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Hey everyone! I figured I would finally post this up since it has me puzzled.
About 50 miles or so after installing the H&R rear sway bar on my C55 I began hearing clanking from the rear whenever I hit small bumps. The sound seemed like metal on metal, but light and I figured I had some play somewhere or an end link bushing was toast. I got under the car and everything was tight, no loose exhaust and the sway bar was installed securely. Then I noticed it had been making contact with the plastic clam shell cover that is over the lower suspension arm. I removed those, thinking it had removed the interference, but maintained using the inner most hole on the sway bar (as pictured) since I want it stiffer and it didn't seem to make a difference in clearance.
Long story short: the sound is less prominent, but still there.
The plastic covers are still installed in the pics and show the marks left from abrasion.
Looking at these pics later, I see marks on the small tie rods above the ends of the sway bar... So that explains the metal on metal
I guess I will try the outer holes on the sway bar to see if it buys me any room, but it seems limited by the vertical end links...
Any ideas? Anyone have similar issues? Seriously stumped here
Yeah, I took the plastic covers completely out. I can't believe its contacting the tie rod past it though!
Thanks for the response. Does your Eibach bar have two holes for the end link? If so, which are you running? Eibach is bigger too, right?
the covers are gone completely though (took pics were before removal)... The sway bar is hitting the tie rod above- I noticed the marks in the pictures this morning
Have you checked all of your links. That seems to be a lot of travel for an anti swaybar.
Yeah, I checked that the c-clamps holding the bar were solid then looked at the bushings of the end links and they look fine. Nothing else was touched, but I'll look again tonight. I figure travel should be same as stock since the sway bar just ties each side together, but maybe I'm wrong.
I'll update when I get under it again and try the outer holes, but I don't have much hope since it will just move the end links closer to the contact point. We will see!
Yeah, I took the plastic covers completely out. I can't believe its contacting the tie rod past it though!
Thanks for the response. Does your Eibach bar have two holes for the end link? If so, which are you running? Eibach is bigger too, right?
Eibach rear bar has only one mounting hole and is 22mm in diameter.
weird... have you checked the sway bar bushing and bracket to make sure everything is completely snug? if they aren't the sway bar could have some room to move around in there and hit those rods
Hey everyone! I figured I would finally post this up since it has me puzzled.
About 50 miles or so after installing the H&R rear sway bar on my C55 I began hearing clanking from the rear whenever I hit small bumps. The sound seemed like metal on metal, but light and I figured I had some play somewhere or an end link bushing was toast. I got under the car and everything was tight, no loose exhaust and the sway bar was installed securely. Then I noticed it had been making contact with the plastic clam shell cover that is over the lower suspension arm. I removed those, thinking it had removed the interference, but maintained using the inner most hole on the sway bar (as pictured) since I want it stiffer and it didn't seem to make a difference in clearance.
Long story short: the sound is less prominent, but still there.
The plastic covers are still installed in the pics and show the marks left from abrasion.
Looking at these pics later, I see marks on the small tie rods above the ends of the sway bar... So that explains the metal on metal
I guess I will try the outer holes on the sway bar to see if it buys me any room, but it seems limited by the vertical end links...
Any ideas? Anyone have similar issues? Seriously stumped here
Ghiaguy - great write up...you know if the rear sway install on a C32 is the same as on C55 for the H&R bar?
Mine is an 2003 C32 and the dealer quoted me $930 to replace the rear sway bar with OEM which is crazy expensive. so i am tempted to get the H&R rear and do it myself following these steps but wondering if its the same steps...
found the H&R rear sway bar #71392 listed here for C32 for under $200...not sure if I can re-use the existing end links/bushings or need to replace those to since this is a thicker bar from the C32 stock rear i have on... thanks ! J
Ghiaguy - great write up...you know if the rear sway install on a C32 is the same as on C55 for the H&R bar?
Mine is an 2003 C32 and the dealer quoted me $930 to replace the rear sway bar with OEM which is crazy expensive. so i am tempted to get the H&R rear and do it myself following these steps but wondering if its the same steps...
found the H&R rear sway bar #71392 listed here for C32 for under $200...not sure if I can re-use the existing end links/bushings or need to replace those to since this is a thicker bar from the C32 stock rear i have on... thanks ! J
cool thanks Morphh... any idea if the existing end links/bushings etc can be used with the new H&R rear sway bar, or do you need new specific H&R components when you put the new bar on???
cool thanks Morphh... any idea if the existing end links/bushings etc can be used with the new H&R rear sway bar, or do you need new specific H&R components when you put the new bar on???
H&R should provide you with the necessary bushings as long as you are buying the sway bar new from them. I can't imagine this install being much different than the C55- just remember to be patient routing it over the exhaust and tighten everything down snug
"posting Me Too! like a brain-dead AOL'er"
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Had to cut back the plastic cover, like everyone else running the H&R rear bar... and still get that clunk. It's probably contacting the a-arm itself. Modifying the arm is difficult due to its hardness.
I note the black mark on the e-brake cable in your picture - probably contacting there as well - some foam padding there might solve the clunk ... haven't tried yet.
"posting Me Too! like a brain-dead AOL'er"
-Weird Al, All About the Pentiums
Had to cut back the plastic cover, like everyone else running the H&R rear bar... and still get that clunk. It's probably contacting the a-arm itself. Modifying the arm is difficult due to its hardness.
I note the black mark on the e-brake cable in your picture - probably contacting there as well - some foam padding there might solve the clunk ... haven't tried yet.
did u use new sway bar end links?
u need the HR bushings/bracket that it comes with
Bringing this back from the dead. Has anyone tried shaving off the bar end such that only the inner hole remains? I'm pretty sure this would prevent contact with the lower spring arm, but I wonder if it would get rid of contact with the parking brake cable as well. Seems to me if that ever wears through, it would be a larger headache than I would ever care to deal with.
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