[UltraRacer13]

I am curious- I measured mine at 13.5 in, but I read OEM are 11.5. Any one know?

[jeguth1s]

The rears should be the same. Not sure about the fronts.

[UltraRacer13]

Pretty sure the fronts are 11.5 on the I and 13.5 on the XI. Looking for confirmation.

[pits200]

Originally Posted by UltraRacer13

Pretty sure the fronts are 11.5 on the I and 13.5 on the XI. Looking for confirmation.

That would make sense since the i sits lower than xi.

[pits200]

You made me think about my endlinks. I just changed mine and was reading that it says we want longer sways if the car is lowered.

[MassBimmer]

Yes, front sway bar end links are substantially longer on the xi at 13.5 inches. The only adjustable end links I could find that fit are the HP Autowerks adjustable end links. The lower you go, the longer the end link will need to be to be able to reach to stay at the correct angle

[UltraRacer13]

Originally Posted by MassBimmer

Yes, front sway bar end links are substantially longer on the xi at 13.5 inches. The only adjustable end links I could find that fit are the HP Autowerks adjustable end links. The lower you go, the longer the end link will need to be to be able to reach to stay at the correct angle

what size did you order from Harold? also..silly question...what angle do I set the sway at? How do I measure it? Thanks.

[MassBimmer]

Originally Posted by UltraRacer13

what size did you order from Harold? also..silly question...what angle do I set the sway at? How do I measure it? Thanks.

I told him mine measured at 13.5 so he hooked me up. I didn't install them myself so I can't answer your second question.

[pits200]

Won't it depend on if the strut has a mounting point similar to the stock strut? The Meyle links are shorter than the xi ones and my car seems to handle so much better now after swapping.

Also, is the point suppose to be no load on the sways and endlinks when the car is sitting on the ground?

[UltraRacer13]

I ordered the 13.5's from Harold as well. (same length as oem). They are also the same length as the M3 apparently. The important thing I learned when looking at the car on the lift is (at least for the AST's) the mounting point on the strut is orientated 90 degrees from the oem strut. The bracket is not mounted in the center of the strut, but askew, and made to be set running front to back- not side to side. The end links on the XI have a 180 degree orientation, but you really need a 90 degree orientation for the correct fitment with the AST's. The adjustable endlinks from Harold solve this issue.

The length of the link is of less concern with the AST's as the mount on the strut is adjustable. I noticed this issue because I found my RF endlink was coming into contact with my drive axel, actually causing wear on the endlink. It is due to the endlink having to be twisted a bit to fit the mounting point.

Just wanted to pass on what I learned.

[pits200]

Originally Posted by UltraRacer13

I ordered the 13.5's from Harold as well. (same length as oem). They are also the same length as the M3 apparently. The important thing I learned when looking at the car on the lift is (at least for the AST's) the mounting point on the strut is orientated 90 degrees from the oem strut. The bracket is not mounted in the center of the strut, but askew, and made to be set running front to back- not side to side. The end links on the XI have a 180 degree orientation, but you really need a 90 degree orientation for the correct fitment with the AST's. The adjustable endlinks from Harold solve this issue.

The length of the link is of less concern with the AST's as the mount on the strut is adjustable. I noticed this issue because I found my RF endlink was coming into contact with my drive axel, actually causing wear on the endlink. It is due to the endlink having to be twisted a bit to fit the mounting point.

Just wanted to pass on what I learned.

I'm curious what you mean by the orientation. Obviously the endlink going into the sway is at 12oclock and the one going into the strut is probably 3 oclock. Is that how your setup was prior?

[UltraRacer13]

Originally Posted by pits200

I'm curious what you mean by the orientation. Obviously the endlink going into the sway is at 12oclock and the one going into the strut is probably 3 oclock. Is that how your setup was prior?

Ok I'll try to explain better. The oem tab on the strut that the end link connects to faces directly toward the opposite wheel, so the bolt runs north/south (assuming car pointing north) or if a boat guy fore/aft. On my AST's, the tab is not mounted in the center of the strut, but off to the side and is meant to point to the front of the car, so the bolt would go into it facing the wheel.

I can mount the endlink on it, by rotating it slightly aft, but it doesn't quite line up correctly. Think of the endlink as a 3d "S". Then take the top bolt and rotate it 90 degrees. Thats what I need.

ANSWER= Adjustable endlink from Harold.

[ajsalida]

So pits200, do you think the issues you had were just the AST's link attachment collar initially maybe not being at the right height plus perhaps the wrong orientation as ultraracer13 is saying?

I'm asking because so many people have lowered their cars and yours is the first I've heard of the OEM end links length being a problem. The sway bar is supposed to rotate in the bushings anyway when you go over bumps, so unless it is binding in there somehow I don't get it. I have not been under my car yet to look at mine though.