Bajaron Sway Bar on 2020 RT

[japs]

Hubby installed Bajaron’s sway bar and Heim links on my 2020 RTL today. It was windy, drizzly weather out here in California, perfect for a test ride on the farm roads. We ride these roads regularly so I could feel the difference immediately. Bajaron’s sway bar definitely has less “dancing” over the pot holes surface, steering is tighter and front end feels more road planted in the twisty turns. Wind was between 15-25 mph with sideway gusts for 15 miles. Rode through the windy conditions in a mix of wide sweeps, hard turns and straightaways, hardly feeling the gusts.

My first farkle and IMHO, well worth it :thumbup:

Hi..Did you use the 8 spacers came with the bar? Thanks.

 

[BajaRon]

Hi..Did you use the 8 spacers came with the bar? Thanks.

If you don't use the spacers installed as instructed. You are going to have issues with the links. They are not optional.

 

[japs]

If you don't use the spacers installed as instructed. You are going to have issues with the links. They are not optional.

Thanks Ron...installed 4 spacers on each links. Its an awesome upgrade on 20RTLimited and it bites around the corner. Nice job!

 

[ABQSpyder]

How can you leave the rear tire on the ground and lift?

 

[Peter Aawen]

How can you leave the rear tire on the ground and lift?

Same way you lift just the front (or rear) of your car! Just chock the rear wheel (to be sure, to be sure!) then put your jack under the most forward bit of frame at the front end; then lift! Front goes up; rear wheel stays on the ground! hyea:

When you get it high enough (which might take a bit of supporting in position, releasing & packing under the jack to raise it, & then re-jacking to get it all high enough for the sway bar job!) just make sure you put solid stands of some sort in there to support the weight so it's not all just sitting on the jack. Why not?! Just cos you don't want to be underneath the Spyder if the jack starts giving way! :thumbup:

 

[308gunner]

My sway bar was delivered yeterday. Its really nice. Im waiting for my new front & rear shocks to be delivered next week. Then have everything installed and tuned at one time...then go to the track.

 

[ThreeWheels]

My calibrated ass with the first 150 miles tells me that the 2020 RTL suspension out of the box handles as well as my 2014 did with the RonBar.
Out of my 150 miles, I have 100 miles single and 50 miles two up. I'm still breaking the engine in, so I'm not riding very aggressively.
Right now, I'm inclined to leave things alone for another 1000 miles or so to make a more accurate determination.
I'll definitely upgrade the links.
The jury is out on upgrading the bar.

Here's some new information.
At about 900 miles (I couldn't wait) I had the RonBar installed.
I've got about 2500 miles on the Spyder now.
The 2020 Spyder Spyder handles best of the three I've had, 2010, 2014 and now 2020.
The RonBar takes a very good handling Spyder and makes it more very good handling.
The increased stiffness is somewhat perceptible to me.
It's only a few hundred dollars. I'm not sorry I made the investment, but it's not greatly necessary.
Replacing the crappy plastic links with Ron's excellent metal ones is certainly worthwhile.

Th' Th' Th' That's All Folks !

 

[Peacekeeper6]

Hi..Did you use the 8 spacers came with the bar? Thanks.

Why in the world would you leave out those spacers ??

They help in reducing the side-to-side slop and contributes to tighter handling and quicker response.

Sure they're a pain to install (well the upper ones anyway), but have patience and put them on. Otherwise, you'll have issues later.

 

[Peteoz]

more very good handling.

!

Love it, ThreeWheels :2thumbs: ...... great description :roflblack:

Pete

 

[BajaRon]

Why in the world would you leave out those spacers ??

They help in reducing the side-to-side slop and contributes to tighter handling and quicker response.

Sure they're a pain to install (well the upper ones anyway), but have patience and put them on. Otherwise, you'll have issues later.

Actually, if you do not install the spacers properly. You'll probably have issues right away, though you may not notice them immediately. The spacers are not optional.

I am working on a solution to make installing the spacers easier. Though super glue works really well.

 

[Lew L]

Spacers/ washers???

Older anti-swaybar kits didn't need spacers???????

I just don't remember them on my 2014 bar.

Lew L

 

[BajaRon]

Older anti-swaybar kits didn't need spacers???????

I just don't remember them on my 2014 bar.

Lew L

You are correct. I went to a new, upgraded link set early last year (about February of 2019). The previous links had trunnion bearings (which simply means the spacers are machined as one piece with the ball). Trunnion bearings are rare and usually custom made to specs. This makes them relatively expensive. My previous link sets with these trunnion bearings work great for about 98% of riders. But if you ride in a salt laden environment (salted roads, etc.) they could rust and cause issues. Upgrading the bearings in a trunnion configuration would have added about $24.00 (my cost) to each link set. Prohibitive, in my opinion. So, I took the money it cost to have trunnion bearings custom made, and applied it towards a high grade Rod end. The end result is a better, though still slightly more expensive, end link.

The new configuration needs the same spacing as the trunnion bearings provided, hence the spacers. Spacers are high quality, machined (tapered) stainless steel.

The new links are not functionally any better than the previous links. But they will stand up to any environment encountered, and should last the life of the vehicle. I've also, just recently, added Blue to the link set color options. Black is also available (Not Pictured). But you have to go through Lamonster Garage to get that link color.

 

[Lew L]

Thanks for the speedy reply Ron. First the virus now --" The Trunnions!!!"

Lew L

 

[UtahPete]

AdmiralS, nice garage. And, thanks for the pics.

 

[Peacekeeper6]

Yes. Same bar kit. Different install steps (much less work - Less to take off and put back on). But don't tell anyone! It's hard on sales!

You will be impressed!

I think it's AWESOME of you to reveal such information. That shows you have a lot of integrity, and I certainly wouldn't hesitate purchasing any of the items you sell.

Strong work !!

 

[UtahPete]

Older anti-swaybar kits didn't need spacers???????

I just don't remember them on my 2014 bar.

Lew L

Yes, they're necessary on the 2014 RTL. I just now got them on. This is his 3-piece bar, though, so might be different

 

[fullyallamathic]

I had the new 3 piece baja ron sway bar installed on my 2021 F3s yesterday, and the difference is amazing!!!!! next upgrade will be elka shocks.

 

[Quickdraw]

Actually, if you do not install the spacers properly. You'll probably have issues right away, though you may not notice them immediately. The spacers are not optional.

I am working on a solution to make installing the spacers easier. Though super glue works really well.

Hah! I was going to chime in and say that I used superglue after spending about 30 minutes fighting with the spacers. I tried a bunch of cob-job ideas, but the superglue was the kicker.

 

[GeorgeXP700]

I just installed a BajaRon bar on my 22 RTL. I could feel a different right off the rip. Now she turns without hesitation.

 

[UtahPete]

Hah! I was going to chime in and say that I used superglue after spending about 30 minutes fighting with the spacers. I tried a bunch of cob-job ideas, but the superglue was the kicker.

BajaRon's dowel idea worked for me. 3/4" of 1/4" rod slips right up inside the u-bracket while holding the spacers in place. Then just push the bolt on through.