Swaybar complications

[04_STi]

I recently installed WhiteLine 24mm front and rear sway bars on my 2004 WRX STi.
I also installed Kartboy front and rear endlinks.

After the installation, i started getting funny noises from under my car. it mainly happens when i slow the car down. for example, if im rolling at a constant speed(slow enough to hear noises), then
when i slow down the car, at the exact moment of deceleration i hear the front sway "pop". i can practically feel it behind my feet through the firewall.

Ive noticed that the new bars seem to make my endlinks sit in an odd position. The kartboy endlinks have a metal body with polyurethane bushings pressed into them. The endlinks seem as though the bushing is going to be pulled right out of the endlink body. See drivers side pic.

I also think that the front sway bar touches the steering rod (on the front ofcourse). this is what i believe makes the "pop" noise.

The bushings for both front and rear bars are well greased and all the bolts/nuts are nice and tight.

Can anyone from WhiteLine suggest anything to help my problem??

If you guys need more info, let me know how i can help.

Also check out the pictures below.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[04_STi]

52

Passenger Side - Click on the picture to see it larger.

[04_STi]

53

Drivers Side.

[WayneV]

Hi 04_STi,

Can you please confirm which part number you have fitted to the vehicle and also send me some photos of where the bar is fouling on the vehicle?

This way I will be able to make a better judgement on the situation.

It looks as though the links need to spaced out so that they are much closer to vertical, our KLC39 swaybar links are supplied with 9mm spacers top and bottom to rectify this issue.

Cheers,

Wayne.
waynev@redranger.com.au

[04_STi]

Im going to wait until we get some nice weather. its been raining here for a week now. and i will take some more pictures and get some part numbers for you.

[WayneV]

Not a problem at all, I look forward to hearing back.

Cheers,

Wayne
wayne@redranger.com.au

[04_STi]

Sorry for taking a while for this, but the problem still remains...

i received part # BSF36XZ

Wayne, i would like for you to check out this thread on another forum.
Several other people are having the same issue as me and i would very much like a WhiteLine Rep. to help clear things up.

http://www.iwsti.com/forums/gd-suspension-handling-stiffening/138310-those-you-white-line-sways-2.html

[WayneV]

Hi 04 STi,

Sorry to further chase details. There will be a stamp on the bar itself below the Whiteline sticker that will help us to accurately identify which bar you have fitted to your vehicle,

Cheers,

Wayne
wayne@redranger.com.au

[04_STi]

I will check it out and get back to you.

I was wondering if you could do me a favor. I noticed that the WhiteLine front Endlinks are adjustable... if you could tell me the distance betwen the two holes on your endlinks when adjusted to the shortest setting.. i think this might help give more clearance on the tie rod.

I will measure the distance on the endlinks i currently have and post it here. thanks.

[04_STi]

Hi 04 STi,

Sorry to further chase details. There will be a stamp on the bar itself below the Whiteline sticker that will help us to accurately identify which bar you have fitted to your vehicle,

Cheers,

Wayne
wayne@redranger.com.au

if the stamp is at the very center of the bar (middle of the car) it will be impossible to see while the bar is installed. however... there is one stamp that was not near any stickers. the stamp was marked 478 or 428. i cant tell if its a 7 or a 2.

the stamp that i did find, noted above, was on a bend of the bar betwen the front/drivers side wheel and where the bushing and bar meet. hopefully this can give you a better picture as to which bar is on my car.

however, i do not see why the part# shown above isnt sufficient.

i heard a rumor that WhiteLine released a batch of bad bars that had a bend which causes interference/contact with the Tie Rod. is this true?? what kind of policies does WhiteLine follow which help manufacturing defects?

[WayneV]

Hi '04 STi,

We've taken your post quite seriously and we're currently undergoing batch reviews on these swaybars. We are more than obliged to supply replacement stock to anyone who shows concern with a product.

May I ask that you that you remain patient as we evaluate the stock and we will be back with a response as soon as possible.

Cheers,

Wayne
wayne@redranger.com.au

[04_STi]

Sounds good, I will wait for more details. I hope that the stamp i supplied above will help to identify the bar that i have currently installed on my car.

If there is anything else that you require of me, please let me know.

Jacob.

[04_STi]

Wayne, any new news??

[WayneV]

Hi 04 STi,

It appears that stock of BSF36XZ and BSF36Z are bent slightly off spec. We have done a thorough review of our stock and it seems all of these bars post April 2008 to be affected.

We are currently devising a production plan to replenish current stock as soon as possible.

We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience, our aim is to resolve this as fast as we can. As always we stand by our products and will be more than happy to replace your sway bar through the dealer where you originally purchased the bar. Please understand that there will be a short wait until stock is on hand again.

Cheers,

Wayne
wayne@redranger.com.au

[04_STi]

Thanks again Wayne.

I am pleased to hear that this matter will not be overlooked.

This really shows how committed WhiteLine is to its customer, small or large.

Please update this thread once you get some new news.

[WayneV]

Hi 04 STi,

As I have posted above there was some bad stock of this product in the market. I would ask that you return to the vendor of the swaybar and ask for them to replace this bar for you under a warranty arrangement.

Cheers,

Wayne
wayne@redranger.com.au