Rear Sway Bar Bracket Problem - Permanent Fix!

[Doug Hilliard]

As many of you know, I spend some time on road courses with my G8. I have BMR sway bars front and back; that has led to breaking the rear sway bar brackets several times. Rick Crawford has helped me out by welding gussets to make the stock ones stronger and they would take much more abuse before giving up, but even then, the little tab that holds one side in the slot on the subframe broke. This last break was just before an event at VIR so I had my suspension shop weld up some strap iron around the brackets to act like suspenders and this lasted a long time. Unfortunately, the sway bar itself eventually broke and I had to grind all that off and figure out what to do next. Before I elaborate further, let me say that Kyle at BMR got me a warranty replacement for the bar even though I have had it, shall we say, quite some time! Great customer service!

I talked to Rick about it, and he proposed just making a new mount that would allow the use of a standard bracket for round track cars. With his inspiration, I went to work and found a bracket and bushing set from Energy Suspension that fit the BMR bar perfectly (7/8" diameter)! The part number for the greaseable set is 9.5158R so I bought those. I made the trip down to Rick's yesterday and found some 1/8 inch steel he had lying around and cut out a couple pieces to lay over the mount area on the subframe. I drilled a couple holes in each plate, one for the top bolt that has the welded nut behind the existing mount, and another one that would match up the new brackets so I could put a bolt through it with a nut behind it. Rick welded both of them up for me and you can see what that looks like below.

Brought the car home, painted the new mount area today and bolted it up! Worked like a charm! My thanks to Rick for what I believe will be a permanent solution!

This is a nice DIY project and it not too difficult as long as you can weld or know someone who can!

[GXPaycheck]

Nice work!

[Kermit]

Nice work Doug. You always find the weak points in our cars. LOL Keep it up.

[cynic783]

Very nice work! Let us know how it holds up. I don't see the BMR subframe brace would that have helped here?

[Doug Hilliard]

Nice work Doug. You always find the weak points in our cars. LOL Keep it up.

Thanks! I don't plan to break stuff, but it does happen!

Very nice work! Let us know how it holds up. I don't see the BMR subframe brace would that have helped here?

I don't think so, but can't be sure. The subframe brace (if I'm thinking of the right part) does tie both side of the car together in the middle but I doubt it's going to do much good at holding the suspension flat (opposing twisting) which is what stresses the small stock sway bar brackets we have.

[Napalm]

mighty fine.

I have to ask - what rubber are you running on the car, and what sway bar settings?

[Doug Hilliard]

mighty fine.

I have to ask - what rubber are you running on the car, and what sway bar settings?

No problem! I'm running Continental Extreme Contact DR R-comp slicks 275/35/R18's and full stiff on the sway bar, so yeah, it sees some stress for sure!

[Napalm]

No problem! I'm running Continental Extreme Contact DR R-comp slicks 275/35/R18's and full stiff on the sway bar, so yeah, it sees some stress for sure!

thanks I feel better. I dont' put comp tires on my car - and probably won't. but I also don't run full stiff either.

also curious - have you had to re-replace your FE3's yet?

[Doug Hilliard]

thanks I feel better. I dont' put comp tires on my car - and probably won't. but I also don't run full stiff either.

also curious - have you had to re-replace your FE3's yet?

Yes I have; I just replaced them in Feb/March this year.

[morpheousssv]

Yeah had similar issues with the front sway bar some years back, also BMR and ALSO Rick looked after me with some reinforced triangular u mounting brackets. Been fantastic ever since, and this PPE cops a hiding at times
Highly recomend BMR Suspension to ALL