Rear swaybar installation

[sierra055]

Any photos from the rear of the car, after installation? Just wondering how low it hangs

Here are a couple of pics from the back...

Attachment 1323

Attachment 1324

It basically decreases the rear clearance by the length of the hanger bracket... so probably 1.5-2 inches? It hasn't seemed to negatively effect the clearance on driveways and speedbumps (at least for me anyway!)

[99gti]

Is any one elses rear sway bar noisy? I stuck my head underneath and it's all greased up but it croaks and moans alot when moving at slow speeds or with any movment of the suspension???

[qsilverza]

Just had mine fitted yesterday and WHAT A DIFFERENCE ! Going around corners where the car used to roll a lot it stays flat now.

Mine doesn't croak at all that I have noticed yet, I do get a cracking from the rear but I can't be sure what that is and the problem was there before the swaybar was put on.

[DUB 20V]

Is any one elses rear sway bar noisy? I stuck my head underneath and it's all greased up but it croaks and moans alot when moving at slow speeds or with any movment of the suspension???

mine does not make noise neuspeed make a noise less bush im not sure if it will fit the whitleline bar ask dubboiboi

[shami]

Does it scrape for anyone?

I got V2s in mine coz it does seem to hang out a bit...

[Tim]

Is any one elses rear sway bar noisy? I stuck my head underneath and it's all greased up but it croaks and moans alot when moving at slow speeds or with any movment of the suspension???

undo the bushing and make sure the grease is actually on the contact surface. thats where it goes dry. and u wouldnt be able to tell without taking it off ud think?

[FknDubbin]

Does it scrape for anyone?

I got V2s in mine coz it does seem to hang out a bit...

I have the swaybar and V2's in mine and it doesnt scrape.

[Jetdi 2.0]

does fitting a sway bar on a new MKV void warranty?

[D3bb4]

Check with a dealer?

[RedMk2Gti]

Thanks for Sierra055 to send me back all photos for this DIY installation, I've uploaded them to photobucket. In order to fill the missing link of this thread I cut/pasted and add the image link here.

Happy DIYing, by the way I still haven't installed mine

Well, after recieving my new Whiteline rear sway bar courtesy of Brad and Shane (thanks again for organising guys!) I spent this morning getting it all fitted up.

I thought i'd grab a few photos as I went cause well, the included instructions were basic at best.

The kit as it arrives



Firstly, jack the rear of the car up and place jack stands under the car. I used the rear swing arm, just where the handbrake line passes over.



Next, you have to undo and remove the bolt securing the bottom of the rear shock. I got a piece of wood and a brick to take some of the tension off the bolt to help remove it.



Next, take the "box" bracket and bolt it using the OEM bolt to the shock mounting point. The box bracket has 2 sized holes, however both of the bolts (for the shock and for the hanger bracket) were the same thickness, and the instructions didn't specify which one to use. I used the smaller hole facing the shock mount, as I found it easier to later place the bolt for the hanger bracket through the larger hole.

Place the smaller of the 2 bolts through the "box" bracket and use one of the large washers on the otherside and secure with a nylock nut.



Next, use the supplied grease and apply liberally to the inside of the "D" bushes and place them on the sway bar. The bushes have a slice on one side, so they slip over pretty easily. I placed mine about 1 inch from the bend.

Next, place the U bolts over the top of the rear swingarm. I found there was a small indent near to where the swingarm mounts to the car and that the bolts fit here quite comfortably. Next (possibly needing a friend for this part!) Place the U bolt through the holes in the steel plate on each side, then lift the sway bar into place. Over the top of the "D" bushes, goes the curved (or as they refer to it "saddle") brackets, these are then fitted off with a large washer and flange nut.

This was a bit tricky, but having someone to help hold the bar and slip on the washer and flange nut helps a lot.




Next come fitting the tail ends of the sway bar to the hanger brackets.
Basically, the further in (towards front of car) you mount the sway bar to the hanger bracket the stiffer the sway bar will act.
I have set mine up on the second last hole closer to the front.

Use the larger (and hopefully only remaining) bolts, placing them through the hanger and sway bar. Fit these off with the large washers and nylock nuts



Finally, once you have everything lined up OK, tighten all the nuts ensuring there is no free play.
With the U Bolts, I found that I couldn't tighten them as much as I would have liked for fear of crushing the hollow swingarm. I may just be being pedantic here, but I will keep an eye on it an monitor.

Don't forget to tighten them up after a week or so to ensure there hasn't been any loosening after the bolts stretch and settle.



Hopefully this is of some use anyway....

After taking the car for a quick spirited shake down drive, I definately could feel an improvement. As mentioned I have mine on the seconf stiffest setting and found it to be pretty good. For track work I will probably run it on the stiffer setting.