Hotchkis FSB is a bitch to install!

[speed3]

So i bought a set of sway bars front and back. I installed the rear in 15 min. Front sway bar came out easy and went in pretty much the same. I also did everything on the lift at work. Next thing i see is that the sway bar is touching the sub frame of the car and is really close to the axel. What do i see again, God damn end links are way off and cant get them in the hole. i did everything to get this fixed but nothing. Instructionb are so simple for them when they do it. I followed it step by step. How the hell is the sway bar touching the sub frame? Worst thing is that end links are way too long for the new sway bar.

Has anyone ever done this before? I tryed calling them and they were closed. It seems like they are the same thing as cobb bars. As of now the endlinks are not connected to the bar. Any ideas for people that installed the front bar?

[ccann26]

Have you tried loading the supension ? Seemed to work for the guy at Rpm where I got my cobb fsb put on .

[speed3]

Originally Posted by ccann26 Have you tried loading the supension ? Seemed to work for the guy at Rpm where I got my cobb fsb put on .

very good point sir. But i thing that would get rid of the endlink problem. How about sub frame?

[4thStroke]

It seems like they are the same thing as cobb bars.

The Cobb bars are made by Hotchkis.

[aaronc7]

i had a buddy and we just wiggled it around in there for awhile and it finally went in. What a PITA

[speed3]

right now my steering is way off. Would it be because i don't have the endlinks on?

[subparpunk03]

The steering will feel funny if the endlinks are not on.

You can try taking the endlinks off the struts, putting them on the swaybar and then putting them back on the struts with the springs compressed.

I helped a buddy install his hotchkis FSB, and he was getting some rubbing on the subframe with the stock springs. Then we installed the cobb springs and the rubbing went away.

Highly reccomend you put the cobb springs on in addition to the swaybars.

[CHIEFSMS3]

When I installed my Hotchkis FSB I had the front on wheel ramps to keep the suspension loaded. You have to pull the bar as far back as possible before tightening down. With a load on the suspension my endlinks lined up perfectly. I put some blue loctite(242) on the nut and tightened them up.
The problem with the endlinks not lining up and the bar contacting the subframe comes from not having a load on the suspension. I have seen this problem discussed in several posts on the different forums and the solution is loading the suspension. The FSB will not hit the subframe while the car is on the ground only when jacking it up and letting the suspension hang.

[kingpin748]

Originally Posted by CHIEFSMS3 I have seen this problem discussed in several posts on the different forums and the solution is loading the suspension. The FSB will not hit the subframe while the car is on the ground only when jacking it up and letting the suspension hang.

Yep.

[bioevolve]

The FSB touches the front Subframe bar when the there is no load on the suspension (fully extended). It's moves away when you put the tires back on the ground.

When re-tightening the bolts to the subframe, did you center the front mounting points to the original locations before tightening them?

There is a circle spot to center on the upper frame to the front subframe bolt area, just look and you will see it. After the front subframe bolts are centered and tightened, then you tighten the rear subframe bolts and bracket bolts.

What kind of lift? Roll-on 4-post (suspension underload) or a 2-post (suspension not underload)?

I did my COBB SB kit under NO load (2-post lift) and worked out fine, except one of the power steering lines were to close for me and had push up on it alittle to clear the FSB.

Oh forgot: I connected the endlinks (not tightening) and the bolts (not tighening) to the SB brakets before tightening the subframe. After subframe is tightened then tightening the end links and brackets.

[Lymerock]

Originally Posted by speed3 right now my steering is way off. Would it be because i don't have the endlinks on?

you most likely got the subframe off to one side or another. if one side of the subframe is back further than the other side, it will pull to that side.

happens to me often unfortunately, seems to pull left more often than right, go figure

as far as endlinks fitting, if you have the bushings as far back as possible in their adjustment, when the car is sitting, all will clear.
with full suspension droop and the endlinks connected the bar will hit the frame with stock length shocks. If you have something shorter like coilovers, it shouldnt hit at full droop.

[speed3]

thanks for all the help. I got it fixed and is perfect now. I loaded the suspension and wow perfect fit and does not touch anything. Ju