DIY: BeastPower Rear Sway Bar Brackets

Torquey5 · 15th June 2010, 05:51

Gents - Here is another relatively simple DIYer.

I noticed that my rear driver side sway bar bracket was cracked so I immediately order a set of BeastPower rear sway bar brackets from Cal @ JleviSW, who BTW has provided me the best customer service to date. Placed the order last Monday and the arrived on Friday, and I just finished installing them.

These are beautiful pieces of aluminum with a very nice black finish. Provided are the following:

2x BeastPower brackets
2x socket head screws
2x flange nuts
2x washers

Step 1:
Unbolt the (broken) OEM sway bar brackets using 2x 13mm wrenches:

Step 2:
At each end of the sway bar is a nut (don't have the exact size here, I used an adjustable wrench - which was a total PITA) that MUST be removed before throwing on the BeastPower brackets. The new brackets are very beefy and has a very tight fit on the sub-frame. It would be a good idea to have a can of WD40 or PB Blaster on hand to loosen/lubricate all the nuts and bolts.

I started out on the driver side and spent quite a bit of time as I didn't have a wide variety of tools to ease the work, but once I developed my own technique the other side was cake. This is what the end of the sway bar looks like:

Step 3:
I lubricated all the parts before placing the new bracket on, this makes fitment slight easier. Line up the bracket with the holes and install it using the supplied socket head screw, washer and nut.

Once that has been tighten, go back and nut up the end of the sway bar using the original nut that you removed.

Repeat for the other side and here are the results:

Fitment is perfect and always remember to place a jack stand under the proper jack points when working under your car. Place a wooden block or a stopper in front of the front wheels.

Go wash your hands and pop open a cold one

Dan

Lancefitzgiben · 15th June 2010, 05:55

Thanks for the write-up + fantastic pics

Torquey5 · 15th June 2010, 06:00

BTW, here is what the OEM rear swar bar bracket looks like for those who have never even been under their cars

Bryan@Jlevi SW · 15th June 2010, 06:13

Excellent write up and pics

I don't know why but my OEM sway bar brackets have yet to give out, perhaps I'm not pushing her hard enough

chowdah · 15th June 2010, 06:19

Quick comments for readers who only see this post:
- if you keep the suspension under compression (ramps=yes, jacks=no), you can avoid fussing with links
- be mindful of torque ramifications if you choose to lubricate a bolt/nut
- using soapy water to assist in a good bushing fit is likely all the lubricating you'll need
- to each his/her own in figuring out whether to replace multiple times with OEM, or once with these (disclosure: I chose the latter)

wkd928 · 15th June 2010, 07:44

the nuts on the drop link arms are 16mm. for some strange reason BMW chose this size - maybe just to screw anyone who wants to work on there own cars.. you will find that most small tool sets do not include an 18mm spanner - and for the drop links you will need two. One for the nut and one for the flat sided piece on the other side of the arm that stops the nut spinning. If you jack the car up and place on axle stands and then remove the wheels, its not difficult to simply use the jack under each suspension arm to position the drop links relative to the sway bar.

jfman · 15th June 2010, 08:26

I have had to replace my passenger side bracket twice... How much are these?

M55555 · 15th June 2010, 09:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfman

I have had to replace my passenger side bracket twice... How much are these?

I believe they are $100ish shipped. Visit the forum sponsor page...there are a few sponsors offering them

Kevin The Clean 1 · 15th June 2010, 10:49

Torquey5,

Thanks for writing this up & providing pictures of both the new & old brackets. I will have to crawl under my car & see ho mine are doing. No matter what, I think it would be a good idea to toss these "bullet proof" units into the mix when I get my PSS9 system installed...

MGZ · 15th June 2010, 12:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin The Clean 1

Torquey5,

Thanks for writing this up & providing pictures of both the new & old brackets. I will have to crawl under my car & see ho mine are doing. No matter what, I think it would be a good idea to toss these "bullet proof" units into the mix when I get my PSS9 system installed...

Good idea. This exchange is a very easy DIY. Highly recommended.
Very nice pics in the write up.