Front Sway Bar End links Keep Wearing Out!

cpie168 · 07-04-2019, 10:23 PM

I have M3 front control arms and since installing them, my front sway bar end links have been wearing out at an unreasonably fast rate. I use OEM Lemforder end links exclusively, and have been replacing them once every 5 months or so (less than 10,000 km or 6,000 miles). Thankfully they're done by my mechanic under warranty each time, since he provides 2-year warranty on all installed parts.

That said, I'm tired of going back to him once every 5 months. There is no doubt the end links are wearing out because of the knocking sound and the play as my mechanic confirms every time. He is a very experienced BMW mechanic so it is not an installation issue.

Anyone has similar experiences? Do the M3 arms have anything to do with it? If so, what end links would you recommend that can stand up to the demands of the M3 front control arms?

Thanks in advance for all your help.

maddmatth · 07-05-2019, 04:30 AM

I've done about that much since installing M3 arms, and before that I had arms with solid rubber bushings that were just as stiff. I'm not having this issue, that ain't normal.
The standard Lemforder end links should last much longer than that.

cpie168 · 07-05-2019, 10:08 AM

Thanks for your responses folks. Would it help for me to get the M3 end links instead of the regular non-M3 ones? Do the M3 front arms have anything to do with the pre-mature worn out end links?

weehe126 · 07-05-2019, 10:49 AM

The M3 arms should not effect the sway bar links at all. Are you lowered, or have really old blown shocks?

cpie168 · 07-05-2019, 10:51 AM

I’m not lowered at all. I got OEM sports springs and Koni FSD’s with about 60k miles on them. I wonder if the end links can be installed in a way that might cause premature wear?

feuer · 07-05-2019, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpie168

I’m not lowered at all. I got OEM sports springs and Koni FSD’s with about 60k miles on them. I wonder if the end links can be installed in a way that might cause premature wear?

M3 links won't fit. These links are different left to right. If sway bar is binding it will prematurely fail the links.

cpie168 · 07-05-2019, 06:19 PM

Thanks feuer.

I assume there is only one way to install the end links and that it's pretty much impossible to install them incorrectly that results in premature wear, is that right? I have full faith in my mechanic's ability but I cannot rule out with absolute certainty that the installation being the cause of the premature wear. Just want to make sure I cover all bases in my search for an answer.

autoart · 07-06-2019, 09:05 PM

Is you sway bar stock? The end links for the m3 are are different from my 335i.
I have a m3 front bar with 335i end links. For some reason the nuts would get loose and I would hear a noise. I would tighten them then it would come back after a couple of weeks. I was able to tighten the shit out of them on the ground and its been quiet for about a month now.
Don't know it it matters if their tightened at ride height or not?

cpie168 · 07-06-2019, 10:18 PM

Hi autocart, my sway bar is stock. The end links are also stock. I really have no idea what it is. Perhaps the bar is binding as feuer suggested, so I'll ask my mechanic to check that next time. It's gotten to the point where I've replaced those end links under warranty at least 3 times and my mechanic is asking me to find something more long-lasting. I have no idea what to do at this point.

mweisdorfer · 07-07-2019, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpie168

I have M3 front control arms and since installing them, my front sway bar end links have been wearing out at an unreasonably fast rate. I use OEM Lemforder end links exclusively, and have been replacing them once every 5 months or so (less than 10,000 km or 6,000 miles). Thankfully they're done by my mechanic under warranty each time, since he provides 2-year warranty on all installed parts.

That said, I'm tired of going back to him once every 5 months. There is no doubt the end links are wearing out because of the knocking sound and the play as my mechanic confirms every time. He is a very experienced BMW mechanic so it is not an installation issue.

Anyone has similar experiences? Do the M3 arms have anything to do with it? If so, what end links would you recommend that can stand up to the demands of the M3 front control arms?

Thanks in advance for all your help.

Did you lower the car ?

jwrag2000 · 02-16-2025, 02:45 PM

I have the same problem. I believe the cause is that my rear sway bar isn't doing it's job so the front links are supporting the full weight of the car in corners. I plan to fit a thicker whiteline rear sway bar.

Tambohamilton · 02-16-2025, 03:37 PM

Upgrading the rear sway may help a little, but I assure you it won't solve the issue. I have an e93 M3 rear sway.

Make sure you have the links installed the right way around (they are handed).

Make sure they are torqued to spec.

I've had good luck so far with Meyle HD links (10k miles and counting...)

