[ASPEC135i]

Hi all! I'm going through some endlink issues and hope you folks could chime in in giving me advice.

Full story:

I've had my KW coilovers on this whole summer on OEM endlinks. All was dandy until I had a very faint but definately noticeable (to me) clunk on my passenger side under slow speeds and small bumps. My mechanic looked around and wiggled everything under the hoist to find out I had a bad ball joint on my passenger side endlink. That prompted me to purchase new Lemforder endlinks and I had both sides replaced with new endlinks.

Once the new ones were on, the drivers side endlink made screeching noises when I turned my wheel (we found out it was the endlink because when we disconnected one end to diagnose, the sound was not present when i turned the wheel). I thought it was a defected endlink, so I replaced that as well with another.

Two days ago while my friend and I were adjusting coilovers, we noticed that my passenger side endlink has SNAPPED IN HALF!

I am lost at the moment as to what is happening and what my next steps are:

1) Is it due to my unluckiness that these endlinks were defective???
2) I've done my searching around on forums and I'm getting mixed info - some say I will need LONGER endlinks while some say when lowered, you need SHORTER endlinks. But if length of endlink is the issue, how come I was able to be lowered on OEM endlinks for these past few seasons???


PS - adjustable endlinks are unfortunately not an option for me as it requires shipping time and I have a track date upcoming Saturday.

Please advise.

[Prissy]

How low are you dropped? My endlink was snapped in 1/2 BEFORE I installed the KW-V1.

[sourphish]

Haven't fixed/diagnosed the issue yet, but I'm on KW V3, and had adjustable end links. Noticed the exact same noises on my passenger side (always when I turned the wheel to the right). Soon after it snapped my endlink tab on my strut. Though I read that KWs haven been known to have their endlink tabs bend...

[pillbox]

My endlinks are making noises as well. I have the adjustable ones from bc. They only started making noise after i dropped it all the way down. Im gonna bring it somewhere to get it checked.

But from what i can tell, it looks like its too long. The bolt through the endlink tab looks like its at a significant angle pointing down towards the ground.

[GreekboyD]

It depends on how low you were dropped. OEM endlinks would still work fine but that doesn't mean it's a good thing especially if you are dropped pretty low. These endlinks get stressed and eventually snap or bend. Your sway bar was most likely sitting incorrectly too which exacerbated the issue.

How can you say that adjustable endlinks are not an option, especially when you track the car?

Skip the tracking and get it done right.

[Denny347]

From what I've read, leave your suspension under load (on the ground or on ramps). Now look at the ends of your sway bar. To be in the correct position, the ends of the sway bar should be on the SAME horizontal plane as the sway bar mounts. If they are not, measure from the strut mounting point to where the sway bar end SHOULD be...that is how long your end links should be. I need longer ones after my ST install.

[zeenon53]

Originally Posted by Denny347

From what I've read, leave your suspension under load (on the ground or on ramps). Now look at the ends of your sway bar. To be in the correct position, the ends of the sway bar should be on the SAME horizontal plane as the sway bar mounts. If they are not, measure from the strut mounting point to where the sway bar end SHOULD be...that is how long your end links should be. I need longer ones after my ST install.

I'm not sure what you mean by the "the ends of the sway bar should be on the SAME horizontal plane as the sway bar mounts". Do you have a pic or link to what your talking about?

[Denny347]

Originally Posted by zeenon53

I'm not sure what you mean by the "the ends of the sway bar should be on the SAME horizontal plane as the sway bar mounts". Do you have a pic or link to what your talking about?

The link is disconnected in this pic but this is the position that the swaybar should be in under load, actually it is about 1-2" lower than it should since it is not connected to anything. The end (where the empty hole is) on mine is about 2" higher with the factory endlinks installed after installation of my ST coilovers.

[zeenon53]

Originally Posted by Denny347

The link is disconnected in this pic but this is the position that the swaybar should be in under load, actually it is about 1-2" lower than it should since it is not connected to anything. The end (where the empty hole is) on mine is about 2" higher with the factory endlinks installed after installation of my ST coilovers.

Excellent, thanks!

[Denny347]

Here is mine and see how high the end sits?

[pillbox]

That's amazing help guys, thanks!

It's hard removing the bottom endlink bolt when it's so high up lol. Anyway to drop it temporarily?

[ASPEC135i]

Found out the mechanic installed the wrong part on the wrong side. All is well now, thanks guys!

KW's mounting "ear" for one end of the endlink is the same as OEM. Therefore, not much in terms of endlink length NEEDS to be changed. OEM endlinks work with no problems whatsoever (perfect fit, no bending of ball joint when installed and suspension loaded)

[JaysBlueE92]

good stuff here..