a 23mm ITR bar... At least I hope so if I do buy em lol. I have Skunk2 lca's with the 3 threaded holes if that makes a difference.

 

They will be fine with your LCAs

 

Does anyone know if the Blox Fixed end links would work? Read my first post for my setup (and again, I have skunk2 lca's, the one with the 3 pre-threaded holes on each side).

 

That or blox adjustable.