07-04-2019, 10:23 PM	#1
cpie168 Major 175 Rep 1,117 Posts Drives: 2010 E90 328i 6MT ZSP BSM Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: K/W and GTA, Ontario, Canada iTrader: (1)	Front Sway Bar End links Keep Wearing Out! I have M3 front control arms and since installing them, my front sway bar end links have been wearing out at an unreasonably fast rate. I use OEM Lemforder end links exclusively, and have been replacing them once every 5 months or so (less than 10,000 km or 6,000 miles). Thankfully they're done by my mechanic under warranty each time, since he provides 2-year warranty on all installed parts. That said, I'm tired of going back to him once every 5 months. There is no doubt the end links are wearing out because of the knocking sound and the play as my mechanic confirms every time. He is a very experienced BMW mechanic so it is not an installation issue. Anyone has similar experiences? Do the M3 arms have anything to do with it? If so, what end links would you recommend that can stand up to the demands of the M3 front control arms? Thanks in advance for all your help.
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07-05-2019, 04:30 AM	#2
maddmatth Captain 564 Rep 940 Posts Drives: E92 M3 \| Prev:E92 335i, F82 M4 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Sydney iTrader: (0)	I've done about that much since installing M3 arms, and before that I had arms with solid rubber bushings that were just as stiff. I'm not having this issue, that ain't normal. The standard Lemforder end links should last much longer than that.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-05-2019, 10:08 AM	#3
cpie168 Major 175 Rep 1,117 Posts Drives: 2010 E90 328i 6MT ZSP BSM Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: K/W and GTA, Ontario, Canada iTrader: (1)	Thanks for your responses folks. Would it help for me to get the M3 end links instead of the regular non-M3 ones? Do the M3 front arms have anything to do with the pre-mature worn out end links?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-05-2019, 10:49 AM	#4
weehe126 Brigadier General 1197 Rep 3,234 Posts Drives: 2017 340i Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: San Antonio iTrader: (2)	The M3 arms should not effect the sway bar links at all. Are you lowered, or have really old blown shocks?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-05-2019, 10:51 AM	#5
cpie168 Major 175 Rep 1,117 Posts Drives: 2010 E90 328i 6MT ZSP BSM Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: K/W and GTA, Ontario, Canada iTrader: (1)	I’m not lowered at all. I got OEM sports springs and Koni FSD’s with about 60k miles on them. I wonder if the end links can be installed in a way that might cause premature wear?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-05-2019, 06:19 PM	#7
cpie168 Major 175 Rep 1,117 Posts Drives: 2010 E90 328i 6MT ZSP BSM Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: K/W and GTA, Ontario, Canada iTrader: (1)	Thanks feuer. I assume there is only one way to install the end links and that it's pretty much impossible to install them incorrectly that results in premature wear, is that right? I have full faith in my mechanic's ability but I cannot rule out with absolute certainty that the installation being the cause of the premature wear. Just want to make sure I cover all bases in my search for an answer.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-06-2019, 09:05 PM	#8
autoart Colonel 400 Rep 2,346 Posts Drives: 2009 335i e90 M/ 22 X3/2016 Ho Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: socal iTrader: (8)	Is you sway bar stock? The end links for the m3 are are different from my 335i. I have a m3 front bar with 335i end links. For some reason the nuts would get loose and I would hear a noise. I would tighten them then it would come back after a couple of weeks. I was able to tighten the shit out of them on the ground and its been quiet for about a month now. Don't know it it matters if their tightened at ride height or not?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-06-2019, 10:18 PM	#9
cpie168 Major 175 Rep 1,117 Posts Drives: 2010 E90 328i 6MT ZSP BSM Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: K/W and GTA, Ontario, Canada iTrader: (1)	Hi autocart, my sway bar is stock. The end links are also stock. I really have no idea what it is. Perhaps the bar is binding as feuer suggested, so I'll ask my mechanic to check that next time. It's gotten to the point where I've replaced those end links under warranty at least 3 times and my mechanic is asking me to find something more long-lasting. I have no idea what to do at this point.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-16-2025, 02:45 PM	#11
jwrag2000 New Member 2 Rep 27 Posts Drives: Bmw 330d e93 Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: Belfast iTrader: (0)	I have the same problem. I believe the cause is that my rear sway bar isn't doing it's job so the front links are supporting the full weight of the car in corners. I plan to fit a thicker whiteline rear sway bar.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-16-2025, 03:37 PM	#12
Tambohamilton Brigadier General 3295 Rep 4,223 Posts Drives: E91 330d Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Herefordshire iTrader: (0)	Upgrading the rear sway may help a little, but I assure you it won't solve the issue. I have an e93 M3 rear sway. Make sure you have the links installed the right way around (they are handed). Make sure they are torqued to spec. I've had good luck so far with Meyle HD links (10k miles and counting...)
	Appreciate 0 Quote