BajaRon Ultimate Sway Bar arrives tomorrow ... get'n ready

[fochie]

Can't wait !! I decided to go the trailer/ramps route for the install on our 2020 RTL. Thanks to all who've posted lifting methods/pics in the past, that was a huge help in deciding.

First suspension/performance/functional mod I've done so far. Up 'til now, it's been mostly bling and small stuff.

I positioned the ramps as far out as I dared, to hopefully leave enough room to remove the stock bar. I have ~26" clearance from ground to the bottom of the bar channel.
I plan on following this install video for now. Hopefully all goes smoothly. I will report back.

- -

 

[BajaRon]

SlingMods does a great job with their videos. However, there has been a critical update to this install since this video was made. That being a torque value for the billet aluminum arm pinch bolts.

This was done because installers were not tightening these pinch bolts sufficiently. While the install started out fine, over time as everything settled in, the arms would get loose and start making noise or coming off the end of the sway bar.

The torque value for the arm pinch bolts is 175-185 inch pounds (as given in the written instructions which come with the kit). The short Allen wrench/Hex Tool shown in the video is usually not sufficient to get the appropriate bolt tension without using some type of extension. And a Hex Bit is a better tool for this step. Bits are made of higher quality steel and will not flex.

An inch pound torque wrench is not an expensive tool. But if you decide to do the install without an inch pound torque wrench. You will need to tighten the Arm Pinch bolts until the outer edge of the gap in the arm is slightly less than at the end near the bar. This can be done using feeler gauges or something that will reliably indicate the size of this gap.

Be sure that you DO NOT USE the more common Foot Pound torque wrench. It must be an Inch Pound tool.

If you have any questions, be sure to ask. This install has been done by thousands of Spyder owners. Take your time and you will find it a One & Done process.

 

[fochie]

Thanks for the info Ron. I only have a ft/lb torque wrench, just ordered an in/lb wrench which arrives Sat, just in time, and I have hex bit sockets.

 

[troop]

Shouldn't 15ft/lb suffice ?

 

[BajaRon]

Thanks for the info Ron. I only have a ft/lb torque wrench, just ordered an in/lb wrench which arrives Sat, just in time, and I have hex bit sockets.

Awesome! As Dire Straits band leader, Mark Knopfler, says. "That's The Way To Do It!"

Shouldn't 15ft/lb suffice ?

Technically, yes. But you need to be careful. Harbor Freight has a 5-80 Lb. Ft. wrench that I'd be OK with this tool set at 15 Lb. Ft. for this install. But you have to keep in mind that torque wrenches, especially the less expensive ones, will be inaccurate within as much as 20% of their minimum and maximum rating. Many Lb. Ft. torque wrenches start at 15 Lb. Ft. as their lowest setting. I would not trust this to be accurate.