View Full Version : M5 Sway bar install HELP...
racerx0911
02-18-2008, 01:25 PM
guys i bought front and rear sway bars off a guy on the M5 boards... i figured i would be able to put the rear in myself... but came across a problem...
after i finally released the bar from the car the bmw dealer told me that the two clips over the bushings should be interchangable... well they can't be swapped because the bushing for the M5 is alot bigger than the stock bar on my car...
if anyone has pictures of M5 sways or anything of this sort please let me know... as of right now i have both the M5 sways and can't install the rear one :(
thanks in advance!
azaytsev
02-18-2008, 01:27 PM
You need to get new M5 sway bar rubber bushings and the brackets. OEM M5 brackets are just too weak for M5 sway bar so many people (including myself) upgraded their swaybar brackets to TCD ones http://bimmerzone.com/performance_TCD.htm
Jackcat559
02-18-2008, 01:34 PM
Check this out. I put it together last year.
http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/417362
The bushings are a tight fit, and didn't fully seat until the bracket was totally in place. Just as good measure rplace the bushings and brackets even if the old ones end up working. The wear and tear on the old parts could lead to a failure down the road.
BlackSapphire
02-18-2008, 01:34 PM
guys i bought front and rear sway bars off a guy on the M5 boards... i figured i would be able to put the rear in myself... but came across a problem...
after i finally released the bar from the car the bmw dealer told me that the two clips over the bushings should be interchangable... well they can't be swapped because the bushing for the M5 is alot bigger than the stock bar on my car...
if anyone has pictures of M5 sways or anything of this sort please let me know... as of right now i have both the M5 sways and can't install the rear one :(
thanks in advance!
The outside diameter of the M5 and non M5 bushings are the same size. The brackets ARE interchangeable. It takes some effort to get them back on of course - they don't just slide on. You'll find that same issue if you put your stock bar back on too though.
Good luck.
racerx0911
02-18-2008, 02:28 PM
i feel like a complete dumbass... im looking at the front instead of the rear...
sorry guys
Boogieboy
02-18-2008, 02:38 PM
The outside diameter of the M5 and non M5 bushings are the same size. The brackets ARE interchangeable. It takes some effort to get them back on of course - they don't just slide on. You'll find that same issue if you put your stock bar back on too though.
Good luck.
+1.......I just did my rear and the brackets were interchangeable.
azaytsev
02-18-2008, 02:48 PM
To do it right you need to replace rubber bushings. 540 and 528 bushings designed for thinner swaybars. Even the Dinan rear sway bar comes with new bushings for their 17 mm sway bar vs 16.5 mm oem m5
BlackSapphire
02-18-2008, 02:51 PM
To do it right you need to replace rubber bushings.
That is a given. We were discussing the brackets and the outside diameter of the bushing. Those don't change. However, the inside diameter of the bushing must match the outside diameter of the bar - hence the requirement for new bushings.
franka
02-18-2008, 03:39 PM
So its the front bar and not the rear?
racerx0911
02-18-2008, 03:40 PM
To do it right you need to replace rubber bushings. 540 and 528 bushings designed for thinner swaybars. Even the Dinan rear sway bar comes with new bushings for their 17 mm sway bar vs 16.5 mm oem m5
yeah the sways came with M5 bushings...
is that a right or wrong way to install the sway? like can the left side go to the right? or vice versa?
racerx0911
02-18-2008, 03:41 PM
So its the front bar and not the rear?
yeah i can't install the front... too much work...
but i just put it in and the car can take much sharper turns at higher speeds w/o the traction kicking in!!
BlackSapphire
02-18-2008, 04:34 PM
yeah the sways came with M5 bushings...
is that a right or wrong way to install the sway? like can the left side go to the right? or vice versa?
There is a right/wrong way. According to the TIS, the driver's side has a mark on it. Mine didn't have it so I took the old one off and made sure the new one was oriented the same.
racerx0911
02-18-2008, 06:09 PM
There is a right/wrong way. According to the TIS, the driver's side has a mark on it. Mine didn't have it so I took the old one off and made sure the new one was oriented the same.
i tried that but they seemed the same both ways...
BlackSapphire
02-18-2008, 06:20 PM
i tried that but they seemed the same both ways...
The arms angle very slightly more towards one way than the other.
Steve530
02-18-2008, 07:16 PM
Check this out. I put it together last year.
http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/417362
The bushings are a tight fit, and didn't fully seat until the bracket was totally in place. Just as good measure rplace the bushings and brackets even if the old ones end up working. The wear and tear on the old parts could lead to a failure down the road.
Nice DIY, Jackcat559.
