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livelyjay
03-10-2006, 11:36 AM
So I went to get my alignment done today (thanks to a loser hitting my car while parked and f'n up my front-left end, and they said my end link is bent. It's a slight bend, maybe 2 or 3 degrees, but I can visually tell the difference between it and the other side.

Would buying the AWR end links be a good alternative to replacing the stock one? Are they easy to install? How do you know how tight to adjust them?
shane02pro5
03-10-2006, 11:45 AM
The awr's are like $65 which is the same as a set of stock ones from the dealer. As far as adjustment. I would take a measurement from the stock link hole to hole and adjust the awr's to the same length. The awr's give you maybe 1/4" adjustment on each end.
livelyjay
03-10-2006, 11:48 AM
I just called the dealership and they said $37 per stock end link. Yeah, might be better to just go with the AWRs and get something a little stonger and adjustible.

Also, having a bent end link wouldn't screw up my alignment would it? They "fixed" my toe problem, but the car is still pulling right. They told me to go to a shop with a frame machine, but I'm running low on funds.
livelyjay
03-10-2006, 08:38 PM
Would having a bent end link (the end link is ever so slightly curved) cause the front end to be really sloppy?
shane02pro5
03-13-2006, 10:29 AM
I wouldn't think but I guess it eventually could get worse and throw your alignment out and wear your tire. Does the alignment look out of square. Lift up the front end and check everything to see that things are not loose.
livelyjay
03-13-2006, 10:39 AM
TurfBurn and some online research has yielded the answer to my question. A bent end link throws the front sway bar out of whack. It will take longer to load when turning, which is exactly what I am experiencing. The cars alignment is just fine now, just have to wait to get the AWR end links in the mail and get them installed before my car is back to 100%.
smo0f
03-13-2006, 10:41 AM
gl
MrDiggler
03-13-2006, 06:56 PM
FWIW, next time take the car to an alignment shop that has the "laser" alignment machine and someone experienced in using it. I recently got my first correct alignment in two years, and oh what a difference in the handling.
Brian MP5T
03-13-2006, 06:57 PM
Search for AWR, Finally and Quiet

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=106761&highlight=awr+quiet
livelyjay
03-13-2006, 08:11 PM
I went to TiresPlus, just because I have gotten good service there before and I know they take care of my car (because I watch them every step of the way). I don't know if they have a laser alignment machine, but they gave me a print out of the alignment (first time in 12 years I have ever gotten one of those). If I have any problems after I install the end links I'll go to a place that I know has state of the art equipment.
livelyjay
03-15-2006, 09:10 AM
Search for AWR, Finally and Quiet

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=106761&highlight=awr+quiet

Thanks for the heads up. I greatly appreciate it ... +rep.
livelyjay
03-16-2006, 07:40 AM
Hey Brian, I checked out AutoZone last night and all they had was an assortment grommet package. Where did you buy yours and how big are they? I think I'll stop buy home depot and see if they have any on my way home from work today. The end links get here tomorrow and I want to get them installed this weekend.
livelyjay
03-17-2006, 05:28 PM
Hey, anyone have a tip on getting the stock end links off? I can't get the nut off the end link where it attaches to the sway bar. All I have are hand tools, otherwise I would take the sway bar off and just bust the nuts loose off of the car.
Brian MP5T
03-17-2006, 05:41 PM
Hey Brian, I checked out AutoZone last night and all they had was an assortment grommet package. Where did you buy yours and how big are they? I think I'll stop buy home depot and see if they have any on my way home from work today. The end links get here tomorrow and I want to get them installed this weekend.

Umm, I can't remember. I just took an assortment from work...
Brian MP5T
03-17-2006, 05:41 PM
Hey, anyone have a tip on getting the stock end links off? I can't get the nut off the end link where it attaches to the sway bar. All I have are hand tools, otherwise I would take the sway bar off and just bust the nuts loose off of the car.

Those normally were meant to be torched off rather than unbolted.

You did put the allen key in?
livelyjay
03-17-2006, 05:45 PM
Those normally were meant to be torched off rather than unbolted.

You did put the allen key in?
Lol. Nope. But I couldn't get it to even move to begin with. I'll try torching it tomorrow if I get the motivation. The replacement end links aren't even here because UPS is running late. Otherwise I'll have one of the shops in the area put them in (grrrrr, I despise letting someone do simple work for me).
livelyjay
03-17-2006, 06:32 PM
Those normally were meant to be torched off rather than unbolted.

You did put the allen key in?
Did you get any so called "spacers" with your end links? I finally got them, and mine came with the end links, eight rubber washers, four bolts, four locking nuts, and eight washers. No spacers as spoken of in the instructions. Am I missing something?
Brian MP5T
03-17-2006, 06:39 PM
Lol. Nope. But I couldn't get it to even move to begin with. I'll try torching it tomorrow if I get the motivation. The replacement end links aren't even here because UPS is running late. Otherwise I'll have one of the shops in the area put them in (grrrrr, I despise letting someone do simple work for me).

Dremel or you can drill the hole that the allen key goes.
Brian MP5T
03-17-2006, 06:40 PM
Did you get any so called "spacers" with your end links? I finally got them, and mine came with the end links, eight rubber washers, four bolts, four locking nuts, and eight washers. No spacers as spoken of in the instructions. Am I missing something?

No that's it..

This is precicely why I started to use the rubber shit..
livelyjay
03-17-2006, 07:16 PM
Any need for grease on the ends of the end links?
Brian MP5T
03-17-2006, 08:09 PM
Depends on how often you plan to do basic maintenence on them.
livelyjay
03-17-2006, 08:13 PM
Depends on how often you plan to do basic maintenence on them.
I don't have much experience with suspension tuning. What exactly is basic maintenance on end links?
livelyjay
03-17-2006, 09:23 PM
One more quick question: If I have to pull the sway bar out, can I just do it straight out, or do I have to stop the exhaust to get it out?
UnNaturalinc
03-17-2006, 10:10 PM
I'm going to make my own links... I just havent got around to sourcing the parts I need.

I was basically going to make something like AWR's.
Brian MP5T
03-18-2006, 03:20 PM
I don't have much experience with suspension tuning. What exactly is basic maintenance on end links?

Jack up the ass, Hit it with some spray nine and a brush. Rince off then periodically you will want to undo the bolts and clean the shit out then replace the grease.
livelyjay
03-20-2006, 09:24 AM
Sounds pretty much like I expected. I didn't have the motivation to pull out the sway bar and I lost the end to my propane torch. I think I'm just going to take it to a local shop and have them install them for me. I'd do it myself, but I can't get the nuts off with simple hand tools ... time to start saving for air tools.
livelyjay
03-20-2006, 10:52 AM
I'm going to make my own links... I just havent got around to sourcing the parts I need.

I was basically going to make something like AWR's.
It wouldn't be overly difficult. A bar with holes drilled and tapped on each end with the eye bolt pivot point thingy screwed into each end. It's a pretty simple design and would be easy to replicate. The only issue would be sourcing the eye bolt pivot point thingy. Feel free to enlighten me as to what it's called :)