ST Swaybars

[GripGreg]

What's your opinion on swaybars with urethane hardware? I heard they make noise. How could I stop the noise? Buy rubber hardware,,or,,,?
Is $300.00 a decent price for front & rear? Rear being adjustable.
Thanx For Everything,,,,Greg

[T.Hanson]

Noise as in squeaking ? I should think silicone, rubber slippy would mitigate that. Notion urethane is about longevity and probably stiffness. Me being a cheap grouch, rubber would outlast me if new now, and what a bar squeezer meter would say for how tight the urethane grabbed the bar vs. rubber, would only interest me at Indy, not an off ramp.

See my query on suspension component variables about a week ago. Lots of posts: springs, bars, shocks. Super race experts can opine on rear stabilizer bar, not sure they are that big a deal on our cars for street. I.e., maybe last bit of all the add ons, and not huge handling, $$ wise.

[JoshInAtlanta]

I've got ST bars with urethane on my '81. It's an old car, something is always going to make noise on it... I will gladly live with that to gain the "better" suspension which I enjoy.

I bought mine used, but very good... would rate them 9.5 out of 10. Paid $160 shipped. You can still buy them new for just over $300 on the internet.

[KenB]

I've had ST bars on my car for over a year. I installed them with the urethane bushings and grease. I've had no noises and the body roll was reduced.

Do it!

KenB
1981 528i
1991 535i
1980 MB 300TD
2002 M3 (wife's car)
2006 Prius (somewhat more socially responsible car)

[John in Simi Valley]

Greg,
The car is engineered to use the stabilizer bar that you have. I drive my 528i almost every day, mostly mildly, sometimes aggressively.

My E24 is really my sporty romp-around car.
With that, I acquired a set of Steve Haygood's special order of EXTRA heavy stabilizer bars for the later (e28 based) e24s. Supposedly, these fit the e12 too. Fabricator was ST Suspensions (AKA Suspension Techniques). These are larger than their cataloged items.

Anyway, when we went on one of Pierre's driving events, the bar was sooo strong, IT RIPPED THE HANGER OUT OF THE CHASSIS.

<img src="http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/tuna ... C02684.JPG">

Regarding noises? They are silenced with silicone grease (not the same as RTV)

Greg, the stock suspension for you driving around Long Beach, California is just fine.

[Adam W in MN]

Anyway, when we went on one of Pierre's driving events, the bar was sooo strong, IT RIPPED THE HANGER OUT OF THE CHASSIS.

Whoah. Never seen that before, thanks for sharing! Peter Florance, any issues with your super stiff setup on your e12? Have you had these mounts welded for greater strength? I know the E30 guys have a weakpoint with stiffer swaybars where you have to have tabs welded in to keep them from tearing the mounts out of the body (only on aftermarket, stiff bars).