I bought my '06 TL with the Progress rear swaybar already installed. Because of the mileage, I had the major service done recently (timing belt, etc, etc), and while checking the rear brakes, I noticed something fishy with the rear swaybar- the passenger side swaybar endlink is not attached at all!

In fact, the swaybar endlink looks to have snapped the metal bracket it is attached to. Looking online, it appears I can easily replace this bracket- it's only about $15, new, from Acura, however, I'm debating whether or not I should go back to the stock swaybar.

Has anyone else had this issue? Is this a common problem? I don't have any pictures of the broken bracket, but, it is part no. 9 or 10 in the following link: http://www.acuraoemparts.com/delray/...All&vinsrch=no

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'd LIKE to keep the Progress swaybar on the car, but if this is likely to happen again, I'm thinking going back to stock will be necessary.

 

So the endlink isn't broken? Just the piece of the car it mounts to is broken (with the other side being mounted to the sway bar)?

I'd say replace the broken piece and call it a day. No need to re-order the stock swaybar. At $15 to change the broken piece, its worth it to see if it breaks again, as I don't think the swaybar has much to do with it breaking in the first place.

(The endlink would be the weak link, I would think, anyway.)

 

its common to a certain degree.
usually, the progress bar will break one side of the subframe mount.
either left or right, but not both.

this is because the sway bar is a tension bar. it holds tension across the rear end connecting to the end links.
what happens when one side is higher than the other side?
you're putting a lot of tension on the side that is on the ground

you can solve this by two ways.
Change the way you drive, so that all 4 wheels are always on the ground. (no three wheeling over speed bumps/drive ways, etc)

or get stiffer rear springs.

Ive had my progress RSB installed for 4 years now. no tears or rips.

 

Keep the progress bar, get stiffer end links. MOOG is an excellent choice. And Marcus sells an adjustable set.
http://www.heeltoeauto.com/fastline-...roductid=63591

 

^end links wont prevent it from happening....just dont three wheel any where stressing that corner...
Drive straight over bumps, keeping the stress level the same.

or stiffer rear springs


<----Stock endlinks.

 

Haha oops. I didn't mean to say that it would be prevented with stiffer end links. I was just suggesting replacement options.

I agree that the suspension needs to be tuned as a whole so that mechanical stress levels are distributed throughout the components as opposed to concentrated on parts which later fail. Unfortunately I don't know enough about it to confirm that stiffer springs are the answer, but I would trust your suggestion justn!!

 

Agreed. Drive over bumps and inclines, etc straight and head on. Iv had mine on for over a year set on the shortest setting and no issues. I do have aspec springs but I also try tl be as carefull as possible when going over bumps and uneven surfaces. Im also still using the stock endlinks.

 

The car currently has A-Spec struts with H&R springs, so it should be plenty stiff in the back, I'd imagine. My only other option in that regard would be to get coilovers.

And yes, the end links are apparently fine, it's just the one bracket that snapped clean off. Pretty sure it was like that when I bought the car. The one thing that scares me is if I'm cornering hard and that bracket snaps again, I don't want to lose control of the back end of the vehicle.

I didn't know about the speed bump thing, so i'll definitely be weary of that from now on, however, wouldn't the same thing happen with going up driveways? It's not always even possible to go straight up them, especially if coming off of a main road.

I'm even surprised the bracket would snap. The TL has a RSB already- I didn't think the Progress one was all that much bigger.

 

cornering doesnt affect the bar that much. its the up and down motion that breaks the subframe.

take a closer look at yours, I believe its the subframe and not the bracket like you think.
the subframe will have to be welded back together.

Im trying to think of an extreme example of three wheeling....

also, the bar might not look bigger than the stock bar, but it is a lot STIFFER than the stock bar

its a torsion bar.(I had the terminology wrong in my previous post)

 

Yup, click below...

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-problems-fixes-114/endlink-bracket-failure-889442/

 

I just took a look underneath my car and there is no evidence of any subframe damage. It appears to just be that single bracket, broken clean off where the end link attaches to it.

I suppose with my end link not attached, my rear sway bar probably isn't doing all that much, correct? My car never feels unstable, to be honest. I think I'll put the stock one back on and be done with it. If the Progress RSB isn't doing anything right now, I'm sure the OEM will be a vast improvement anyway.