I installed the adj. Comptech front swaybar (super easy install BTW). Before tightening the endlink-to-swaybar bolts the directions say to preload the suspension by jacking up the suspension so the car weight is resting on the suspension. I did this first on the left side (lifed left side by suspension point and torqued endlink bolt) and than lowered that side back on to jack satnds and repeated the process on the other side. My qiestion: is this alright or do I need to have the suspension preloaded on both sides befor torqueing down the endlinks?

I'm pretty sure I need to have both sides preloaded SIMULTANEOUSLY but wanted to check before I redo this. Also, were can you safely place a jackstand under the front arms so that the car will not fall off? Thanks.

 

No need to have both sides loaded simultneously if you don't have adjustable endlinks and are not cornerbalancing the car. The way you did it is correct.

 

Cool you saved me 15 minutes, I owe you a beer.




Note: I am assuming the OEM endlinks do not qualify as "adjustible"?

 

correct

 

It's a good idea to tighten the endlink bolts with the car on the ground and the suspension settled. Even though there is no adjustability, there is some slop in the fit of the bolts through the holes. Tightening with the bolt against one side of the hole vs the other side of the hole can cause a small amount of pre-load on the swaybar. Maybe it doesn't make a significant difference, but at least on the Miata it's easy to reach in there and do the final tightening with the car on the ground.

You'll never be able to precisely simulate the loading of the suspension with the car flat on the ground by jacking up the suspension on both sides -- so I suspect the whole reason for the instructions to pre-load the suspension on each side is so you can get the bolt into the hole at all.

Thinking a little more about it, if both wheels are in the air already, I don't know why you would need to compress the suspension at all. With both wheels at full droop, the endlink bolts should slide in just as easily as with both wheels compressed. You only need to load the suspension on the side that's in the air if the other wheel is on the ground, already compressed.

 

Well, I was able to get the bar on the endlinks with both wheels hanging freely with no problem. The endlinks do move around if needed. On some cars (like the WRX), if the wheels are hanging, the bar is a pain in the ass to adjust or install. It just did not seem to be an issue with the S2000.

 

I think the reason for tightening it under load (even one side loaded at a time) is to make sure everything is seated in their proper position first. E.g., if there is play in the bolt in the hole, you wouldn't want to tighten it in the "hanging" position that would leave room for some movement later (and things getting loose). Just my thought. Same applies to any suspension part.

 

When I did my Gendron bar with adjustable links, I installed the bar without connecting the links. Then, I lowered the car down so that the front tires rested on some boards. Had it just high enough to get my hands in to tighten the links.

With it set to full stiff, I found I had to cut a few threads off the rod ends in order to install the links without loading the bar. Anyone else run into this?

 

I wonder if the reason some folks have broken their stock endlinks is due to lack of properly centering/tightening the link as called for in the manual. I still have the original endlinks after 3+ years while others broke them soon after installation. The one thing I can think of that may be different is that I rarely run on concrete but we do have less than smooth asphalt...