Why adjustable end links?

[craig.martell]

Well, after spending all day Sunday installing the Street Handling Pack, I now have a bunch of other things I might want to change. For example, I noticed that my right front end link is bent a bit, and I am thinking about upgrading them.

1. What's the best brand? (Bring on your opinions!)
2. What is the benefit of adjustable end links? I just lowered the care by 1" all around. Would adjustable end links be a benefit here?

Craig

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[derieuz]

Adjustable end links allow you to correct the swaybar geometry. Ideally, you want the ends to be parallel to the ground, when you keep the endlink length the same and lower the vehicle, the swaybars are now pointed downwards.

 

[craig.martell]

Adjustable end links allow you to correct the swaybar geometry. Ideally, you want the ends to be parallel to the ground, when you keep the endlink length the same and lower the vehicle, the swaybars are now pointed downwards.

What is the negative side effect of not being parallel?

Thanks in advance for the help. I'm trying to better understand the physics of my suspension.

Craig

 

[derieuz]

What is the negative side effect of not being parallel?

Thanks in advance for the help. I'm trying to better understand the physics of my suspension.

Craig

It deals with the effective stiffness and anti-roll properties of the bar. When the bar is parallel with the ground and you turn into a corner (right for this example), the right wheel will travel up along with the swaybar end while the left wheel will travel down. So in other words, the bar twists when your body begins to roll, one swaybar arm goes up while the other goes down. In a perfect swaybar setup, the angle between the arm the moves up compared to the parallel line is equal to the angle between the arm that moves down compared to the centerline. When the swaybar does not start off horizontal, the angles will not be equivalent and the two sides of the car will have different roll properties.

 

[BMR Tech]

Adjustable end links are good for a few reasons.

1: They are usually stronger than the stock links that tend to bend when being abused with larger aftermarket bars.

2: They allow for the use to lengthen/shorten to address the lever arm angles. In a perfect world, you want the bar to be as level as possible.

3: They allow for the addition or removal of preload.

#3: Many times, aftermarket and even stock sway bars are not bent 100% accurately, and automatically put preload into the suspension. Adjustable end links allow you to remove the preload that may exist with your current set-up...and they also allow you to adjust or set preload based on your needs.

Tech Tip: I usually suggest using two people to install end links. The owner/driver of the car, sitting in the car on a drive on lift....and someone underneath installing the links with no preload.

 

[jasonstang]

What is the negative side effect of not being parallel?

Thanks in advance for the help. I'm trying to better understand the physics of my suspension.

Craig

Leverage. The sway bar has the most leverage when the bar is 90 degree to the end links.
As you lower the car, the bar start to rotate downward and the end links are now at smaller angle meaning the bar will appear to be softer.

 

[craig.martell]

Adjustable end links are good for a few reasons.

1: They are usually stronger than the stock links that tend to bend when being abused with larger aftermarket bars.

2: They allow for the use to lengthen/shorten to address the lever arm angles. In a perfect world, you want the bar to be as level as possible.

3: They allow for the addition or removal of preload.

#3: Many times, aftermarket and even stock sway bars are not bent 100% accurately, and automatically put preload into the suspension. Adjustable end links allow you to remove the preload that may exist with your current set-up...and they also allow you to adjust or set preload based on your needs.

Tech Tip: I usually suggest using two people to install end links. The owner/driver of the car, sitting in the car on a drive on lift....and someone underneath installing the links with no preload.

Thanks. Very helpful.

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