318ti.org forum

Go Back   318ti.org forum > Technical, Maintenance and Modifications > Suspension

Notices

Suspension Springs, sway bars, shocks.

.
» Recent Threads
1999 M-Sport For Sale
12-31-2023 05:10 PM
Last post by Coop540iT
03-23-2024 06:39 PM
1 Replies, 99,239 Views
Once again 318ti owner...
03-20-2024 12:39 PM
Last post by two30grain
03-22-2024 02:04 PM
1 Replies, 62,197 Views
What brakes do I...
03-20-2024 03:27 PM
Last post by huirtera
03-20-2024 03:27 PM
0 Replies, 59,464 Views
Reply Share/Bookmark
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-06-2002, 03:14 PM   #1
J!m
Moderator
 
J!m's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Bouncing off the rev limiter in CT!
Posts: 3,156
Vehicles
iTrader: (1)
Default

I successfully installed a 2000 M-Coupe` rear sway bar on my 1998 318ti this past weekend. Below are the details of the swap.

1) Remove the spare tire. It's in the way. The exhaust does not need to be moved (if it's stock. I don't know about other brands)

2) Raise, and safely support the car.

3) Unclip the parking brake cables from the end-links of the sway bar (by hand).

4) Using a 13mm shallow socket and "wobble" extension or (Uggh) universal, remove the clamps and sway bar bushings from the car body. The clamps are "hooked-in" on the rearward side of the clamps, and there is only one nut to remove per side.

5) Using the same socket and/or open end wrench, remove the end links from the control arms. (there may be a clip in the way)

6) Man-handle the bar from the car. It EASILY snakes around the axles and exhaust with a bit of care.

7) Once out of the car, spray the end-link bushings with Silicone spray on both sides, where they attach to the sway bar. Bend the end links to get it worked under as good as possible. After it sits for a bit, the end-links should twist right off with no tools.

Spray the ends of the "new" sway bar with silicone, and slide them on the end-links exactly as they came off. (It helps to place them sie-by-side on the ground, and make sure to do one side at a time to prevent mix-ups)

9) Snake it back under the car as it was.

10) Spray the new bar bushings with silicone (unless you are re-using the old ones, but you wouldn't do that would you???) and place them in the aproximate final location. Place the new brackets over them and hook the rear side into the body.

11) Getting the nut on the stud is a bit tricky. I used large channel-locks to compress slightly the bracket and get it on the stud. Once it's cought, use the channel-locks to slide it on enough to catch the nut (dont cross thread it!!)

12) before you crank the bracket down, line up and bolt in the end-links. It may take a bit of twisting to line them up.

13) tighten the body bracket nuts fully, re-install the spare (after checking proper inflation, mine was low), lower the car and enjoy it!

Total work time: 45 minutes. If your car is a rusty mess underneath, I would invest in all new hardware, and expect to waste more time under there.

I ordered the bushings and brackets from the dealer for $28.00 or so.

Have fun!

PS the ti sport has a 13mm rear sway bar. The M Coupe` is 19mm.
J!m is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2002, 01:35 PM   #2
Ralliart
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Macomb, Mi
Posts: 81
iTrader: (0)
Default

Great write up!

How do you like the handling after installing it? Any drawbacks?
Ralliart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2002, 09:18 PM   #3
J!m
Moderator
 
J!m's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Bouncing off the rev limiter in CT!
Posts: 3,156
Vehicles
iTrader: (1)
Default

No draw backs whatsoever. You (well I don't) even notice it has been changed, until you throw it in a corner. It stays flatter, but sometimes the inside wheel will get light enough to break loose, but not much more than the way it was with the old sway bar.

I'm sure it's not as well balanced as it could be, but for less than an hour's work, it's a pretty cool upgrade. Once the 3.2 is in place, the entire front suspention will be replaced with M3 bits. That SHOULD balance it out better, as the M Coupe` is basically what I'm creating...

It's not a drastic change, like installing stiffer springs, but for normal use, it feels totally the same. It's a great idea if the car sees dual use (with the Wife for instance) with someone who could care less about a couple tenths on the autocross track at the expense of dental work on the street....

Highly recomended. By the way, I already have the factory sport package, and this is a noticeable, however not drastic improvement. Polyurethane bushings would be cool, but probably a bitch to install....
J!m is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 09:19 PM.


.
Powered by site supporters
vBulletin Version 3.8.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©1999 - 2024, 318ti.org
© vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.2
[page compression: 63.27 k/73.47 k (13.88%)]

318ti.org does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information or products discussed.