Smart Racing Front Sway Bar Install Q!

[AirCooledExcellence]

Hi All,

I've got a Smart Racing front sway bar waiting to go on. The instructions state that you have to remove the fuel tank first, has anyone managed to fit one without doing so?

I'm sure I've seen it mentioned before but I can't find via a search now!

Cheers,

Tim.

[lally911]

I've installed a few with the tank in the car. Getting the back side of each mount positioned and attached is more difficult and involves creative use of a coat hanger to help position it. There are also wires and the heavy gauge starter wire that can obstruct passing the bar through.

After doing a couple this way I'd recommend pulling the tank. With the tank out of the way installing the mounts is easy and you can rearrange all the wiring beforehand.

[jhelgesen]

Just did this install a few months ago, and I would recommend pulling the tank. Its not that big a deal and also lets you check the condition of the tank, etc.

Susp upgrade (sway bar porn install)

I would also recommend installing the bar about 1/4" back from the stock location as stamped in the sheet metal. I'm running a 31mm bar in front and had issues with clearance to the tank.

[AirCooledExcellence]

Thanks guys, looks like the tanks coming out then

[AirCooledExcellence]

I started the install of the sway bar today, having terrible trouble getting everything aligned properly. Has anyone got any tips on alignment?

[jhelgesen]

Follow the smart racing instruction of having to install the bar in the mounts, then tighten the bolts down, then slide the bar out and us it as a pry bar to tweek the mounts into alignment. I would twist the bar while it was close to the mount on the other side to feel for drag. They have to be dead nuts even for it to slide smoothly.

[lateapex911]

I debated as well, but I think opulling the tank is the way to go, to do it right. And the tank comes out so easily, it's no big deal.

The alignment issue takes some tweaking. It's easy to get reversed and bend the wrong way. But keep at it, it will clign up in time.
aIMO, the Smart bars are VERY sweet.

[don911]

I don't think there's any way to install the fittings, on a later car anyway (I think there are two methods in the instructions, one for early cars and one for later)
Anyway, for the later cars, the bolts are used as studs and the bolt head are on the trunk side. For my 87 I was able to get the fitting/bolts installed on the pass. side without removing the tank but no way on the drivers side.

As for alignment, as stated above, keep working it using the bar to align the holes.

[Jeff Alton]

I just loosened the tank mounting fixtures and pulled in a wee bit forward....

Cheers

[AirCooledExcellence]

Thanks guys, I have removed the tank, guess I just need to spend some more time bending stuff about!

[Garen]

Yeah, it takes time. It will happen, though... The most important tool in aligning the bar is patience! Once set, the bar will roll very smoothly. It's a kick-a$$ product.

[AirCooledExcellence]

OK, after a few hours of trying to get the bar aligned the best I've managed is to get them so they move with light hand pressure on the lever arms. Will this be OK?

[jhelgesen]

If you put the lever arms on, do they rotate down on their own? You need to get them that aligned.

[AirCooledExcellence]

No they don't, they require a couple of pounds of pressure to move them. Seems like the bushes are a REALLY tight fit and there's zero tolerance.

I spoke to a Porsche specialist over here that's recently installed some for a friend of mine and he seems to think it's fine for them to bind a little??

[Jeroen]

make the little effort NOW to get everything aligned as smooth as possible
if not, your bar will start to squeek in about 4 to 8 weeks and you can take everything apart again to realign
by then you're thinking "wish I did it right the first time"
BTDT

[randywebb]

better explain what you mean by aligning everything....

i.e. you don't mean taking the car to an alignment shop, do you?

[AirCooledExcellence]

Originally posted by randywebb
better explain what you mean by aligning everything....

i.e. you don't mean taking the car to an alignment shop, do you?

Just aligning the 2 mounts for the sway bar, so the bar rotates freely.

[randywebb]

Thx - given the large number of views, it's always good to make your posts understandable by the beginner

[Jeroen]

yep, that's what I meant... sorry if it wasn't clear

[89911]

The SR bars are very frustrating to align properly. If you try to "force" the bar in, the thin plastic bushing will crack very easily. I've done these a few times. Some hint maybe not mentioned are: Tighten the bolts holding the brackets in the fender-wall with the bushing and bar in place to keep the relative spacing accurate. If you already have them in, then try the next step. Use a spare spacer (one that may of cracked ) and place the sway bar in at one end with the entire bar sticking out. This will give you a relative idea in which direction the mount is holding in. The bar should be close to being parallel with the other spacer directly across from it. Move it around and the generally direction should be there. If not, use the tremendous lever arm of the bar to persuade the mount in the direction needed for this parallelism. Keep doing this until you can slide the bar in both mounts with spacers. You will still need to do some taping in both direction to get this done. Helps to have another at the opposite side.

The good news is that once they are properly done, they need minimal maintenance and never make any noise. I usually remove them once a year, check for worn of cracked bushings and re-grease. A quality made item.