Has anyone had experiance with the adjustable rear endlinks? As I understand they make it possible to adjust the stiffness of the rear swaybar. The question is, is my assumtion correct, and is it worth the money to a weekend autoxer?

 

Not necessarily stiffness, but the mechanical advantage curve based on the angle relationship between the end link and the swaybar torque arm. When you lower the car, you also change the mechanical advantage curve of the sway bars. Most people add adjustable swaybar end links to (increase general strength of the links, and to) bring the MA curve back to stock. There's also a point if the suspension travel has too much up-travel you'll bottom out the end-link (not going to happen with stock shocks) and bend it. This would be when you need to adjust (shorten the rear and lengthen the front) your end-link, obviously, lol.

 

I tend to think of the biggest advantage of adj. end links is in corner weighting but the MA thing could help you out if you needed it a little stiffer. I have had cars that when corner weighted, with the sway bars detached, the right way to do it, and the sway bars were reatached there was a pre load in the swaybar. the way to fix that is with an adjustable end link.

My MCS is about as low as a street car can get, dropped 2", and autocrossed a lot even on some less than smooth surfaces and also some very high grip ones, like Peru and have not bent an end link, though I'm still on the stock ones. But in defence of the bottoming out idea, I do have the RDR rear bar and up rated springs so I have less lean than most.

 

There's also a point if the suspension travel has too much up-travel you'll bottom out the end-link (not going to happen with stock shocks) and bend it. This would be when you need to adjust (shorten the rear and lengthen the front) your end-link, obviously, lol.

Ryan,
Could this be why I've broken two rod ends on my Alta front links? I had them at the stock length. I have H-Sport Springs and the Comp Rear Bar. Alta links at rear are fine.
Thanks,
Jim

 

Jim: I've found the rod-ends that ALTA [at least used to] source are rather soft and prone to bending. Try McMaster Carr.

 

Think I'll order some Aurora rod-ends from Pegasus Racing. Not too much $$$, and I've used them in the past.
Thanks!
Jim

 

Ryephile,
Our rod ends we use are not soft at all. They are rated for 5100lbs of continuous use, which is never seen by a swaybar. They are strong enough to pick the car up!

Yes, we have had 2 of them break, both were from the same customer,(Jim's, which we warrantied the first time) and just yesterday he figured out that when his car was lowered (not sure how much) that the endlinks needed to be made longer. He was making them shorter because his car was lowered. Normally this makes sense to shorten the endlinks when you lower your car, but in his case he thought that was why they broke.

Our car uses our endlinks shorted about .5" from stock, and they are just fine. As are a couple hundred other MCS owners. We may not beat up on our car as much as some, but look at Randy Webb and all the track/autocross time done on his. He is using our endlinks, and they have never broke!

i don't think buying stronger ones is going to help as the next more durable endlink is rated for 9000lbs is totally overkill for a swaybar. The forces exerted on a swaybar are never over 1000lbs,(with a 19 or 22mm) and this is with-in the rating of the endlink.

Jim, if you feel you want some stronger ones, let me know, and we can get them for you, but i still think its not going to help. Are you sure you are putting the endlink on the right side of the sway bar? That might be the cause of the situation.

Please keep us posted.

 

Thanks for the technical clarification, ALTA.

Yes, when you lower the car, you lengthen the front, but shorten the back, due to the component orientation.

 

Jim, if you feel you want some stronger ones, let me know, and we can get them for you, but i still think its not going to help. Are you sure you are putting the endlink on the right side of the sway bar? That might be the cause of the situation.

Please keep us posted.[/QUOTE]
Jeff,
Yep, I have them in the correct orientation. I'm going to try to install them after work on Thursday.
Thanks Again!!
Jim

 

i have a lower MCS with adjusterble rear control arm and stock sway bar, should i get adjusterble end link? if i do, i should get shorter for the front and longer for the back??

 

minie - read that one again; lengthen the front and shorten the rear! No you don't need them. I actually have stock end links on my car right now.

 

thx Ryephile for clearing that up:smile:

 

Ok, for a 30mm drop, this is about what most sport springs are. How much do you lengthen the front and shorten the rear?


Dave

 

I was hoping to get an answer to my last question as I plan to install new end links tonight.


Dave

 

How about 15mm per end? Make sure you have both front or rear wheels off the ground, don't try one side at a time. Then, (for the front) with the wheels off, use a jack under the lower control arms to get to approximate ride hieght and turn the steering wheel to make sure there is no binding. This is the step I didn't do, so I didn't realize the link were binding until it broke the rod-end.
Hope this helps.
Jim

 

I hope this isn't too much OT, but who makes end/drop links for front and rear, a set of 4? TIA.

 

I got mine (all four) at Steve's Auto Clinic 818-891-6109


Dave

 

Alta swaybar links front and rear-
http://outmotoring.com/adjustable_sway_bar_links.html

Or contact Randy webb- he can also order front and rear links-
http://webbmotorsports.com/suspension.php
See swaybar drop links for Alta and Webb designs at competitive prices

 

Thanks minihune. I spoke with Randy a week or so ago and he said that Alta has all 4, and he is currently working on some fronts to match his rears. I'm going to hold-out a bit longer to see his efforts... Thanks again.

 

Dave, have you installed them yet ? If so are they quiet and can you feel any difference with them in place? I bent one of my stock fronts yesterday ( my mistake bent the link ) and now I need at least one to replace the bent one. Depending on cost I may put in the ajustable links or maybe you want to sell me one of your stock front ones ?