I want to add a 19 or 22 mm rear sway bar. Some people say the MINI endlinks are too weak and should be replaced with ones from Alta or elsewhere.

Others say thats not true, no problem if your NOT racing

Who am I to believe?

 

I asked the same question a couple of months ago before I got an H-Sport comp. I was told to keep the stock one's unless I race so I did. I've driven it pretty hard since then and have had no problems with the stock one's. I leave it on the softest setting and it's prefect for street driving...just slight understeer.

 

I strongly considered replacing my end-links, but would be less than thrilled if one were adjusted slightly longer than the other. The inability to precisely measure the difference in length (without taking them off to compare against each other) made me leave this well enough alone. I've seen a photograph of a broken end-link, but who knows what that was subjected to?


I'm sure folks like Onasled have Alta end-links.

 

IMHO;

I feel that factory end links are just fine and I also feel that they may even be stronger then the aftermarket Altas, which I do have.

The only reason behind getting the aftermarket adjustable links is if you have adjustable coilovers and your are going to corner balance your car. Even if you are not corner balancing you might find that an adjustable link can help slightly. The fact is that you most likely DON"T want them to be equal length from side to side.

Say you remove one link on the rear. Now roll the car back and forth with your weight (not to be removed throughout the process) in the driver seat. Now reach under the car an replace that link. (About impossible to do, but just imagine). You will most likely find that it will be too long or short to just slide into the mounting holes at right angles.

This is basically what I do when corner balancing my car. I loosen one side of both the front and rear links. After the car has been balanced and rolled back and forth, I reach under and adjust those loosed links so there in no tension in them at all. I now know that the sway bar is set perfectly and is not preloaded to one side or the other.

I am most certainly not the expert here on NAM as I am constantly learning from the mass of experienced members on this forum. Always learning …

 

another reason is to re-set the correct attitude of the anti-roll bar on a lowered car. the rear links usually need shortening, the front lengthening about the same as the amount of lowering.

 

I hadn't considered that... Thanks!