Topic: Rear sway bar removal - GXP

[CLH]

I've been wrangling with the rear bar on my GXP for about an hour trying to figure out a way to get the thing extricated from the car. It's completely loose, but I can't seem to find the magic orientation to get it out without dropping the exhaust. I actually lowered the exhaust a bit to see if that would help, but I can't drop it all the way without also dropping my hitch (which I *really* don't want to do if I can avoid it).

Is it possible to remove the rear bar on a GXP without dropping the exhaust, or have I embarked on a fools errand?

Thanks in advance...

Chris

[Sly Bob]

Anthony H mentions in this thread that it comes out if the car is on jack stands. Is your car on ramps?

http://www.kappaperformance.com/forum/index.php/topic,9959.msg173227.html#msg173227

I suspect I'll have to drop my Solo RCD exhaust at the back but we'll know soon enough.

[CLH]

The car is on stands...the shocks are out, the toe-link is disconnected and the top balljoint is separated. The rear suspension is about as apart as it can get without completely removing the knuckle 

I'm done for the weekend, so I'll pick it up again next Saturday. Perhaps some temporal distance will help. If not, I'll just bite the bullet and drop the hitch and exhaust 

Chris

[TerryT]

I replaced my GXP rear sway bar with the ZOK version about three years ago. On jack stands, tires still on. Once I got the stock piece loose, I was able to get clearance to maneuver it out by using a floor jack under the drivers side rear tire. Brought the whole tire assembly up (Without Raising It Off the Stand!) and was able to work it out. I remember seeing a post about how to do this but I'm not sure if it's on this site or the big board. I have an MBRP exhaust that was put on the car right after I bought it. I also have the receiver hitch but I can't remember if it was put on before or after the sway bar swap.

Good Luck!

[Sly Bob]

You might find this thread from a few years ago by Jonymac useful.

http://www.kappaperformance.com/forum/index.php/topic,2350.msg27344.html#msg27344

[CLH]

Thanks for the link Sly Bob. Looks like I'll need to drop the hitch and exhaust. I was trying hard to avoid that (I just put the hitch on!), but it seems inevitable.

I appreciate the responses!

Chris

[TomatoSoup]

I also have a hitch and swapped my rear sway.  It's a bit vague to me now, but pretty sure I didn't take the hitch off.  I think I dropped the exhaust, but only down to where the hitch stopped it.

As I recall, getting the new sway back in was worse than getting the old one out!  (Sorry)

[Anthony H]

The above linked "How To" thread is pretty much dead on.  I would have liked to see that before I swapped mine a couple of days ago.

You'll have to drop the exhaust.  No getting around it.

[CLH]

Alright...rear bar arrived yesterday and I'll be putting it on today. I've resigned myself to dropping the exhaust to get the old one out and the new one in. Wish me luck...

[Sly Bob]

Good luck! Got mine few days ago but am waiting for it to warm up a bit. Hopin' the front bar'll be in by then.

[ChopTop]

Would jacking the car up and removing one of the rear tire help removing or installing the sway bar?

[CLH]

Would jacking the car up and removing one of the rear tire help removing or installing the sway bar?

I was working with the car on stands and the wheels off. Unfortunately the exhaust really does need to come down.

[CLH]

OK, all done. Sway bar is on and everything is put back together for the most part. Dropping the exhaust wasn't quite as much of a pain as I feared, but it was still more than I wanted to have to do. Oh well.

The WERKS rear bar is now on and my custom coilovers are in place at all four corners with the ride height set at a decent starting point. Next up is to get some other minor tasks done (like prepping the tire trailer) before the autocross season starts!

Pics show the WERKS bar next to stock and the rear suspension with the WERKS bar and the rear coilovers in place.

Cheers!

Chris

[ChopTop]

What's the stock OEM sway bar pictured, the FE2/FE3?

[CLH]

What's the stock OEM sway bar pictured, the FE2/FE3?

It's an FE3 bar.

Cheers,

Chris

[ChopTop]

Thanks Chris.  BTW, anyone think these are the same size as ZOKs, or do they look beefier than ZOK?  I know we were told they are 10% stiffer and wondering if that means beefier than ZOKs?