mikzsan

Ive been doing some research after a friend recommended them.

A lot of threads seemed to suggest that they are beneficial by being able to adjust the pre load on the sway bar to zero when your car is lowered.

For the record, Im on a drop of 1.7 inches and the car is a CL9 (TSX 04).



I was almost ready to order a set for front and rear till I then read this post where the user claims that preload is caused instead by

"uneven distance from each end of the bar to its repsective mounting point on the strut. If this distance is not equal then a "fixed" end link length is not ideal. This is where you'd need adjustable end links"

You can see that ride height has nothing to do with this. You either have preload or you don't.... and you don't."

... The reason to use them is to set the bar ends parrallel to the ground - which is only an issue at extreme ride heights. This whole preload concept is way overhyped"

Source: https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...able-end-links



Any ideas / input is greatly appreciated!

Thanks

Tyson

do you know what a swaybar is? do you know how it works?

geezus i just did a search on "swaybar preload" and theres a lot of useless talk about something that should not exist, unless youre only turning left.

you can get adjustable endlinks. but only because you want to relevel the bar because its binding or hitting something. and you set them like an equal pair.

B serious

iTrader: (1)

OP....lowering a car does not preload a sway bar unless you're lowering unevenly side to side.

A swaybar is only active when pulled in two DIFFERENT directions...like when one side of the suspension is compressed, for example.

Adjustable links can be set to preload a bar if you only need it to work to control roll in one direction.

They can also be used to put the bar back to its original (pre-lowering) angle.

mikzsan

Thanks for the reply ! So , if there is neutral preload with stock suspension (which is ~ 10mm lower on the drivers side f and r), I'm assuming Id have to maintain this slope ratio when lowering to also maintain the neutral preload?

B serious

iTrader: (1)

Nope.

The bar is active if the suspension is not even. For any reason.

To properly set adjustable links, you'd need to first lower the car how you want.....then get on a perfectly flat alignment rack...sit in the car or load up the car to simulate normal amounts of weight distribution...and then have someone adjust the link lengths under the car so that the bar is unloaded.

Why, though? Are you setting the car up for some purpose?

mikzsan

The goal is for a street setup as comfortable as possible with a 1.5 - 1.7" drop.

I'm about to purchase new suspension, and wanted to get any parts I may need all at once.

The adjustable links only came to attention when someone I met recently told me they had them in their car and swore by them.


I appreciated your insight. Thank you .


Just so I am understanding correctly,...

(Assuming flat ground)

With stock suspension, the driver side is a tad higher. Once driver is in, this levels out and begins to neutralize any preload.

With lowered suspension and stock endlinks, one achieves neutral preload by even heights on opposite sides *with* the driver sitting in car.

With lowered suspension and adjustable endlinks, one neutralizes preload by adjusting links with driver in car (as you said).

While the last seems the easiest / quickest , and least prone to error (I could be wrong), adjustable links are not needed if the goal is for neutral preload, and not to add preload.

B serious

iTrader: (1)

Your bar will be in neutral on perfectly flat ground.

But as soon as the car is on the road...its not at 0 any more.

Neutralizing the bar offers a "zero point".

And you can also set the bar's position in the chassis back to where it was before you lowered the car.

Those are the advantages of setting adjustable links.

No idea if it will add to comfort.

I would just lower it normally and live your life.

shipo

To sum this thread up, there is no such a thing as swabar preload (regardless of whether the ride height is stock, raised, or lowered.

Okay, we can move on now.