Sway bar has been installed!
04-11-2002, 06:02 AM
#1
AudiWorld Expert
Thread Starter
Sway bar has been installed!
...so it was a nice day yesterday and I thought I'd install the Neuspeed 19mm rear sway bar that I recently got from carparts.com. Just to confirm for those who were curious, it had the updated brackets. Since this was such a major PITA, I thought I would take pics and add my $.02.
I had a hell of a time installing this thing. I started at 7pm and finished at 10pm. It wasn't complicated although it took me a few minutes to figure out how to mount the brackets. The hardest part as many have noted are the mounting points for the updated brackets. There is VERY VERY VERY VERY little room to work with for mounting the brackets to the upper part of the subframe. You really need LONG fingers and SKINNY hands to get this done. If not, then you need some serious dexterity and A LOT of patience. Aside from that, my initial feeling of this sway bar is that it completes my suspension. I have yet to test it aggressively but from my initial cornering tests on my way to work, it appears to be working nicely. :-)
The pics below have some mounting points circled in yellow and green. The ones in green are the easy ones to handle. The ones in yellow need additional tools (for example a bag of curse words will do nicely).
Anyway, here are the tools I used:
-Laptop with access to Audiworld (a must IMO)
-12mm combo wrench
-12mm socket
-13mm combo wrench
-13mm socket
-17mm combo wrench
-6mm hex bit (attached to a 3/8" socket to remove end link nuts)
-3 inch socket extension
-Bag of curse words (quantity depends on individual).
Notes:
I used the 12mm combo wrench with the 13mm socket to tighten the nut/bolts. The same goes with the 13mm combo wrench and the 12mm socket. This will make sense as you attempt the install. There are cases where it's easier to tighten the the bolt and cases where it's easier to tighten the nut. It all depends on the orientation and space you have to work with.
A necessity. ;-)
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1308/s1_laptop1.jpg">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1308/s2_sway1.jpg">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1308/s3_sway2.jpg">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1308/s4_sway4_pita.jpg">
This is where you'll need the special tool...the bag of curse words.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1308/s5_sway5_pita.jpg">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1308/s6_sway6_easy.jpg">
I am done!
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1308/s7_installed2.jpg">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1308/s8_installed3_easy_pita.jpg">
I had a hell of a time installing this thing. I started at 7pm and finished at 10pm. It wasn't complicated although it took me a few minutes to figure out how to mount the brackets. The hardest part as many have noted are the mounting points for the updated brackets. There is VERY VERY VERY VERY little room to work with for mounting the brackets to the upper part of the subframe. You really need LONG fingers and SKINNY hands to get this done. If not, then you need some serious dexterity and A LOT of patience. Aside from that, my initial feeling of this sway bar is that it completes my suspension. I have yet to test it aggressively but from my initial cornering tests on my way to work, it appears to be working nicely. :-)
The pics below have some mounting points circled in yellow and green. The ones in green are the easy ones to handle. The ones in yellow need additional tools (for example a bag of curse words will do nicely).
Anyway, here are the tools I used:
-Laptop with access to Audiworld (a must IMO)
-12mm combo wrench
-12mm socket
-13mm combo wrench
-13mm socket
-17mm combo wrench
-6mm hex bit (attached to a 3/8" socket to remove end link nuts)
-3 inch socket extension
-Bag of curse words (quantity depends on individual).
Notes:
I used the 12mm combo wrench with the 13mm socket to tighten the nut/bolts. The same goes with the 13mm combo wrench and the 12mm socket. This will make sense as you attempt the install. There are cases where it's easier to tighten the the bolt and cases where it's easier to tighten the nut. It all depends on the orientation and space you have to work with.
A necessity. ;-)
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1308/s1_laptop1.jpg">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1308/s2_sway1.jpg">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1308/s3_sway2.jpg">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1308/s4_sway4_pita.jpg">
This is where you'll need the special tool...the bag of curse words.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1308/s5_sway5_pita.jpg">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1308/s6_sway6_easy.jpg">
I am done!
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1308/s7_installed2.jpg">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1308/s8_installed3_easy_pita.jpg">
04-11-2002, 06:05 AM
#2
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dude...i just installed mine last week....those upper brackets are the biggest PITA ever!!!
what is your suspension setup? i'm riding on koni coilovers and 18x8's w/ neuspeed 19mm rear sway.....very noticeable if u ask me.
04-11-2002, 06:30 AM
#5
AudiWorld Expert
Thread Starter
Yes, although I'll need to get a smaller torque wrench to double check...
I'll wait a week before re-tightening. It feels damn good though! I heeded your warning Ron! :-)
04-11-2002, 06:36 AM
#6
AudiWorld Expert
Thread Starter
Oh yeah forgot...hehe...I'm using Neuspeed Sport with Neuspeed-Bilsteins...
...I feel like I'm becoming Neuspeed's posterboy. =)
I agree. It felt tight on the few corners I've taken! I'm on the soft setting too.
I agree. It felt tight on the few corners I've taken! I'm on the soft setting too.
