Coilover / Sway bar problem

[elderlycoffee]

I just had a set of coil overs installed and the tech told me that I would need new front sway bar end links because the current ones are two long with the new set up and preload it.

He said mine were roughly 6 inches and I need something around 4 inches. I found these, would these work?

I am currently driving without the sway bar attached per his recommendation.

These are the coil overs I have

http://protegegarage.com/1720-yellow-speed-dynamic-pro-coilovers-mazdaspeed3-mazda3.html

These are the links I found

http://www.corksport.com/corksport-mazdaspeed-3-front-adjustable-swaybar-end-links.html

 

[elderlycoffee]

Anyone? I'm driving around with half a coil over kit and no sway bar...

 

[elderlycoffee]

I've also emailed both companies and got no reply.

 

[WillD]

You will only have preload if you lower your car with your coilovers. Even so there is no reason you couldn't install the coilovers and just deal with the preload. It will most likely affect your handling but I doubt you'll notice. Are you having the car corner weighted?

But those end links will work. There are also other options from AutoEXE and AWR. I believe the AWR ones come in different lengths based on whether your car is lowered or not.

 

[Design]

I have serious reservations about the information being supplied by your "tech." Sway bar preload is caused by the delta in L/R ride height. The length of your endlinks have a more dramatic effect on the responsiveness of your bar (leverage).

Here's a write-up I did on another forum. Hopefully it can help you figure out what (if any) endlinks you should get. Good luck.

Generally, the community agrees that it's best to maintain the factory position of the front sway bar to minimize binding against the bushings. I am bringing over a simple diagram I did in another thread since it's more relevant here.

1st picture is the car at standard height. The blue rectangles represent the endlinks; the green represents the sway bar.

The 2nd graph shows the car at a lowered ride height with the endlink mounts (ears) in the OEM location. The red indicates the additional length required to maintain the factory position of the sway bar at static height. If the ear on the strut is lower, subtract it from the total required endlink length.

Most aftermarket struts (inlcuding coilovers) have the endlink mount in the factory location. I am dropped 1.4-1.6" on H&R coilovers and noticed a significant loss of on-center steering feel combined with noise from the sway bar bushings. 1" longer endlinks nearly solved my issue; but I wouldn't recommend much longer due to possible interference with the LCA. And if you're on an application like KW, you're most likely maxed out with factory length endlinks already.



So the basic formula comes down to this:
New front endlink length = [OEM length] + [change in ride height] - [change in strut endlink mount].

*This is an estimate due to change in geometry at the lower static height.

 

[ericrapp]

sorry so late to help Bud. I have had the same question and i asked alot of people. I have Ksports and i have Hotchkis front anti sway. From my understanding after spending some time on this is the goal for you will be to have the tabs on the sway bar to be horizontal to the ground when the suspension is loaded or on the ground with full weight on the wheels. What you first need to do is decide on your ride height with your new wonderfilled coilers, and then you match up the link. Every coilover has different attachment points for the sway link. Like the KYB has its perch lower than mine so i cant use the shorter one you might use.
Once you have the coilers installed swing your bar till the tab you are bolting to the strut perch is as horizontal as you can get it.
i really can walk you through this if you want to pm me. The tuning, as mentioned come when you change tension from side to side. This is why we often need adj links.
Please feel free to pm. There is some math involved for a mock up and SOMe One out there has probably solved it for your specific coilover so search using
mazdaspeed 3 ...ex."BC" ..sway link and see what you catch.
Here for you brother and we can fix this quick and kinda easy and get you motoring at full zoom soon. and get you half full again!!
I recall you have been here at least as long as me and i hope can share what i have learned most of it the hard way Ha ha!
eric