Front sway install

[SDS135]

I'm planning to install my e92 m3 front sway bar over the holidays. I found some good diy instructions to guide me. My question is do I need an alignment check or is there anything I can't do on my own? Thanks.

[JuuS]

It took 30 minutes for a shop to do mine at a cost of 65 bucks. No alignment was needed.

If you end up doing yourself, change the stock bushings and please put your car up on blocks.

[HP Autosport]

Originally Posted by SDS135

I'm planning to install my e92 m3 front sway bar over the holidays. I found some good diy instructions to guide me. My question is do I need an alignment check or is there anything I can't do on my own? Thanks.

You should always do an alignment when installing anything on the front suspension. You will need to unbolt some screws that are pivotal in the alignment of the car. I would suggest it.

-Mike

[mlifxs]

Originally Posted by HP Autosport

You should always do an alignment when installing anything on the front suspension. You will need to unbolt some screws that are pivotal in the alignment of the car. I would suggest it.

-Mike

I'm not a suspension expert but your answer surprised me..Can you elaborate more on how a sway can alter alignment?

[SDS135]

Originally Posted by JuuS

It took 30 minutes for a shop to do mine at a cost of 65 bucks. No alignment was needed.

If you end up doing yourself, change the stock bushings and please put your car up on blocks.

I've got the m3 bar, m3 bushings (4 halves) and the two brackets so yes!

[The Transporter]

Originally Posted by mlifxs

I'm not a suspension expert but your answer surprised me..Can you elaborate more on how a sway can alter alignment?

x2

[MightyMouseTech]

What do you have to unbolt that affects the alignment if just replacing the front sway bar?

[3002 tii]

Don't need an alignment.

[MightyMouseTech]

I was looking at the front suspension the other day and thought that. Looks like a 10 min job as long as nothing is seized.

[mlifxs]

op just make sure you torque to spec and center the bar...check and compare clearances at end links.

[SDS135]

Originally Posted by mlifxs

op just make sure you torque to spec and center the bar...check and compare clearances at end links.

Great advice! The sway was fully assembled when I got it from the previous owner so I'm hoping there will not be issues with cantering and the torque value was quoted in one of the diy.

[fboutlaw]

Originally Posted by 3002 Tii

Don't need an alignment.

Agree.

Here's why: You don't touch a single component that sets alignment with this part.

1. take wheels off
2. unbolt stock sway from shock tower (the top of shock tower controls camber, but you don't touch that)
3. get under front bumper and take off the plastic shield
4. remove the pillar blocks that hold the sway in place
5. put the new one in with reverse order

Snags you may hit:
1. It sucks to get the rubber parts in the pillar block housings around the sway. I took a flat wrench and a c-clamp and forced them into place before installing up into the car.

That's it.

You don't touch the tie rods, or top of the shock tower, where your alignment is set in the front.

[PrematureApex]

Originally Posted by HP Autosport

You should always do an alignment when installing anything on the front suspension. You will need to unbolt some screws that are pivotal in the alignment of the car. I would suggest it.

-Mike

No.

[BLU135i]

Originally Posted by mlifxs

I'm not a suspension expert but your answer surprised me..Can you elaborate more on how a sway can alter alignment?

Surprises me even more that it HP Autosport saying this.

[SDS135]

During install did anyone have issue with unbolting the end links from the sway bar ends?
My car is an 09 n54 with 120000km and obviously the sway bar has never been touched before. I fear that i might sheer the bolt or not be able to get it off. I don't have new hardware to replace those nuts and bolts (or whatever they are).

Had anyone had issues disconnecting the end links for the sway bar?
Did you reuse the original hardware or get new?
If you got new, what did you get and do you have part numbers of a source where to get them from?

Thanks, hoping to be able to do this job soon but don't want to be stuck with a broken end link or whatever.

[SDS135]

Help!

[fboutlaw]

Originally Posted by SDS135

During install did anyone have issue with unbolting the end links from the sway bar ends?
My car is an 09 n54 with 120000km and obviously the sway bar has never been touched before. I fear that i might sheer the bolt or not be able to get it off. I don't have new hardware to replace those nuts and bolts (or whatever they are).

Had anyone had issues disconnecting the end links for the sway bar?
Did you reuse the original hardware or get new?
If you got new, what did you get and do you have part numbers of a source where to get them from?

Thanks, hoping to be able to do this job soon but don't want to be stuck with a broken end link or whatever.

Because this sounds like your first project, here's directions from service manual:
1. Raise vehicle support safely.
2. Remove engine splash shield
3. Remove stabilizer bar connecting link. Use a thin wrench to counterhold shaft of stabilizer bar link ball joint while removing nut.
4. Remove stabalizer bar anchor bushing huts on right and left sizes

Installation is reverse of removal.
Tightening torques:

To chassis
- M8 bolts 16 ftlb part# 07119904295
- M10 bolts 44 ftlb part# 07119905374

To strut
- M10 bolts 43 ftlb part# 33326768884

You can order the parts at any bmw dealership or from ecstuning (my preferred site). The manual says to replace all the nuts, but you do not have to. You won't break them. Just make sure to re-tighten to the correct torques and you'll avoid damaging the parts.

Good luck. This is an easy install.

[HP Autosport]

Sorry guys that was my fault. You don't need an alignment from just the front sway. My apologies.

-Mike

[ASPEC135i]

^ lol wut

[Ginger_Extract]

Originally Posted by SDS135

During install did anyone have issue with unbolting the end links from the sway bar ends?
My car is an 09 n54 with 120000km and obviously the sway bar has never been touched before. I fear that i might sheer the bolt or not be able to get it off. I don't have new hardware to replace those nuts and bolts (or whatever they are).

Had anyone had issues disconnecting the end links for the sway bar?
Did you reuse the original hardware or get new?
If you got new, what did you get and do you have part numbers of a source where to get them from?

Thanks, hoping to be able to do this job soon but don't want to be stuck with a broken end link or whatever.

Even with all those K's in Canada-land, I think you should be alright. I say this because the OEM BMW front endlinks, although snugly fitted, have an excellent design that should minimize binding/snapping/freezing. Just have the squeeze a wrench onto the back end of the endlink, and loosen the front-facing nut.
Was just down there doing camber plates, and coming from other cars which had the issues you described, I thought that may be the case, but it was not.

Also, I second the thought that no alignment necessary for sway bars. You shouldn't be messing with your struts, or tie rod ends, so I don't see how you could knock it out of whack.