Just installed my Hotchkis rear sway this morning, pretty easy install except I took the catback off as well so that added some time. Everything went nice and clean I think... even had the neighbor sit in the car so I could tighten up the end-links with the car on the ramps.

Anyways, after reading how everyone dropped their control arm at the alignment bolt, I was out to prove that it could be done without undoing that bolt which would require an alignment afterwards. I still don't know why even Hotchkis says to drop it there...

I basically dropped the arm as seen in the attached pic from www.EvoMoto.com and the sway slides right through (you can even see the sway in their picture). However, I kept the wheel on so the arm actually only dropped about 3-4 inches but it was still enough to get the sway through.

I'm off to see how it feels!

(http://www.evomoto.com - hope you dont mind I posted your pic!!)

 

Which size did you instal?

 

That's the way I do it as well. It's SOO much easier than screwing with that alignment bolt.

2 bolts zipped on and off with an impact gun, no problems.

 

Installed just the reg 24mm one. I have it on the middle setting right now. It should complement my Swifts and bump stop bushings from what I hear. I actually havent even driven it yet, just mowed the lawn now I'm tired

 

Thanks for posting this info, I'm scheduled to get my sway bar and springs on Monday so hopefully if they get here then I'll be installing them the same night. Did you have to drop both sides or just the drivers side?

Thanks,

joe

 

Just the drivers side.

 

I did mine the hard way -- didn't remove either arm. It can be done this way but I really don't recommend it...

 

When I did Mine, I didn't loosen anything, I just pulled the exhaust off the hangers and allowed it to sit lower, my bar (WORKS) went in no problem.

Mike

 

Why don't you recommend doing it this way? What problems can arrise from this method of install? What is the "hard" way of doing the install?

Thanks,

Joe

 

The Hotchkis would have fit without removing the arms, if the end pieces were a little shorter. It gets caught on either the axle or the arm... The Works one and others are probably just shaped a little different...

 

Only reason I wouldn't recommend it...well there is a bit of history to my install.

I had an 04 Evo and it was totaled. Picked up an 05 and the insurance company allowed me to take my mods off of the 04 to put them on the 05. Well by the time I got to the sway bar I was frustrated! It was dark, I've been working on the car for about 8 hours, I was on pain killers from the accident, it's November in NKY so it's friggen cold...just wanted to get it done.

I know that the stock car can come off with the arms on ..so I figured you could do the rear. Basically you line it up to put it over the arms and smack the hell out of the bar and over the arms it goes. Unfortunately when I did this i smashed my knuckles under the car and we all know that hurts like hell.

You may ask, does this do anything to the bar?? Yeah, I had a really small scratch in the paint...

 

Car feels real nice with the sway in. It's not a huge difference, but at the limit it feels a lot flatter and easier to control. I may end up putting the bar on full stiff (26mm I believe). But I'll see.... where does everyone else have theirs?