Adjustable End Links…Anyone install these on their CX-5?

[N7turbo]

Just to confirm the proper process, after you replace the end links while jacked up wheels off, do you then put the wheels back on put it on ramps and do the final adjustments?

Yes, the car must be on the ground when you adjust the links to achieve zero preload before tightening them down with threadlocker. Now obviously you can't get under the front of the car while it's on the ground, so put it up on ramps. And note the following:

Normally you'd do the very top nut first with the wheels off. Wheels back on, car is up on ramps, then you do the bottom nut. Then you work on the center section. Up front, once I was "done", I had to bring the car back down off the ramps, jack up one side and reach around/through my wheel (may be hard with stock wheels, in that case, take them back off) to get a better torque on the top jam nut on the center section. It's just not possible while laying under the car to get a good angle with your arms all the way up there.

And I definitely recommend pre-adjusting them so they are close to the final length as it will make your life much easier.

 

[AL Cx5]

Yes, the car must be on the ground when you adjust the links to achieve zero preload before tightening them down with threadlocker. Now obviously you can't get under the front of the car while it's on the ground, so put it up on ramps. And note the following:



And I definitely recommend pre-adjusting them so they are close to the final length as it will make your life much easier.

X2 on all of the above. Preload on the roll bars can make the car twitchy or even worse on the highway. If you feel like the car is moving weird, fix it soon.

I set our CX5 on 3 2 x 12 boards/ tire I cut for this purpose. I use them when putting a car on a 4 point car scale and setting the pinion angle on diffs.

It's nice but not mandatory to have each link the same length as the other side. Close will be fine.

Torque to spec if you can get a torque wrench on the bolts. These will clunk if not tightened to spec.

Our lowered CX5 with larger roll bars and such has just over 20k mi. The car tracks straight and is responsive. I look at the end links when rotating the tires every 5k mi. So far, no adjustments or failures.

Doing stuff like rotating tires and oil changes gets my eyes on the car and I'm not relying on a tech who may or may not have my best interest first. Then IF I have the work done I can talk like I've seen and touched it. After the work, I can inspect as well. The shop knows I'll be checking.

Good Luck with the install.