JBR Front Sway Bar

[xorphanx]

I purchased the front and rear sway bar a few months ago along with all 3 motormounts for a 2013 MS3. I had installed them both and went for a test drive and had a god awful squealing that resulted from the front passenger side. It took me a few passes to figure out where the noise was coming from, but it had been rubbing the axle on the passenger side. I'm wondering if this was a defect in a bend that wouldn't allow it to fit correctly? I attempted to make several adjustments to make it fit but no luck. Has anyone else had any clearance issues with aftermarket sway bars? The driver side had plenty of clearance and fit exactly like the factory bar did, but the passenger side seemed to extend a lot further to the wheel than the factory.

I did attempt to grind down a little from the say bar to adjust clearance, and JBR customer service said I can't return it after that.

Just wondering if anyone else has had a similar issue.

[Crarrs]

Take photos.

[taf0422]

Originally Posted by xorphanx I purchased the front and rear sway bar a few months ago along with all 3 motormounts for a 2013 MS3. I had installed them both and went for a test drive and had a god awful squealing that resulted from the front passenger side. It took me a few passes to figure out where the noise was coming from, but it had been rubbing the axle on the passenger side. I'm wondering if this was a defect in a bend that wouldn't allow it to fit correctly? I attempted to make several adjustments to make it fit but no luck. Has anyone else had any clearance issues with aftermarket sway bars? The driver side had plenty of clearance and fit exactly like the factory bar did, but the passenger side seemed to extend a lot further to the wheel than the factory. I did attempt to grind down a little from the say bar to adjust clearance, and JBR customer service said I can't return it after that. Just wondering if anyone else has had a similar issue.

Why would you grind it down if you didn't think it was fitting right?!

[JBR]

It's very possible a bends was off. We only sample one out if every 10 we receive from our manufacture.

The customer did reach out to us but had already ground the end off so there's was no opportunity to troubleshoot. I have the email thread up now. Not sure why the post several months later?

Thanks,
Sabrina

[xorphanx]

Originally Posted by jbarone It's very possible a bends was off. We only sample one out if every 10 we receive from our manufacture. The customer did reach out to us but had already ground the end off so there's was no opportunity to troubleshoot. I have the email thread up now. Not sure why the post several months later? Thanks, Sabrina

I was just curious as to if anyone else had a similar issue before I order a new one to replace it. And i hadn't grinded much off, just to see if a small adjustment would allow it to fit correctly. No worries, you live and learn from mistakes.

I guess out of frustration of the work it takes to get the bar in I was having high hopes of it fitting and not having to pull the bar back out.

[JBR]

It was our understanding that after you modified the end that clearance was no longer an issue? Did I misinterpret?

[xorphanx]

Originally Posted by jbarone It was our understanding that after you modified the end that clearance was no longer an issue? Did I misinterpret?

after attempting to modify the end to make it fit, it still didn't work. It would be fine as long as I never let off the gas, but any forward shifting movement of the car (i.e. braking/coasting) would allow the bar to rub the axle again.

Given the time restraints and a 2 hour drive ahead of me that day, I decided to throw the stock bar back in so I was able to drive home safely without the squealing. I am still running the stock bar and will hopefully be finding time soon to get another bar and try again.

[JBR]

Ok. I did not know that.

Ultimately we want you to be happy the products you purchase from JBR. Do me a favor, send me another email with your name, address and your order number and we'll figure something out to get you taken care of.

[kilo101]

I have the JBR front sway bar and mine fits in their without hitting anything. it is a snug fit. i know you have to make sure you push the brackets back as far as you can when you tighten them down,

[Easter Bunny]

Did you install it upside down?

[xorphanx]

Originally Posted by Easter Bunny Did you install it upside down?

It won't fit if it's upside down.

I installed it the first time, there was rubbing, tried to adjust it, wrenched everything back up, started squealing, jacked car up looked for what could possibly be causing the issue. Everything seemed to be in correctly while it was jacked up, dropped car took it out again, still squealing.
jacked car up, took bar out, went over directions again, re-installed bar, checked clearances (once again looks fine while it was on jacks), dropped car, took it for another ride, seemed fine for about 3 minutes and then started again. painful 3 minute drive back to the house.
jacked it up, finally saw that it had been rubbing on my axle due to the markings on the sway bar end.

while on the ground and having it figured out what was making the noise you could notice a significant difference from the driver side compared to the passenger side of how the bar was sitting. You couldn't fit more than a finger between the axle and the sway bar on the passenger side but almost a whole fist on the driver side.

So to conclude to your answer, Yes I am sure it wasn't upside down.

Originally Posted by kilo101 I have the JBR front sway bar and mine fits in their without hitting anything. it is a snug fit. i know you have to make sure you push the brackets back as far as you can when you tighten them down,

It was a tight fit, just that it extended more being a wider bar. the driver side looked natural, like it was meant for that spot. the passenger side looked like it wanted to be friends with the inside of the wheel... I wish it had been as easy as the rear sway bar!

[Easter Bunny]

Originally Posted by jbarone It's very possible a bends was off. We only sample one out if every 10 we receive from our manufacture. The customer did reach out to us but had already ground the end off so there's was no opportunity to troubleshoot. I have the email thread up now. Not sure why the post several months later? Thanks, Sabrina

That's a pretty good ratio for quality control.

[Raider]

I think pics of the installation is helpful, but looks like the vendor is going above and beyond here. Most all companies will void a warranty if you modify the part.

Pics for sure, just to see.

[kilo101]

14. Carefully center the sway bar in the car.
15. With the bolts still loose, pull the sway bar as far back towards the rear of the car as the sway bar brackets will allow.


in for pictures stick your phone behind the wheel and snap a few

im not sure why it would be hitting while its on the ground but not up in the air the say bar should move up and down with the strut and axle seems like you would encounter that problem if it was up on jacks