rat rear swaybar endlinks?

[H-508]

I've been away from the forums for quite a few years, but I did a search and couldn't even find anything about this.

Looks like Ram Air Tech (rat) went out of business. Not that I'm completely surprised, but I just had an endlink break (and the other is close to it) for my rear swaybar. I took it to a mechanic shop to see if they could source it - they got in 8 different endlinks that looked promising, but none would work without modification of some sort - and even then it wouldn't be a sure thing.

I saw the group buy below from pyfc so I emailed them. I got an email back saying they may release some to order from their website.

So, has this happened to anyone else? I know RAT probably wasn't fabricating their own endlinks, so I'd still like to find those to purchase from somewhere, but my second and more realistic option is to wait to order the other brand swaybar.

Damn GA...

[black05GT]

IIRC, your only choices for a replacement REAR sway bar end link are salvage and the dealer.
Also, the after-market sway bars don't include end-links, unless you're referring to the the two brackets and bushings that attach the rear sway bar to the frame ?

[H-508]

Perhaps I used the wrong wording for endlinks, but what I'm referring to is the whole part that includes the bolt and bushings/washers that go through the end (eye) of the swaybar and secure it to the car. The rat rear swaybar included these - it also included brackets that hold it to the frame, but those are fine.

[AaronGTR]

The stock rear sway bar has round ends and the end link has a round rubber bushing that goes over it, then another round bushing with a bolt that goes through into the hub. If I understand correctly, you are saying the rat sway bar has a flat end with a hole and a straight threaded end link going through it with bushings and washers (similar to the front sway bar) ? I've never seen anything like that on a GA. Never knew rat made one like that, so I wouldn't be able to tell you where to get the end link. I agree though, they probably weren't making them themselves, so they must be available somewhere.

[mfuller]

The endlinks themselves were just standard-issue stuff from Energy Suspension. Now, the brackets which bolt to the knuckles (which the endlink bolts to) were fabricated by RAT - you will need to get new ones fabricated on your own.
Can you maybe snap a picture so we're all clear on the part you're referring to?

[H-508]

holy christ - Fuller is still around! I'll take a pic of it tonight and post. Thanks for the help.

[pongagt]

Perhaps I used the wrong wording for endlinks, but what I'm referring to is the whole part that includes the bolt and bushings/washers that go through the end (eye) of the swaybar and secure it to the car. The rat rear swaybar included these - it also included brackets that hold it to the frame, but those are fine.

Endlinks are the right word. I built new endlinks because mine were all rusted together and i had to cut them off when i fixed my frame mounts. I believe i replaced my bolts with standard 3/8 inch bolts. The spacers, washers, and bushings you will have to piece together on your own since it is not a oem antisway bar. I had a collection of end link and shock parts that i was able to use. You should be able to get the washers and bushing from Energy Suspensions. The spacers you may have to make from tube stock or stack up some washers. Energy Suspension may have some in a kit that you can cut to length. I used steel inserts from shock mounts (they go through the bushings on the end of shocks) that i cut to the right length. Use a lot of never-seize on the bolt so it will come apart easier if you need to disassemble it.

[H-508]

Thanks, pon - I THINK I'm in the same boat then.

Here are some pics:

1st pic - you can see how the bolt went through the swaybar because the bushing disintegrated.
http://blogphotohost.com/imgt/2a79W26a5S651A19985aC1e34abC481d.jpg (http://blogphotohost.com/show.php?id=2a79W26a5S651A19985aC1e34abC481d)

2nd pic - the L bracket, although crappy looking, is holding together just fine.
http://blogphotohost.com/imgt/cb7cbW2ecSbeb93aAf859daC30S4c380.jpg (http://blogphotohost.com/show.php?id=cb7cbW2ecSbeb93aAf859daC30S4c380)


The other side of the swaybar isn't looking much better, but to sort of show what it should look like...
http://blogphotohost.com/imgt/dcdbWfbS9349dAd84052Cb3cT9e8a159.jpg (http://blogphotohost.com/show.php?id=dcdbWfbS9349dAd84052Cb3cT9e8a159)
http://blogphotohost.com/imgt/3W62a32S985f174A4e8Ce1f2dGa681fb.jpg (http://blogphotohost.com/show.php?id=3W62a32S985f174A4e8Ce1f2dGa681fb)


You were pretty clear, pon, but I want to make sure I have it right since I'm not sure our applications will be the same. Some stuff I can buy from Energy Suspension, and then other parts I'll have to get at Autozone or wherever? So, wtf do I need exactly?

[pongagt]

I have the same bar as you. You need a 3/8 bolt (5" long), 4 cup type washers, 4 bushings, 1 spacer, and a 3/8 locking nut. You should be able to buy a endlink kit from Energy that uses 3/8 bolts and replace the bolts and spacers with ones that are the same length as you measure from the ones you have to cut off. Just duplicate the good side. I cut my endlink off with a hack saw.

[H-508]

This has been resolved. The endlinks that RAT used were Energy Suspension #9.8122 that you can get from Summit for $25. I installed them with no problem.

[pongagt]

Cool, How did you find out they were from Energy?

[H-508]

Fuller's post above - I sent an email to ES, and after a while, a sales acct guy emailed me back saying they didn't have a record of what RAT used, but when I described my application, he pointed me to ES's site of generic rear swaybar endlink kits - I noticed they looked exactly like what I had, so I measured the space needed for the spacer and ordered that part number to give it a try - at the very least I would be able to use the grommits and washers but it ended out working perfectly as it was.