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How To Install a Whiteline Rear Swaybar


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Whiteline 20mm Rear Swaybars:

BSR39 - Non Adjustable

BSR39Z - 2 point Adjustable

 

Look at that stock toothpick!

http://legacygt.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=257476&stc=1&d=1509458242

 

Swaybar mounting points, they are super flimsy. I'm quite ashamed at Subaru thinking this was sufficient...

http://legacygt.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=257477&stc=1&d=1509458242

 

I sprayed everything with PB Blaster and started trying to remove the end link bolts, it would not budge (started stripping the head). This is where I remembered about heat, heated it with a MAP torch for about a minute.

http://legacygt.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=257478&stc=1&d=1509458242

 

After heating it I sprayed it with PB Blaster again, this cooled metal and lubricated at the same time. The bolt came out like butter, seriously don't even waste your energy trying to remove them without heat.

http://legacygt.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=257479&stc=1&d=1509458242

 

Mounting points didn't need heat, but would have made it slightly easier, I just didn't want to scorch the bushings.

http://legacygt.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=257480&stc=1&d=1509458242

 

Getting the stock swaybar out was tricky. But I was trying to remove it without touching anything else, that was a mistake. Unhook your muffler hangers and let the mufflers rest on a spare jack stand. This will make your lifer easier getting the swaybar out and in.

http://legacygt.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=257481&stc=1&d=1509458242

 

Whiteline 20mm vs stock toothpick.

http://legacygt.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=257483&stc=1&d=1509458242

http://legacygt.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=257482&stc=1&d=1509458242

 

Insert the swaybar, make sure you get the orientation of it correct the C bend needs to go over the control arms.

http://legacygt.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=257484&stc=1&d=1509458242

 

Grease the bushings and put them on the bar and bolt it up to the mounting brackets.

http://legacygt.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=257485&stc=1&d=1509458242

http://legacygt.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=257486&stc=1&d=1509458303

 

I would mount and tighten the end link on the swaybar end first while the bar moves easily (hard to get to once end links are hooked up to knuckles). After that put both wheels on the ground (I use drive on ramps) and only then tighten them down. If you tighten the swaybar while one or both wheels are in the air, the bar will be preloaded once you lower the car to the ground.

http://legacygt.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=257487&stc=1&d=1509458303

 

All done, took me about 2 hours to install, would have been one hour if I took the muffler hangers off and lowered the mufflers to begin with.

http://legacygt.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=257488&stc=1&d=1509458303

http://legacygt.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=257489&stc=1&d=1509458303

 

Conclusion

I haven't driven the car hard enough to feel the difference. Will update once I drive it for a bit.

 

Now I did have to preload the swaybar just to get the link to fit. This could be because I removed one tire and the suspension drooped on that wheel only. I will go back and see if the bar is still preloaded once it sags again.

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05 LGT 16G 14psi 290whp/30mpg (SOLD)

12 OBP Stock 130whp/27mpg@87 Oct

00 G20t GT28r 10psi 250whp/36mpg

22 Ascent STOCK

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If you do this again, just take off both mufflers, they take about the same amount of time to R&R as does a wheel. You don't need to take off a wheel to get anything out or in with the mufflers off and it eliminates worries about preload etc.
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That only works if you have a non rust belt Subaru. Mine like most North Eastern cars has rust all over the exhaust. If I remove the mufflers there is no way they will ever reattach (the metal is that rusted/deformed).

 

This is why I simply unhooked the muffler hangers. Even with that having the wheel off made lifer easier. YMMV, do what's ever easier :). I tried to do it without touching the mufflers at all, because I was worried they would break, but there is simply not enough room without removing/lowering the mufflers.

05 LGT 16G 14psi 290whp/30mpg (SOLD)

12 OBP Stock 130whp/27mpg@87 Oct

00 G20t GT28r 10psi 250whp/36mpg

22 Ascent STOCK

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  • 2 months later...
  • 9 months later...

Want to chime in as I just did mine on my 05 outback. Considering I'm in the rustbelt (Canada), touching the exhuast is the last thing you want to do. It'll never come back on.

 

For me it was easiest to take one wheel off, and jack up both sides!

This unloads the suspension and gives you more wiggle room to get the bar in position. Then slowly lower the car, make sure you're still in position, attach bolts, and you're done. No hassle with the exhaust.

 

Of course the difference, night and day, felt the swaybar as soon as I went over the curb at the end of the driveway.

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  • 4 weeks later...
I installed a whiteline non adjustable rear sway bar on my 05 outback xt, and it fit kinda tight while on a lift, but clearances were fine. I lowered the car down and it hits my nameless center pipe and I can the vibrations through the car from the subie rumble. Anyone else have this problem? I love the increased handling ability and would hate to go back to the old thin one.
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