Sway bar on 2018’s warning

[Flamewinger]

Just installed Baja Ron Sway bar on my ‘18 RT L and found a #4 Heim link without a blue dot. Not sure why or if they have new ones or still using bad ones?

 

[Chupaca]

Interesting....

maybe they have corrected all the failed ones and now just have the new improved ones and don't mark them to show they are the new improved ones...:gaah::dontknow:seems they would change the number from a 4 so it is clear....

 

[Bob Denman]

Thanks for the heads-up.
I've added Ron's end-links as well.

 

[2dogs]

Have you.......

Ever seen the results of a broken plastic heim link? Not a pretty sight. I'm so glad I installed my sway bar and metal links from Ron.

 

[Bob Denman]

The busted heim link isn't pretty... but the bikes will still be ride-able!
They'll get you to where you need to be; in order to replace it. :thumbup:

 

[ThreeWheels]

Just replace the whole set. Sway bar and Heim links. It's cheap peace of mind.

 

[Bob Denman]

:agree: :2thumbs:

 

[JayBros]

Just replace the whole set. Sway bar and Heim links. It's cheap peace of mind.

Since a BajaRon swaybar is larger and stiffer than an OEM bar and since an owner does not know what the load strength of the OEM Heim links is and how much of a safety factor is built into them, it would be very unwise to replace the bar and not the Heim links. Rons sells the bar and Heim links as a set. Unless one is an engineer who has tested the OEM Heim links and knows they can withstand the added loads of Ron's bar why would one even consider not installing the links Ron includes in the package?

 

[Samson]

Pretty cheap insurance to just replace the bar and the links. Great peace of mind. Seems odd that a 2018 would need this but... I did the 2016 F3 T I have and it is a big change in performance.

 

[Bob Denman]

You could "get away" with the OEM links, when using a "Ron-Bar" on the 2010 to 2012 models.
But not with the newer chassis... nojoke

 

[JerryB]

Hi Bob,

Re: You could "get away" with the OEM links, when using a "Ron-Bar" on the 2010 to 2012 models.

I am sure that your intentions are good. However, you are far from being an engineer. And, IMO, this is dangerous advice.

As BajaRon posted in another thread: There is a lot of misunderstanding and even maybe some bad information out there regarding this whole sway bar issue.

Getting away' with something & running off of the road at speed are two very different things.

Let's leave the technical discussion to the technical people.

Jerry Baumchen

 

[ofdave]

Hi Bob,

Re: You could "get away" with the OEM links, when using a "Ron-Bar" on the 2010 to 2012 models.

I am sure that your intentions are good. However, you are far from being an engineer. And, IMO, this is dangerous advice.

As BajaRon posted in another thread: There is a lot of misunderstanding and even maybe some bad information out there regarding this whole sway bar issue.

Getting away' with something & running off of the road at speed are two very different things.

Let's leave the technical discussion to the technical people.

Jerry Baumchen

so there, Bob
consider yourself spanked:lecturef_smilie:
I know what you meant though.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Just installed Baja Ron Sway bar on my ‘18 RT L and found a #4 Heim link without a blue dot. Not sure why or if they have new ones or still using bad ones?

View attachment 157525

You maybe should have waited to change out the sway bar to find out it handled compared to the earlier RTs. The part number has changed for 2018. For 2017 it is 706201544 and for 2018 it's 706202800. So what is different? Who knows at this point? Maybe they made it stiffer. The part number for the Heim link, which in the parts list is called a tie rod, has not changed.

 

[AY4B]

Can someone please explain what the blue dot is and why it was a concern not to have one?:dontknow:
Also why it is dangerous to ride on OEM swaybar and links?

 

[jcthorne]

BRP had a large number of links fail. The newer improved version had a blue dot.

We ONLY install BajaRon bars with new billet links. Have seen too many plastic links fail...even on bikes with stock sway bars much less significantly stiffer upgraded ones.

Don't be cheap with your bikes safety or reliability. If you upgrade the bar, get the links and do the job right.

 

[Bob Denman]

Hi Bob,
Re: You could "get away" with the OEM links, when using a "Ron-Bar" on the 2010 to 2012 models.
I am sure that your intentions are good. However, you are far from being an engineer. And, IMO, this is dangerous advice.
As BajaRon posted in another thread: There is a lot of misunderstanding and even maybe some bad information out there regarding this whole sway bar issue.
Getting away' with something & running off of the road at speed are two very different things.
Let's leave the technical discussion to the technical people.
Jerry Baumchen

Hi Jerry,
Not for nothing; have you ever run a "RonBar"?
I have.
The original Bar of his was a marked improvement over the OEM. But it wasn't as stiff as his latest version. Busted Heim links started showing up when BRP came out with the new front end design, and Ron improved his product.

And "getting away" with not changing them, is a pretty far cry from an actual endorsement of the practice.

 

[AY4B]

BRP had a large number of links fail. The newer improved version had a blue dot.

We ONLY install BajaRon bars with new billet links. Have seen too many plastic links fail...even on bikes with stock sway bars much less significantly stiffer upgraded ones.

Don't be cheap with your bikes safety or reliability. If you upgrade the bar, get the links and do the job right.

I already have changed the Sway bar and links. That was one of the first things I did on my new F3. I was just curious about the blue dot and wanted that info clearly explained in this thread for me and those that have no Idea what OP was talking about.
Thanks for clearing it up.:thumbup:

 

[AY4B]

I just went out to check the OEM swaybar and links that I removed from the new spyder. No blue dot anywhere. Mine looks just like the pic on the OP. Does anyone have a pic of the updated links with the blue dot?

 

[BajaRon]

Only for 2013 models

When BRP re-engineered the frame and suspension for the 2013 models. Somehow the OEM plastic Heim joint links quality control took a nose dive and there was a good deal of breakage with the stock bars. That is when I came out with my first upgraded Heim joint links. The originals were stainless steel. They worked great but way too much labor involved. And as demand increased I just didn't have the time to make enough to keep up.

So I went to the current Aircraft Grade, Billet Aluminum Heim joint links. There have been several improvements to this product over the years but still the same basic design.

But the only Blue Dot, plastic link issue only applies to the 2013 production run. BRP recalled the original production run and got this fixed pretty quickly.

 

[AY4B]

I do remember what the links looked like that I removed from my 2014 ST limited and they were toy like plastic ribbed. Not nearly as beefy as the plastic ones I took off the F3. I made a comment on another thread that they look like something right out of a cracker jack box.