Front stabilizer bar question

nashvillecat

nashvillecat

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Within the past 18 months I replaced my lower control arms, tie rods including center link and associated rubber. Car seemed fairly tight and roadworthy. I had new sway bar bushings which I did not replace pending my location of a bigger sway bar that I used on another e9. This past weekend I stumbled across the swaybar which appears to be 25mm or 1" thick. The swaybar I replaced was considerably thinner at anywhere between 19 to 22 mm in diameter. I decided to reuse the old mounts given the size differential and because I noticed the newer mounts were all urethane.

The strangest thing is that the car definitely takes turns with less sway or flatter. However, the steering seems less responsive or sluggish in that the steering wheel does not seem to center itself with as much speed as before the larger bar installation.

My question is whether any of you have encountered this phenomena. Is it that the end links are too tight or the mounts themselves too tight? I do not hear any unusual sounds. I may disconnect the bar and try driving it to see the effects, but that is the only recent suspension modification. I might add that I wanted to adjust the steering box, but out of frustration (especially due to inclement weather) I abandoned the project.

Thank you.
 
The centering action of the steering is 99% caster and toe, 1% all other stuff. You definitely did not change the caster by installing a larger anti-roll bar. It's possible the larger bar is causing the various steering joints to flex the car into a slightly less toe-in posture, which could reduce the on-center feel in the steering. Loosen the tie rod ends, and crank each about 1/2 turn out to increase the toe-in slightly. See if that returns your centering.
 
sway bar steering effect

Tony, I remeasured toe and it is at zed. I can't put my finger on it, but I loosened the sway bar ends to the point where they are non functional and the steering centers much quicker. I agree with what you posted. But the difference is dramatic. I will probably try leaving the the linkage as loose as possible for a while.

Thank you for your response.
 
stabilizer bar

I do not know for certain who manufactured the bar, but I strongly believe it to be original equipment for an e3 (think it was rescued from relative's rear-ended car). Before installation I compared the thicker bar with the thinner bar and found them to be the same shape and size excepting the diameter of the bar.

The front tires wear almost as smoothly as the rears so that I am not aware of any obvious suspension issues. If it matters, tires are 205 50 16's on ronal rims, struts are a few years old, but seem adequate. Springs are original.

Thanks
 
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