What is involved in changing out a rear sway? Two jack stands and...? The MINI dealer wants $800 to install one.

 

It's fairly easy...

A jack, 2 jack stands, assorted sockets and hand tools... A grease gun if you are getting a bar with Zerk fittings.

I've got a how-to video posted in a thread around here somewhere...

$800 is highway robbery. $100-150 in labor for the install would be OK if you aren't handy. I can do it in an hour and 15 minutes in my garage. We did 6 rear sway installs in my driveway last spring on a nice Saturday afternoon.

For the parts, several good quality swaybars can be had for around $225. There are lots of other discussions on this board that can help you with which one would be best for your use of the car. A nice, moderately priced one is here (http://outmotoring.com/alta_2way_adj..._sway_bar.html)

Hang on and I'll find the link for the how-to.

 

Here you go: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=71918

In that first post, you will find 2 links for good writeups on how to do the install. While the video is loading, read both of these and you will understand the video much more (with my stuttering narration).

 

should only take 3 hours tops... 3hrs x $100 = $300.

where did your dealer come up with $800?

 

Also: The dealership isn't going to cover the new swaybar under warranty anyway, so check into having it installed by a local (non-dealership) mechanic.

 

For $800.00 I hope they were giving you a bar and a few other things. Oooch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Here is the how to install a rear swaybar-
http://store.webbmotorsports.com/for...topic.php?t=14

An experienced mechanic with lift can do this in about one hour or less.
Using jackstands it takes longer about 2 hours.

Most times if you have an experienced mechanic and a printed copy of the how to install instructions it will take about 90 minutes or less without past exeperience.

I had my mechanic at a local shop do it for about $100 labor. $225 for the bar.

I would not pay the Dealer price- might just be a high estimate.

 

Thanks for all the advice and help. I'll give it a try, I'm moderately compentent when it come to mechanics.

 

I followed the Webb how-to when installing mine. For first-timers, it took us a few hours (after getting the darn wheel off that had corroded to the hub ). You will probably need a friend to help pry the subframe down to get the old bar out and the new one in. It's not too hard, just take your time and make sure you have all the tools needed.

 

As long as you're not going to Home Depot and getting lost looking at all of the toys uuh tools yest thats the word, for two hours without thh motoring in between. its an easy 1-1.5 hour job.

 

It's even easier on the MC.

With the MCS there are power cables coming off the batterbox that you have to fish the rear sway around to remove/install it. With the MC those cables aren't present, so it's very straight forward to pull the rear sway out.

 

I was looking at the instructions for my bar. My problem is no garage. Whenever they say it will take X time, I triple it. And I was wondering about the wires.

 

I've seen them done in a driveway at a pulley party by Randy. Do you need a garage in AZ.

 

Define need. Sun beats the hell out of paint, plastic, rubber, etc. And now it's trying to snow.

 

Just wondering if you could do it in the driveway. I kinda figured it was still nice there compared to Buffalo.

 

Driveway, parking lot garage, baseball diamond as long as it is flat level and hard enough to safely hold two jack stands.

 

I followed Outmotoring.com's how-to rear sway bar install and everything went just fine. There is only one correct way to do it, so if you are doing something wrong, it's pretty obvious.

From start to finish took me just over 3 hours, but I cleaned off a lot of dirty parts while the wheels were off. Fun time though.

 

wow, if you can do the swaybar install in 1-1.5hrs without getting
sidetracked, you got yourself some randywebb points.

 

I have done this twice on my MC, its not really that hard I had a little trouble fitting in my 25mm bar but its all nice now.

 

Had my 22mm installed @ event Mini in the mountain's for approx 100.00 and took less than 1 hr.

 

First time it took 2 hours, minus the travels and hijinxs in the middle (was short one extension for the sockets) second time it was an hour and a half, few other minor bits going along but mainly relaxed paced and chatting, thrid is GOING to be on my MINI There easy to do but mildy disturbing to know how few bolts hold the back end on It's one of the things where the instructions make it seem worse than it is. If you get a bar that utilizes the stock droplinks you'll save yourself at least 20 min. as well.

 

Definitely a driveway job. I've done a good bit of install work, but this was the first I did on the MINI. Even prying down the sub-frame sounds worse than it is.

 

you're pretty quick!

driveway might be a better place to work on this vs garage as
it's work completely under the car and the more light you have,
the better it is. (i can almost see someone coming back
wat if i do it at night? )

 

The bugs get out and start eating you.(It happened)

If you do it in your driveway here is an important reminder, put on some suncreeen!

 

What about adding new end links at this point also ...seem like a good time to do it? ....it is worth while?

Thanks to the feedback, I suddenly have the confidence to make this a winter 'garage' project.