Is it safe to unbolt front sway bar with car on the ground?

fastboatster · 07-15-2019, 02:51 PM

Just as the title says - i’m thinking of doing my water pump and that requires sway bar to be unbolted from the subframe. I got a set of 8 inch ramps so I thought of doing it with the car on the ramps since they open up a lot of space under the car. Is it safe to undo the sway bar from the subframe while there is weight on the front wheels?

Volasko · 07-15-2019, 03:29 PM

Assuming the both front wheels are evenly supported there should not be any stress on the sway bar, so yes. If you're doing the water pump I would recommend to properly jack the front end up from the center lifting point and support from jackstands on the side. You'll want as much space to move around for that job.

TheMidnightNarwhal · 07-15-2019, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Volasko

Assuming the both front wheels are evenly supported there should not be any stress on the sway bar, so yes. If you're doing the water pump I would recommend to properly jack the front end up from the center lifting point and support from jackstands on the side. You'll want as much space to move around for that job.

+1 Why not just use jack and jack stands. Gonna be such a PITA doing the job on ramps yikes. I'd get the car as high as I can on stands. Even maybe get it on all 4s.

Never understood the point of ramps unless you only want to DIY your oil and nothing else.

b92 · 07-15-2019, 04:04 PM

When I did mine I reversed on to ramps and then jacked the front as high as my jack stands would go. You want as much room as possible under there.

BSM n54iS · 07-15-2019, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

+1 Why not just use jack and jack stands. Gonna be such a PITA doing the job on ramps yikes. I'd get the car as high as I can on stands. Even maybe get it on all 4s.

Never understood the point of ramps unless you only want to DIY your oil and nothing else.

I had to get them for adjustable end link install only

fastboatster · 07-16-2019, 01:10 AM

My ramps basically go as high as my floor jack will go. But it seems like jackstands are the way to go, thanks!

bbnks2 · 07-16-2019, 07:56 AM

It's actually easier to disconnect a sway bar while it's on the ground... That is the ride height the end-links are designed for. If you jack the car up, or put it on jack stands, the wheels will be in full droop and the end-links will have tension on them.

If you put the car on jack stands then you need to jack both wheels up to ride height to install/uninstall the end-links. Stock bushings bind so this is necessary. And if you're working with aftermarket sway and endlinks, you need to adjust the endlinks at ride height as well.

TheMidnightNarwhal · 07-16-2019, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbnks2

It's actually easier to disconnect a sway bar while it's on the ground... That is the ride height the end-links are designed for. If you jack the car up, or put it on jack stands, the wheels will be in full droop and the sway bar will have tension on it.

If you put the car on jack stands then you need to jack both wheels up to ride height to install/uninstall the sway. Stock bushings bind so this is necessary. And if you're working with aftermarket sway and endlinks, you need to adjust the endlinks at ride height as well.

I think he just wants to drop it down while still being connected. I did so when I did my T stat on stands and no issues.

bbnks2 · 07-16-2019, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

I think he just wants to drop it down while still being connected. I did so when I did my T stat on stands and no issues.

Yeah you're right. Sorry. I was reading it as he wanted to remove/adjust the end-links. You shouldn't have any issue removing the swaybar with the car in the air. But like I said above, you might struggle a bit to get it back in position. As long as you can get the brackets on the mounting studs then you can just drive the sway bar into place as you torque it down though.

fastboatster · 07-16-2019, 02:25 PM

Oh, okay. Yes, I just want to drop the sway bar out of the way but don’t want to disconnect it from the end links. If it’s going to be easier to pivot it down and bolt it back up with wheels on the ground then all the better.

TheMidnightNarwhal · 07-16-2019, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastboatster

Oh, okay. Yes, I just want to drop the sway bar out of the way but don’t want to disconnect it from the end links. If it’s going to be easier to pivot it down and bolt it back up with wheels on the ground then all the better.

I mean... I had zero issues on stands.

fastboatster · 07-16-2019, 02:43 PM

Okay. Looking at the DIY section, it looks like I may not need to unbolt the sway bar and it can be done on ramps:
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=784416
Might not be too convenient, though, but if you don’t have perfectly level ground to work on, that might do?

07-15-2019, 02:51 PM	#1
fastboatster Captain 382 Rep 890 Posts Drives: 2009 bmw 328i Join Date: May 2019 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	Is it safe to unbolt front sway bar with car on the ground? Just as the title says - i’m thinking of doing my water pump and that requires sway bar to be unbolted from the subframe. I got a set of 8 inch ramps so I thought of doing it with the car on the ramps since they open up a lot of space under the car. Is it safe to undo the sway bar from the subframe while there is weight on the front wheels? __________________ 09 328i TiAg 6MT barebones with sport package
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

07-15-2019, 03:29 PM	#2
Volasko Colonel 705 Rep 2,605 Posts Drives: 06 330i E90, 18 530xe G30 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Toronto iTrader: (2) Garage List 2018 BMW 530e M Sport [9.00] 2006 BMW E90 330i [8.28]	Assuming the both front wheels are evenly supported there should not be any stress on the sway bar, so yes. If you're doing the water pump I would recommend to properly jack the front end up from the center lifting point and support from jackstands on the side. You'll want as much space to move around for that job.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-15-2019, 04:04 PM	#4
b92 Major 540 Rep 1,040 Posts Drives: E92 335is, 6MT Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Rhode Island iTrader: (2)	When I did mine I reversed on to ramps and then jacked the front as high as my jack stands would go. You want as much room as possible under there. __________________ 2011 E92 335is, Space Grey/Coral Red, 6MT. RB 2+, Wedge tuned. E85 PI coming soon.
	Appreciate 1 Quote

07-16-2019, 01:10 AM	#6
fastboatster Captain 382 Rep 890 Posts Drives: 2009 bmw 328i Join Date: May 2019 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	My ramps basically go as high as my floor jack will go. But it seems like jackstands are the way to go, thanks!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-16-2019, 07:56 AM	#7
bbnks2 Colonel 1207 Rep 2,026 Posts Drives: 135i N55 Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	It's actually easier to disconnect a sway bar while it's on the ground... That is the ride height the end-links are designed for. If you jack the car up, or put it on jack stands, the wheels will be in full droop and the end-links will have tension on them. If you put the car on jack stands then you need to jack both wheels up to ride height to install/uninstall the end-links. Stock bushings bind so this is necessary. And if you're working with aftermarket sway and endlinks, you need to adjust the endlinks at ride height as well. Last edited by bbnks2; 07-16-2019 at 08:44 AM..
	Appreciate 2 feuer4275.50 BSM n54iS2684.50 Quote

07-16-2019, 02:25 PM	#10
fastboatster Captain 382 Rep 890 Posts Drives: 2009 bmw 328i Join Date: May 2019 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	Oh, okay. Yes, I just want to drop the sway bar out of the way but don’t want to disconnect it from the end links. If it’s going to be easier to pivot it down and bolt it back up with wheels on the ground then all the better. __________________ 09 328i TiAg 6MT barebones with sport package
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-16-2019, 02:43 PM	#12
fastboatster Captain 382 Rep 890 Posts Drives: 2009 bmw 328i Join Date: May 2019 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	Okay. Looking at the DIY section, it looks like I may not need to unbolt the sway bar and it can be done on ramps: https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=784416 Might not be too convenient, though, but if you don’t have perfectly level ground to work on, that might do? __________________ 09 328i TiAg 6MT barebones with sport package
	Appreciate 0 Quote