Sway bar install help needed.

[LOL WUT]

Installing my front Steeda sway bar and running into an issue.

Sway bar is installed in the factory orientation, with the ends pointed up.

The swaybar mounts have been torqued to 76 foot pounds of torque. The sway bar endlinks have been torqued to 85 foot pounds of torque. The swaybar has been Uninstalled and reinstalled twice. I have tested with the factory endlinks and the Steeda endlinks. Steeda endlinks were adjusted to equal the length of the factory endlinks. I have tried multiple firmness settings. Everything is greased liberally.

When driving straight the car handles fine, makes no noise, and can dart from left to right without issue and without noise. When turning left or right under medium or moderate throttle the front end feels like it is hopping and makes an audible thunk, thunk, thunk.

The car is a 2019 with 8000 miles and a single owner. The car did not exhibit this noise or feeling until the sway bar was installed last weekend.

Before I pull this thing out for a third time does anyone have any ideas for me to troubleshoot? Or, am I an idiot and is that sway bar in upside down?

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[LOL WUT]

@Steeda Tech JohnC

 

[James1980]

Sorry to hear you're having noise issues. That must be frustrating.
I don't know what the answer is, but I can tell you the sway bar is installed the correct way. Here's a picture of mine, I have no noises

 

[LOL WUT]

Sorry to hear you're having noise issues. That must be frustrating.
I don't know what the answer is, but I can tell you the sway bar is installed the correct way. Here's a picture of mine, I have no noises

Thanks so much for validating that things look correct, that’s one thing checked off! Appreciate your insights!

 

[James1980]

No problem. Good luck, hope its something simple

 

[1 old racer]

Can you get the car high enough wit the car's weight on the wheels so you can look and the position of the bar and Endlinks? Make sure that when the weight is on the wheels thay you have clearance. Then if you can jack up one end only at a time and make sure the endings are not hitting the strut or binding on the sway bar.

 

[LOL WUT]

Can you get the car high enough wit the car's weight on the wheels so you can look and the position of the bar and Endlinks? Make sure that when the weight is on the wheels thay you have clearance. Then if you can jack up one end only at a time and make sure the endings are not hitting the strut or binding on the sway bar.

I had the car up on some race ramp curbs and all my clearances looked good. I can’t see any signs of wear on the endlinks but will certainly reevaluate in the morning.

Also, with the suspension fully loaded I turned the wheel each direction as far as I could and did not see any obvious signs of interference. However, I will give it another look tomorrow as well.

Thank you for the recommendations!

 

[1 old racer]

The only two other things I could think of is the endlink binding and poping or the nuts on the endlink are not as tight as you think they are. You will figure it out and when you do please post it so uou will help the next person that is experiencing the same issue. And I hope it will be a quick and easy issue

 

[davbrucas]

Adjust your end links out to push the sway bar adjustment bracket down closer to parallel with the ground...or move the end links back one hole (where you previously had them)...but still adjust the end links to keep bracket parallel.

See how this works.

 

[Lightning]

@Steeda Tech JohnC

Tech John wont answer
best tag tj@steeda

 

[LOL WUT]

Starting to get pretty aggravated…

Adjusted the endlinks to allow the swaybar ends to be more parallel to the ground. The sway bar and end links make a near 90° angle as is intended. Everything is absolutely torqued to spec.

And this is the current picture of the bottom of my sway bar on the passenger side. This thing looks like it’s went to war….. Not sure if that level of wear could occur from installing 2x…

I am essentially ruling out the end links being the problem as the issue occurs with both the factory and aftermarket end links. Which leaves the swaybar installation to be in question however the sway bar installation is for bolts all of which are torqued to spec..

 

[Roadway 5.0]

Back your swaybar firmness back one hole. This is better for the street and will give more clearance on turns.

If you keep the firmness as is, mount the endlink to the inside of the swaybar.

— Mike

 

[James1980]

Hmm. I know you said you greased the bushings, but did you grease inside the bushings? That's the only thing I can think of.

tj@steeda Lets try tagging Tim. He'll help you out

 

[LOL WUT]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I’ve tried every firmness setting. And everything is greased 100%.

I am currently going back to 100% factory in the front to fully isolate the swaybar as the issue.

 

[kz]

Don't know how loud your thunk is but primary suspect is always loose endlink at the sway bar - if you're absolutely certain it's good, check if the nuts that adjust the endlink length aren't loose - I've used loctite on mine.

I've also had link hit the bar when mounted inside (due to strut clearance - ford racing bar and steeda links).

Last thing is bar mounts at the subframe.

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