Arion
Active member
My charming spouse presented me with a Baja Ron anti-sway bar for my birthday (hints work wonders) and yesterday I finally ran out of excuses and installed it on my 2015 RT-S. I read every post I could find on the subject and watched several videos, and after treating myself to a 3 ton floor jack and a pair of adjustable jack stands it was time to beard the lion.
I had no idea how long the job would take me and as it happens my time estimate was just about right - whatever than means! The task was rather tedious but not exceedingly painful except for whacking the back of my skull on the right side Lidlox! Dividing the job into segments revealed about 70% was panel removal and re-installation (I followed Pierre's two part video regarding removal and replacement of pieces-parts) and 30% was sway bar removal and replacement.
Raising the Spyder high enough caused me all manner of nightmares (before actually doing it) but turned out to be fairly straight forward. I placed a pair of Rhino ramps behind each front wheel and backed it onto them. I jacked the front of the Spyder up to approximately the necessary height, repositioned the ramps inboard slightly, placed the jack stands on the ramps and lowered the machine with the lower A arms resting on the stands. Not too terrifying and more than stable enough.
My post task assessment convinced me that those sway bar replacers among us who have reported the task to be straight forward have every tool necessary to make things go faster and easier, or they're younger than my 76 years, or both. I would have liked a set of ratcheting metric wrenches and a floor lift designed for Spyder lifting but despite those shortcomings all went well. I didn't lose or break anything, I didn't have any bits left over, the Spyder didn't unceremoniously topple over on its side, and I only have a few minor hand abrasions and one rather impressive bump on the back of my skull. All in all I'd count that as a success.
And yes I really appreciate the difference in handling - it was certainly worth the effort. Well done Ron, and thanks too.
I had no idea how long the job would take me and as it happens my time estimate was just about right - whatever than means! The task was rather tedious but not exceedingly painful except for whacking the back of my skull on the right side Lidlox! Dividing the job into segments revealed about 70% was panel removal and re-installation (I followed Pierre's two part video regarding removal and replacement of pieces-parts) and 30% was sway bar removal and replacement.
Raising the Spyder high enough caused me all manner of nightmares (before actually doing it) but turned out to be fairly straight forward. I placed a pair of Rhino ramps behind each front wheel and backed it onto them. I jacked the front of the Spyder up to approximately the necessary height, repositioned the ramps inboard slightly, placed the jack stands on the ramps and lowered the machine with the lower A arms resting on the stands. Not too terrifying and more than stable enough.
My post task assessment convinced me that those sway bar replacers among us who have reported the task to be straight forward have every tool necessary to make things go faster and easier, or they're younger than my 76 years, or both. I would have liked a set of ratcheting metric wrenches and a floor lift designed for Spyder lifting but despite those shortcomings all went well. I didn't lose or break anything, I didn't have any bits left over, the Spyder didn't unceremoniously topple over on its side, and I only have a few minor hand abrasions and one rather impressive bump on the back of my skull. All in all I'd count that as a success.
And yes I really appreciate the difference in handling - it was certainly worth the effort. Well done Ron, and thanks too.
