Sway bar & belly pan interference

[paul_howey]

Hey all,

I recently got done with a major suspension overhaul and everything went fairly smooth except for one issue... The new front Eibach sway bar is contacting the belly pan when under heavy load. I can really only get the contact to happen with a passenger in the vehicle (need the added weight). It seems the sway bar is twisting enough under heavy load that a portion of the bar which protrudes is rubbing the belly pan causing a nice metal on metal sound.

I confirmed this after removing the belly pan and seeing contact on the pan and on the sway bar as well.

Eibach includes spacers to be used with the (4) bolts when installing the belly pan in order to avoid this issue but it's clear that they don't provide enough space. My plan was to add some larger spacers to increase the clearance for the pan but I figured I would reach out hear to see if anyone else had a similar issue or if I'm missing something. It's just hard to believe Eibach would sell this kit as many times as they have without getting reports of this issue if it were common which leads me to believe it could be user error

Thanks in advance.

[Ctopher]

That is interesting. I do know when I installed mine while the car was in air and wheels at full droop I had a slight contact of the front bar at full soft setting. I have not heard or felt any contact while driving with or without passengers but honestly haven’t checked the pan. I do remember that the settings for end links were not right as there was hardly any thread screwed in so I had to adjust. But that was the only adjustment I made to my install. Car is a 87 coupe.

I will have to pull pan and inspect.


CTopher

[paul_howey]

Originally Posted by Ctopher

That is interesting. I do know when I installed mine while the car was in air and wheels at full droop I had a slight contact of the front bar at full soft setting. I have not heard or felt any contact while driving with or without passengers but honestly haven’t checked the pan. I do remember that the settings for end links were not right as there was hardly any thread screwed in so I had to adjust. But that was the only adjustment I made to my install. Car is a 87 coupe.

I will have to pull pan and inspect.


CTopher

Thanks for the reply! 88' coupe here so we are looking at the same thing I'm assuming you used the spacers provided when re-installing the belly pan. Just to confirm, did you use 1 spacer on each bolt or place 2 spacers on the bolts closer to the rear? I only ask because it seems the rear bolts need additional spacers and I'm just trying to determine if I used the spacers incorrectly.

Thanks again for your time!

[Steve W]

Yes the dip in the bar is there to clear the AC condenser line above, just like on the OE bar. Unfortunately because of the larger diameter bar it will rub against the pan. I had to add washers to space the pan a couple mm more away from the bar.

[paul_howey]

Originally Posted by Steve W

Yes the dip in the bar is there to clear the AC condenser line above, just like on the OE bar. Unfortunately because of the larger diameter bar it will rub against the pan. I had to add washers to space the pan a couple mm more away from the bar.

That's what I figured Thanks for confirming. I'm just concerned there aren't enough threads left for too many more washers. I may look into slightly longer bolts as well. I also see rennline just released a full skid plate that appears to replace the belly pan and may be a good solution:

https://www.rennline.com/911-Skid-Plate/productinfo/U07/

[Ctopher]

Originally Posted by paul_howey

Thanks for the reply! 88' coupe here so we are looking at the same thing I'm assuming you used the spacers provided when re-installing the belly pan. Just to confirm, did you use 1 spacer on each bolt or place 2 spacers on the bolts closer to the rear? I only ask because it seems the rear bolts need additional spacers and I'm just trying to determine if I used the spacers incorrectly.

Thanks again for your time!

It’s been a while since I installed and honestly don’t remember any spacers. I need to get under the car and look as it’s been too long to remember what I did other than the initial notice of rub while jacked up.


CTopher

[tirwin]

Originally Posted by paul_howey

That's what I figured Thanks for confirming. I'm just concerned there aren't enough threads left for too many more washers. I may look into slightly longer bolts as well. I also see rennline just released a full skid plate that appears to replace the belly pan and may be a good solution:

https://www.rennline.com/911-Skid-Plate/productinfo/U07/

I was intrigued until the last line... “will not work on cars with the front condenser.”

So close!

[tirwin]

I have not had any issues with rub yet on my ‘83. Passengers are over-rated.

[paul_howey]

Originally Posted by tirwin

I was intrigued until the last line... “will not work on cars with the front condenser.”

So close!

Haha yeah my AC has been torn out so I'm considering it.

Originally Posted by tirwin

I have not had any issues with rub yet on my ‘83. Passengers are over-rated.

Yes, they are This issue only pops up every few weeks when my wife decided she wants to go for a ride. After being thrashed about for a bit, she doesn't seem to ask again for a couple of weeks