...my rear sway bar broke and my left rear wheel is at a funny angle. Dave.O will be thrilled because it's an ALTA. I, on the other hand, need to know what to replace it with and I cannot find the recent thread that has suggestions. That said, the car is on its way to the dealer, but I need some suggestions NOW, so I can give them to the dealer when the car gets there in a few hours. Any help?
That ALTA not be broken. I like H-Sport bars. My car had & probably still wears its 18mm H-Sport solid bar. Not sure who the fastest place to buy one from is. No local source that I know of.
My R52 had a solid 19mm H&R bar, which comes with Teflon bushings that don't need lubrication. Not sure where you'll any aftermarket bar within a few hours. Even the dealer probably doesn't have an OEM one in stock.
Breaking a sway bar would not cause the wheel to tilt in funny, you broke one of the rear track bars, not uncommon on Gen1 cars. There are several aftermarket solutions that also let you adjust tracking and caster/camber on the rear.
Thanks for all the suggestions so far. I'll keep you all posted when I find out what the dealer says. I guess he's pretty busy today, but he said he will call when he finds out and how long I'll have to wait to get the car back.
All good suggestions. Hotchkins 25mm Competition Rear Sway Bar is on the Helmet and I love it. If its one go your control arms I would go with the H-Sport control arms. If you can live without your car for a few days take your time and get the good stuff.
I'm thinking I won't see it for at least a week or so, due to the holiday and short work week. Oh well, good thing I have 2 other MINIs [even though one is my wife's]! She's kind of happy right now, as she is parking inside the garage until my car returns to the fold and hers goes back into the cold.
I had H-Sport lower arms on my MINI so I could get the alignment dialed in where I wanted. You won't find those local either Jeff. I agree with Minidave, a broken swaybar should not result in wonky wheel angles.
This is the first thing I thought of when you posted your problem. The problem is one off the 4 rear control arms and aftermarket adjustable safe the way to go because the OEM ones fail. They are only stamped steel that get weak over time. Here are two links of the ones recommended above. Both cost the same and have the Helix ones since they are my local shop. https://www.detroittuned.com/h-sport-control-arms/ https://www.detroittuned.com/helix-control-arms/
I've put the H-sport control arms in the lower position on both of my R53s. They are sturdy, have zerk fittings so I can lube the bushings easily and are easily adjustable for camber control. I've left the factory ones in the upper positions, but I'll probably replace 'em with the H-sports when the time comes.
The dealer just called this morning [12/31]. It's not the sway bar, but it IS the rear lower control arm and an after market one, at that. He suggests replacing both and getting an alignment. I told him that one of you KIND and GENEROUS people here in M/A has offered a set of their OEMs and I'm gonna take him up on that offer. He needs to contact me for my mailing address or that of the dealer [who said they would do the install as well as the alignment]. So, PLEASE contact me so I can get my S back on the road [and my wife's S can go back outside...hehehe]
I bet those are ALTA arms..... What do we win Jeff for being correct at the diagnosis? Pretty sure 3 of us are tied for the win. Rather than go with a tie breaker I figure all three of us should win. I'm OK with a cash prize. I dropped those MAG coupons in the mail for you. It will save you $250.
Edit - appears you already have the answer.. didn't see you posted while I was typing (I'm slow).. Agree 100%. Sway bars do not change the angle etc. You can actually run without one (Drift cars for example). @wmwny - if you want to do the sway bar yourself (assuming its that). Here is a link to the how to article: https://www.motoringalliance.com/threads/r50-52-53-rear-swaybar-install-video-how-to.30305/#post-400561
Blue arms and I think ALTA used to be blue. Thanks for the coupons, Chuck! YOUR prize isn't cash, but some grub at that Cuban or fried bologna place, which boils down to the same thing.
Blue is H-Sport. All of that Alta stuff should be red. Same color as rust. Nice that Lee is sending you the arms you need. He's one of the good ones.
Thanks for the complement! But I told him that were stock, imagine Jeff's surprise when the two rusty alta ones show up