Sway bar and end link installation preference - ramps or jack stands.

[Bmil128]

I'm installing the 034 rear sway bar and Moog non-adjustable end links all the way around this weekend hopefully, is there a preference for ramps or stands to do the work? The 034 instructions indicate that either way you have to fully lower the car after installing to do the final torque on the end links and the brackets. I would think on ramps the suspension would still be under load. I have stands and a floor jack but not ramps, deciding whether to pick some up or not.

[14S4GWM]

Be prepared to lower the exhaust too.

[infinkc]

You need both ramps and jackstands of the Moog endlinks have rubber bushings. The suspension cannot have any load on it when you install the bar, so for that you need jackstands. When you lower the car back down put the wheels on ramps to act if it was on the ground to pre-tension the bushings on the endlinks.

[torinalth]

i did both front and rear on ramps. being on stands would give you more room due to suspension droop. it's not too bad either way. but you will HATE trying to tighten the rear endlinks with the tires on the ground, it's really tight and I honestly can't remember how I got in there to do it.

[SteveYem]

Fronts should be on ramps to keep the suspension loaded, due to the Moog links having rubber bushings like the OEM links. As far as I can tell the rear Moog endlinks are a urethane insert type of bushing, which in my estimation will not retain a torsional pre-load if the hardware is torqued with the suspension unloaded, so I would think the rears can be done with the car on jack stands to unload the suspension and give you room to work.

I'm only speculating on the part about the rear Moog endlinks. I have no personal experience with them, but am making my statements based on what I see in the advertisement photo:

[mr shickadance]

not familiar with the b8 s4, but when I did sways on the b7 a4, everything HAD to be under load to install. so ramps were the only way to do it.

but there is a post here citing otherwise, so not sure if it's the same. Can;t imagine the suspension drastically changed between the models enough tho.

[S4'ed]

I did mine on a 4-post lift...so the suspension was under normal load. Had to unbolt the rearmost muffler hangers and let them droop....and getting the bar in and out was a btch.....re-installing and tightening the endlinks was no fun either...must get yourself a microratcheting 16mm box wrench.

The endlink bolt final tightening MUST be done with a loaded suspension at its normal ride height. The tightening of the center bar to body bushings can be tightened under either condition (loaded or unloaded suspension)

[Bmil128]

I ended up just doing the rear bar and links due to time constraints, with a combination of ramps and stands-I found it easier to remove the bar and slide in the new one from the side with the wheels removed as well as installing the end links before final tightening. I will do the front end links at a later time, wanted the bar on before auto-x next weekend, I can already tell the difference and am quite pleased.

[14S4GWM]

I did rears with no load and on a lift and had no issues.

[SDV325]

I ended up just doing the rear bar and links due to time constraints, with a combination of ramps and stands-I found it easier to remove the bar and slide in the new one from the side with the wheels removed as well as installing the end links before final tightening. I will do the front end links at a later time, wanted the bar on before auto-x next weekend, I can already tell the difference and am quite pleased.

just out of curiousity how did you get the rear on stands? Did you use the rear diff as a jacking point? Or is there another point on the chassis that can be used to raise the car and slide the jacks in?

[Bmil128]

just out of curiousity how did you get the rear on stands? Did you use the rear diff as a jacking point? Or is there another point on the chassis that can be used to raise the car and slide the jacks in?

I used the factory points under the rocker panels, I placed the jack at the end of the cutout closest to the wheel and placed the stands at the other end closest to the middle. Did not attempt to jack up or put stands on any of the suspension.

[SDV325]

I used the factory points under the rocker panels, I placed the jack at the end of the cutout closest to the wheel and placed the stands at the other end closest to the middle. Did not attempt to jack up or put stands on any of the suspension.

Excellent! Good to know there is room to do that. I was always weary of using the diff as a center jack point, which i have heard others using.

Thanks