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Hotchkis rear sway bar hitting lower control arm(?)


jay-d

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I don't believe they are installed incorrectly.. did the install myself. Any idea why they are hitting? Wagon is not lowered.. yet.

 

I don't hear any noise when they hit, I only noticed the rust marks when my car was up on the hoist doing an oil change. :redface:

 

Driver Side

http://i.imgur.com/2vM4e.jpg

 

Driver Side

http://i.imgur.com/379dg.jpg

 

Passenger Side

http://i.imgur.com/6gJw2.jpg

 

Here's a few pics from the day I installed them.

 

http://i.imgur.com/FdqQV.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/IGzul.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/m91wd.jpg

 

My understanding is, the hole that I've used to connect the rear links is the softer setting. Would moving them to the harder setting, alleviate the hitting?

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It looks like you could use a spacer or two to help line up the endlinks perfectly, but I don't see anything in your pics that indicates the bar is installed incorrectly. Not sure why you are getting contact with the control arm / rust...

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Not currently in stock :(

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I'll definitely add some washers to alleviate the added stress on the end links.. thanks for that tip!

 

The rust is from the bar hitting the control and scratching the powder coat off :( I hope someone can chime in and help me figure it out or else that rust will keep spreading and cleaning it up now won't really do much as it will probably scrape off again and start rusting.. wagon isn't even lowered :(

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • I Donated
The hole closest to the rear of the car is the hard setting I believe. Shorter bar = stiffer bar. I'm getting the same problems on the stuff setting, in for results. Spacers won't help here I don't think, because the endlink is vertical already, it's just where it sits send to be too far back
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We have found that using an adjustable rear endlink such as the Whiteline ones can correct this problem on Legacy's.

 

-Adam F

 

http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/91072632.jpg http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/145749898/original.jpg http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/133406601.jpg http://www.whiteline.com.au/images/logos/perf1.jpg

11+ Years Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Subaru Enthusiasts.

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Unfortunately there isn't a fix, at least not one we have come up with.

 

-Adam F

 

http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/91072632.jpg http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/145749898/original.jpg http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/133406601.jpg http://www.whiteline.com.au/images/logos/perf1.jpg

11+ Years Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Subaru Enthusiasts.

Call directly as We carry almost every manufacturer now, so before you buy parts call us.

Like us on Facebook! | E-mail: sales@azpinstalls.com | 725 Fairfield Ave | Kenilworth, NJ 07033 | 908.248.AZP1 (2971) | T-1 Certified Amsoil Direct Jobber |AIM: AZP Installs

"Race Tested, Enthusiast Approved!"

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Number 1. Never add spacers to an endlink off a non-loaded visual inspection. Suspension MUST BE LOADED in order to verify. It is not what happens at full droop, it is how the car rides. End links must be perpendicular to the ground when the suspension is LOADED.

 

Second, I have never seen a Hotchkis bar hit the toe adjustment arm. Not on any Subie. Not with any endlink. I have personally installed approx 50 sets of Hotchkis bars (most with KB links). KB links work perfect. It seems to be Whiteline bars and KB links that do not pair well together (in the rear).

 

Third, while I feel for the OP, I also see all the rust. Which means that the suspension is not new. My guess is the rear struts and springs are worn to the point of "sag" and this is causing the issue. My only guess as my own 05 LGT wagon (stock suspension) never had an issue with Hotchkis bars and KB links. Or possibly those are front endlinks installed on the rear.

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  • I Donated
Im running the whiteline sway bar and kartboy link on my outback and i ended up trimming the toe arm a smidge to clear the sway bar. I wouldnt recommend that. Adjustables would work but id imagine theres something else causing the swaybar to hit.

 

That sounds like a recipe for disaster

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Same thing on my car. Hotchkis bars and KB endlinks. There's paint flaking off on the driver's side near the control arm, but nothing on the passenger side. I have mine on the stiff setting, but I've never heard anything clunk
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  • I Donated
Same thing on my car. Hotchkis bars and KB endlinks. There's paint flaking off on the driver's side near the control arm, but nothing on the passenger side. I have mine on the stiff setting, but I've never heard anything clunk

 

Same here. Mine could very well be the worn out stock suspension I'm on though.

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  • 4 months later...
  • 7 months later...
Mine is hitting and it sucks. It took me 2-3 time of taking the wheel off to find out where it's coming from. I will order the new adjustable links to fix the problem as when I hit bit bumps or dips I get a loud bang every time. sucks. thanks for the info as I was going to buy a set of whiteline control arms but they are $500 bucks...I'll start with the links!
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