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Lowering the undercarriage for a sway bar install?

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2017 5:49 pm
by avera01
I was checking around my area (South Florida) for a provider to install the front sway bar since I don't have a lift. The dealer would not do it. In Hollywood Florida there is a pro-shop called Mazda Pros that will install the front sway bar at a reasonable price of around $150 (I was planning on doing the rear) but they mentioned that they lower the under carriage for easier access to exchanging the sway bar which in turn requires an alignment (to my specs) for an additional $60.

I am not objecting to the alignment as I was considering having it done anyways. I have a 2016 GT automatic with about 2100 miles and was comparing the approach to this install.

Is lowering the undercarriage to gain easier access seem like a viable alternative to the direct way I saw on the Youtube video?

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Andrew

Re: Lowering the undercarriage for a sway bar install?

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2017 8:35 pm
by Brian
That front bar is work to get changed on this generation Miata, click here to see our installation section instructions.

Re: Lowering the undercarriage for a sway bar install?

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2017 11:25 am
by avera01
Hi Brian,

Thanks for the response. I was only checking to see if the work they described was reasonable and an alternative the method described on the install section. The install section does not mention anything about dropping the under carriage or requiring an alignment after the install.

The shop's price for the job is very reasonable, but wanted a second opinion on their methodology.

Re: Lowering the undercarriage for a sway bar install?

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2017 11:35 am
by Brian
Yes, I know a number of shops that do it that way.

Re: Lowering the undercarriage for a sway bar install?

Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2017 6:48 am
by AndrewD459
I recently installed a new front sway bar and did it myself. I simply jacked up the front of the car (about 2' off the ground, with chocked back wheels and jack stands), removed the front wheels, moved the coolant overflow tank (and in hindsight maybe removing the air box would make it an easier process), left and right inner front guards, lower tray and opted for the radiator fan shroud removal method (still a PITA, but I couldn't handle dropping the steering box and being one spline out on re-fit, that would annoy me no end). Took around 3.5 hours including a food break. Not a pleasant job but still reasonably easy. The hardest part was getting all the electrical wiring retainers off the back of the radiator fan shroud and you may need a second set of hands to assist in lowering/removing the shroud. It is not a very technical job, more of an exercise in patience.

Re: Lowering the undercarriage for a sway bar install?

Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 7:10 am
by Freescopesdad
I used Andrew's method as well. Keep a supply of zip ties handy as you WILL break/bend a couple of those electrical clips. Other than that, I was able to exercise my entire vocabulary of exotic words in the 3+ hours I spent on my back... :roll: