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From digest.v7.n1100 Mon Feb 9 15:34:29 1998
From: James Moran <bavarian_at_geocities.com>
Date: Mon, 09 Feb 1998 10:18:03 -0500
Subject: Re: WTB: M5/M6 sway bars

Scott,

Stock M6 anti-roll bars are 21mm/16mm front/rear. The '88 M5 stock bars are 25mm/18mm front/rear. Dinan and Suspension Techniques make upgrades that are 25mm/19mm front/rear and adjustable. Note that adding stiffer anti-roll bars will put more stress on their mounting and attachment points:

  1. The attachement of the front links to the strut tubes (little hat shaped pieces) have been known to break. Boxing these points on one side helps here. Another solution is to run a metal strap from the hat to the spring pan.
  2. The chassis mounting points of the front bar can break. In fact, the stock mounting point on the '88 M5 (25mm front bar) is strengthened in comparison to stock E28 and E24 cars (including the M6). Dinan bars come with the strengthened mount. Use it.
  3. The subframe mounting points on the rear bar can break. Both Pete Read and Walt Selva have had this happen. I believe the Dinan bars come with a reinforcement for these as well.

Now, to do a little analysis:

>From "How to Make Your Car Handle" (Fred Puhn, HP Books), via Pete Read on the
Mformation digest, roll bar stiffness is proportional to diameter to the fourth power. Therefore, going from 19/16 to 25/18 means the front bar will be 200% stiffer (three times!) [(25/19)^4 = 2.997] and the rear bar will be 60% stiffer [(18/16)^4 = 1.601]. If you choose a 19mm rear bar, it will be 98% stiffer (2 times). Either of these options will result in more understeer. Increasing front stiffness relative to the rear (via springs, bars, or tire pressure) results in more understeer.

With the adjustable sway bars (25/19) you can soften the front bar (towards the outermost mouting hole) and/or stiffen the rear bar (towards the innermost hole) to try and reduce the understeer and tailor your handling to your preference.

Another thing to consider is that anti-roll bars are just springs that come into play when the ride height between the left and right side wheel on the same axle is different. Using stiffer than stock springs also reduces roll, so these could be another option. However, stiffer springs work all the time - like going over freeway expansion joints or speed bumps where the ride height, left to right, is the same and bars would have no effect.

Regards,
Jim Moran
'88 M6

> From: Scott Buchanan <87535is_at_bellsouth.net>
> Date: Sat, 07 Feb 1998 21:41:01 -0500
> Subject: WTB: M5/M6 sway bars
>
> Hello again everyone. I'm looking for a set of M5 or M6 sway bars to
> put on my '87 535is. I understand the stock setup I have is 19mm/16mm
> front/rear. I'm looking to go to 25mm/18-19mm front/rear. If anybody
> has these or can point me in the right direction I'd appreciate hearing
> from you. Thanks in advance.
>
> Regards,
>
> Scott Buchanan
> Charlotte, NC
> '87 535is

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