i just want to know if the stock end link on a mini cooper s 2004 with sport

package are good enough to work with a 22mm ajustable sway bar like mini

madness or alta or its a must to instal those sway bar with stronger end link

like the alta one

Thanks

 

Have you seen the OEM end link? You could run the stock ones, but sooner or later they will fail under the demand of the 22mm bar.

 

My stock endlinks bent after a while with a Hsport Comp bar(22mm effective). Swapped them out for the Alta's when they were on sale.

 

The stock endlinks are just barely strong enough to handle the stock bar. The previous statement has no backing in science, but based on how cars are made, it makes sence.

 

40,000 miles, 22mm Alta bar, stock end links, canyons and track days, no problems.

Bill

 

Check out the TSW endlinks. best on the market and very well priced.

 

But which hole setting?

 

yep got those too, http://www.autoxcooper.com/tsw_suspension.html

 

I ran a 22mm madness bar on the middle setting for close to 50,000 miles with the stock end links. The only reason they got replaced was because I added a set of Cross coilovers and also got the Powergrid end links with them.

When the stock ones got taken off they didn't show any signs of fatigue or have any signs that they were going to fail.

 

Stock endlinks are OK for street driving and with any upgraded front or rear swaybars.

But you can bend or break them if you exert enough force during track days, high perf driving school or anything else when you are doing hard cornering.

We have lots of autocross and track days (in the past) in my area and I have never seen any problem with any MINI and a stock endlink.

If you think you need more strength then you can get aftermarket endlinks.

If you are doing corner balancing after installing coilovers then you'd need adjustable endlinks.

 

I have only bent one stock endlink, I have broken two alta endlinks. However its still uncertain to me if it was my error (I think they had binded, as in the balljointish thing was in a locked state. it happens a lot, and I can tell cause they start making more noise than normal. all I do is go adjust them back to a neutral position and I havn't had any more problems). either way I need them with my ride height

 

...a word of caution with respect to front rod end type endlinks...most do not have the articulation required to work with the mini's suspension and often fail as justintime experienced. Although the stock endlinks are not in theory as strong as some of the aftermarket links, their ball joint design allow the stock endlinks to work very well.

The only after market endlink that should be used on the front is a ball joint type endlink and Powergrid is the only company I know manufacturing these...sold thru TSW at this point.

If you are on a track and an endlink binds - runs out of articulation - the car will more or less skip thru the turn.

 

I had stock end links with a Hotchkis 25.4mm hollow (about the same as 23mm solid) with no problems for 45,000 hard miles and 3 track days.
I did have a severe overstreer incident that might be attributable to homemade adjustable end links that I thought had enough articulation but might have bound up. I would stick with stock or get Powergrid.

 

I've got the Madness 22mm with stock end links or, rather, I HAD the stock links. Recently (today) I notices a really loud knock every time I hit a bump (no matter how small). The verdict; a snapped end link. So...TSW? Ireland? I need some input as I haven't orderes the new ones yet and my appt at the shop is this Friday.