hey guys, I'm going to be installing front and rear JCW sway bars.

Does anyone have a write-up on how to install the front bar? Does the engine have to be lifted a couple of inches? I hope it's less than an hour job.

thanks

=Darren

 

Mini Cooper Rear Sway Bar installation

No front one yet sorry!

 

It would be the same process as changing the front control arm bushings. More like a 3-5 hour job depending on the tools you have available to you. The swaybar mount is also the bushing carrier for the front bushings. I just changed my out with the Power-flex poly bushings and would suggest if you are going that far into the job to change the bar you go ahead and change the bushings too. I have a post asking how to change the bushings and someone gave me a great link that shows you how on an R56.

 

Here is the link:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-bushings.html

 

thanks guys, WOW, looks like FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have all the tools to make it a quick job except for the puller for the control arm bushings. I would love to change the control arm bushing too.

JENGLAND - which control arm bushings did you go with? Powerflex? I've had Powerflex RTABs for my e36 once, and it was nice

 

I did the Power-flex I bought from Way Motor Works already pressed into the carriers by Way. I should also add that we tried the using the puller and spend 30 min on it and still could not get the bushing off the control arm. We finally just pulled the control arm off the car (which is really easy) and pressed the control arm out of the bushing on our 40 ton press. I didn't take much force to push it out but using the puller on the car just didn't work for us. Once we figured out the one side the other went pretty event free. Well worth all the work though. Just be careful and don't let the steering rack come down with the subframe. I used a 2x4 to keep wedging between the rack and subframe to keep it pushed up against the firewall.

GOOD LUCK

 

Finally came around doing the install. Just the fronts, though.

OMG, it took me 6 hours. The write-up was spot-on in terms of lowering the subframe. The sway bar was almost impossible to get out. Somehow I got it off after an hour of working at it including raising my already raised car and dropping both of my struts.

Putting the JCW front sway bar in was even WORSE!!! It's thicker and definitely heavier. Took me about an hour and a half to get it in.

I had air tools, so putting everything back together was fine.

I finished this install an hour ago. Gonna take it for a spin after I clean up.

Future reference: I AM NEVER GOING TO DO THIS INSTALL AGAIN!!!

 

I will do a lot but you folks are much braver than me.......

 

Do you guys know what is the OEM front sway bar size for 09 r56 ? Gonna do the bushing soon with the 3 jaw puller
Hey Jengland, how did you manage to pulled the bushing out without the puller?

 

ndylam,
we tried the puller for about 30 minutes and it would just flex the bushing and not move the sleeve on the arm. So with three more bolts to remove, we just pulled the whole lower control arm off and took it to the 60 ton press we have. They came off without much drama then.

 

the car feels AMAZING!!! Drove her in the hills this weekend, and got her aligned this afternoon. The car feels so planted in the turns. I just can't believe this isn't stock.

I'm definitely glad I did this. Can't wait to see how much better the car handles with a thicker rear bar. Right now I have the stock Cooper S ones.