Broken FRONT sway bar mounts

[DustenT]

My front sway bar mounts rusted out and pretty much collapsed. I get a sweet clunking noise when the body shifts from the sway bar sliding around.

Pics (not mine, but mine looks identical to this guys) are attached.

I believe the fix is to get the BMW OEM replacement mounts and weld them in place.

[DustenT]

Part numbers:
LEFT STABILIZER SUPPORT 41118151121 $23.44
RIGHT STABILIZER SUPPORT 41118151122 $23.44

Real OEM diagram....see #7

Anyone else have this problem?

[jccaruso]

Something similar like this just happened to me. Actually i only just noticed it. Dont know how long this has been like this. On my car, one of the bolts must have snapped (due to rust) which caused the clamp to bend backwards. I havent fully investigated the issue cause i now have a fuel pump issue to deal with (see electrical thread). I'll post a picture tonight (hopefully).

[jccaruso]

Pic

[cdonahue]

mine did that too, (only passenger side though), had a friend fab up a piece that fit in there and welded up perfect. it was pretty rotted out in there.

but its fixed now!

[DustenT]

I ordered the replacement parts yesterday, they should be in today. I'm heading to the shop after work to grind and weld them in place.

[mohaughn]

I went back and doublechecked all around mine and I don't have any rust in that area.. My car is actually really clean of rust except for the metal that is right around the bottom of the windshield... Looks like it would fairly easy to fix it. When I installed the new sway bar I thought that area looked kind of weak. Not sure why somebody doesn't sell a reinforcement box to weld around the stock metal.

Of course I'm fairly certain I have a drain block somewhere that is causing that rust to happen from water sitting. If I leave my car parked on an incline and it rains I get a puddle in the passenger footwell.

[mooseheadm5]

Check your sunroof drains if the car has a standard sunroof. You can open the roof and pour some water into the channels to see if it drains out properly. If you find one plugged (there are four, one front and back on each side,) run some wire through it carefully to unclog it. HTH.
-Paul

[steve318ti]

Originally Posted by jccaruso

Something similar like this just happened to me. Actually i only just noticed it. Dont know how long this has been like this. On my car, one of the bolts must have snapped (due to rust) which caused the clamp to bend backwards. I havent fully investigated the issue cause i now have a fuel pump issue to deal with (see electrical thread). I'll post a picture tonight (hopefully).

I just found the same problem today!!!!
How do you fixed!!!!
How much was it?
The fact to have 17'' overload that area?
Thanks guys

[jccaruso]

I havent fixed it yet. It doesnt make any noise when i turn but the car rolls a lot more w/ it broken. Let me know how the fix goes. BTW, i have 16" rims w/ 225's up front.

[DustenT]

http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthrea...way+bar+mounts

[steve318ti]

For how long I can drive with this problem?
I have this problem only in the passenger side!
Seems that is a comon prob.
How do I know if I have sport suspention or active package?
1996 Artic silver, cloth black interior

[ConMasta]

I also recently found out I had this problem on a 1998 Sport model; after owning for a year and a half, my buddy ran a carfax on my car and found out it came from New York, which would explain the rust. So the dealer lied to me...

As the mount gets progressively more rotten, you can expect more play on the sway bar which will then start rocking the control arm during driving; your steering wheel will shake rapidly while the rest of your car shudders like a tank. Its definitely not a fun experience driving in that condition

Heres a good and bad picture for reference:





And for comic relief:



-Conan

[DustenT]

Originally Posted by ConMasta

And for comic relief:



-Conan

Make sure you use 2 jack stands.

[cali-ti]

yes, otherwise it won't be very funny