question about the front sway bar

[keithyo88]

2013 Audi S5 3.0 B8.5: I am refreshing oil pan gasket and oil cooler gasket for first time. Since this involves loosening the "c" brackets that hold the sway bar down, and then re-tightening them, I have read that the relation of wheels to body must be maintained, or sway bar will be stressed. Will this be ok: car supported at 4 frame corners with jack stands, and the 2 front wheels jacked up to be same height as when on the ground? Thanks.

[Smac770]

The sway bar doesn't care. It's the bushings that care. The ones in the end links and the ones in the mounts. And on the mount bushing, "♦ Install the rubber bushing opening in the direction of the subframe contact surface."

You'll need both wheels hanging at the same height so the ARB is not twisted to remove the bolts, and then to install the bolts. But to torque the bolts, you lift the wheels to "ride height" specifically.

Basically, you just jack the wheel up until it starts to lift the body off the jack on that corner. That means the car is now "on the wheel" rather than on the jack. But that also means the car is now on however you're lifting the wheel, not on the jack. So you could at that point back it off a hair to get it back onto the jack and go from there. Still be cautious. The better way would be like alignments, where you just drive the car up on ramps or such that are elevated so you can get under the car, no messing teeter totter stuff.

[keithyo88]

I should have explained it more clearly. The only reason I want to loosen the 2 sway bar brackets is to access the oil pan bolts. I want to do this after the car is already on jacks, and also with the 2 front wheels jacked up to the same height as if they were on the ground (same wheel to wheel well distance). I want the car to be level as I change the oil. Thanks for your insights.

[keithyo88]

Got online help. Will get car on jack stands, remove front wheels, loosen bar, do pan work, and tighten bar.