SHWELL
02-18-2008, 07:22 PM
Time to shop for the Rear sway for my ride.....
franka
02-18-2008, 07:28 PM
Jackcat are you saying in your DIY that the M5 front sway cannot fit the 528? That would suck, I just got a front on Ebay for $20 and hate to see bargains go to waste... Thanx for sharing guys.....
The V8 and the I6 front sway bars are not interchangeable. The V8 bar has a lot more twists and turns in it to clear the V8 and everything else.
SHWELL
02-18-2008, 07:31 PM
Franka you are alwys helpful.
Gopher2k
04-06-2008, 07:38 PM
Does anyone who installed the M5 rear sway have a link to the appropriate rubber bushings? I just bought one new today which I want to install next weekend, but it didn't come with the bushings.
Also interested in a link to buy OEM brackets. Thanks in advance.
Steve530
04-06-2008, 08:20 PM
The bushing is part number 33 55 2 229 604. The bracket is part number 33 55 2 283 159.
The dealer can get them. You might try Bavauto.com, Pelicanparts.com, Crown BMW.
I believe the bushings list at $6.78 each and the brackets at almost five dollars each, so if you order them online then shipping will kill you. If you need to bushings and brackets immediately I would suggest going to the dealer. Their markup does not hit as hard on small, relatively inexpensive items. Be sure to check the sides of the bushings. There should be a raised portion which says "16.5," to denote that the bushes are made for the larger, 16.5mm M5 sway bar. Also, check that the brackets each have an "L" or "R" stamped into them, to denote the side of the car on which they should be installed. When I received my brackets I had two left sides, but upon visual inspection I couldn't find any discernible difference between the two, so I don't think it's a big deal.
Steve530
04-06-2008, 08:37 PM
left and right have the same part numbers on realoem.
BlackSapphire
04-06-2008, 09:39 PM
left and right have the same part numbers on realoem.
Yup - that's because there is no difference between L and R. PJB.....joo got sum splainin' to do...
left and right have the same part numbers on realoem.
Yup - that's because there is no difference between L and R. PJB.....joo got sum splainin' to do...
More like BMW has some splainin'! I know my way around RealOEM and BMW part numbers. See my post here (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=893517) about deciphering parts sold as a pair versus per piece, based on part number. Here's the relevant portion:
"Generally, when BMW uses a "9" as the 5th digit of their 11 digit part
number, it means "set". Set generally means 2 pieces (bushings, wheels,
etc)."
Now the rear sway bushes or brackets don't follow this convention, so I thought nothing of it when ordering, but when I got the parts I noticed the "L" on each new bracket and compared them to my old brackets, either of which had an "L" and "R."
All I can say is that I noticed the difference between the old and new. Like I said, both brackets looked identical to each other and also to my old brackets. The bushes did not have the markings. I'm just as clueless as you guys...:dunno
So here are some pictures of my old sway bar brackets and bushes. These are the same brackets on any US e39, from a 525 to a 528, 530, 540 and M5. The "L" and the "R" are pretty discernible and clearly stamped into them. Like I said, visually, the two new "L" brackets that I got are the same and I'm not worried, but why two different sides and only one part number????
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj26/pauljohnb/E39RearSwayBarBushingBracketLeft.jpg http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj26/pauljohnb/E39RearSwayBarBushingBracketRight.jpg
Also note that the letters are printed upside down relative to one another.
Gopher2k
04-08-2008, 09:56 AM
The bushing is part number 33 55 2 229 604. The bracket is part number 33 55 2 283 159.
The dealer can get them. You might try Bavauto.com, Pelicanparts.com, Crown BMW.
Thanks for the part numbers! Just called my dealer and they had the bushings on hand but need to order the brackets. I'll be able to pick it all up on Thursday morning. They were a little spendy at 10.49 a piece for the bushings and 6.67 each for the brackets, but at least I can snag them locally.
No to purchase the rest of the parts for my suspension overhaul.
franka
04-08-2008, 10:01 AM
The R and L markings could be for some obscure adminstrative reason that we will never know.
Maybe at one time the brackets were different but no longer are but the letters were not taken out of the tooling.
The R and L markings could be for some obscure adminstrative reason that we will never know.
Maybe at one time the brackets were different but no longer are but the letters were not taken out of the tooling.
Never thought of that. Makes sense.
Welcome back to BF.C franka
bimmerfiver
04-09-2008, 12:45 AM
Bump for more theories?
It's an X-File.
Replace rear mounts using BeastPower's beefy mounts. Solves problem, no 'L' or 'R'.
I <3 Dana Scully.
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