MikeyE430

Car is at dealer. They claim they cannot install front sway bar because it hits the catalytic convertor. Said they tried installing with both inner and outer holes. They also state that to install rear bar will take 8 hours.

WHY will the front not fit properly? Why would H & R sell something that doesn't fit? Is there anything that the installer can try? Are the mechanics at the dealers clueless?

HELP!

jimmydagreek

A lot of the mechanics at the dealers are clueless but that doesn't mean that someone there shouldn't be able to figure it out. You should contact H&R and tell them what's going on to see if they can offer some assistance...

MikeyE430

I have a call in to H & R. Called Luke at Tire Rack (where I bought them), he said he was not aware of any installation problems.

Dealer mechanic just called and said he got the front one on OK. Said he had forgotten that car settles after it has been on lift. Evidently the bar was contacting the convertor while in the air. Said he drove it and sawed the wheel back and forth. No noise. Is trying to work on the rear bar right now. At first they said it would be an 8 hour job installing rear bar. Guy said he will try to snake the old one out and new one in without having to remove shocks, brake lines, etc.

Wish me some friggin' luck!

Fanatic

There's no way that it will take 8 hours to 'fish' the bar in and out in the back. Like I said in prevous thread, I've been quoted 6 hours to drop the back end completely to do that install.

jimmydagreek

If he's not dropping anything in the rear, it shouldn't take him very long at all, dang stealerships and their hourly rates...

MikeyE430

Mechanic at dealer just called me to say front and rear bars are installed. Said both front and rear installation was about 7-8 hours. He said it cornered super flat and felt great. I will be picking it up in the morning. We'll see. Also had rear spring pads replaced with #1.

Full report and pix to come. Thanks for everyone's info.

By the way, never heard back from H & R. Dontcha love that customer service?

Fanatic

Mikey,

Don't make us wait any longer, where are the pics?

Is the "seat of your pants" feel as good as the mechanic says? I realize it is still a 2 ton 4 door sedan, but how would you compare the before and after? ie) is it noticablly different or just mildly improved (refined).
Did you fish in the rear bar or drop the back sub assembly?

MikeyE430

Those bad boys are now installed and I love it. Dealer charged me 8 hours to do BOTH front and rear. I get a 10% discount on labor, so $$ wasn't too bad. Car corners much flatter, especially noticed on interstate on ramps, cloverleafs, off ramps. Ride is same as before. Just don't understand why M-B doesn't put this size sway bars on factory cars.

They did loosen the rear sub-frame to fish the old bar out and the new bar in. I also had the rear spring pads changed from 17mm to 5mm at same time, so rear sits about 12mm lower, which also helps.

Did get a call-back from H & R. They were extremely helpful. Only potential problem is that front bar can sometimes contact the catalytic converter heat shield. Solution is too bend it away from bar or tighten it down a bit.

I will post those pix soon.

MikeyE430

The change is not super dramatic, just much less body roll, which IMHO, the E-class has way too much of. The H & R bars are about the same diameter as the factory E55.

The front bar has 2 adjustment holes. I installed it in the minimum (outer) holes at first. I can firm it up a bit later if necessary.

silvercloud

where did you get them and how much?

MikeyE430

Got them at Tire Rack for about $400 shipped. Call Luke @ Tire Rack.

Alexbenz

where are the pics man? what if someone just did the front?

MikeyE430

If you just did the front, you would have some serious understeer. Pics are coming. I have them, just need to get them uploaded.

MikeyE430

Here is REAR factory and H & R bars together.

MikeyE430

Here are FRONT bars for comparison.