3.3TT Eibach Sway Bars vs. Mando ECS suspension tune

[boosted1g]

And whats your experience been with creaking? Ive been seeing mixed reviews from ‘totally silent with a greasing’ to ‘continuous creaking after greasing and teflon wrap application’

When I ordered my rear, Eibach missed putting their little tube of grease in there so I just used my own silicone grease via zerc fittings and have had no issues

When I put on my front I used the supplied grease and it squeaked. So I lifted the car back up and used the zerc fitting (and triple checked my torque) and it is now quiet like 97-98% of the time.
FYI the front bar just went on last weekend, the rear bar about 5-6 weeks ago. So my time frame is not a very good long-term measurement.

The roads here are pretty crappy and this is my daily driver. When I put the rear on (soft setting) It had some improvement in handling with no real noticeable difference in ride smoothness. When I put the front on, I left the front as soft and put the rear to firm (as advised by other forum members). However, it was just a little too bumpy for the "family car" so I moved the rear back to soft. Now it is just within acceptable for smoothness, while still having a good improvement in handling.
If this was simply a "fun car" that I would leave in sport mode, then I would have kept the rear on firm because the cars handling was great.

Also, if you do go for the sway bars, so you dont have to look it up elsewhere: the torque is 45 ftlbs for the bushings and 80 for the end-links.

 

[PantheraMetal]

Thanks my guy

When I ordered my rear, Eibach missed putting their little tube of grease in there so I just used my own silicone grease via zerc fittings and have had no issues

When I put on my front I used the supplied grease and it squeaked. So I lifted the car back up and used the zerc fitting (and triple checked my torque) and it is now quiet like 97-98% of the time.
FYI the front bar just went on last weekend, the rear bar about 5-6 weeks ago. So my time frame is not a very good long-term measurement.

The roads here are pretty crappy and this is my daily driver. When I put the rear on (soft setting) It had some improvement in handling with no real noticeable difference in ride smoothness. When I put the front on, I left the front as soft and put the rear to firm (as advised by other forum members). However, it was just a little too bumpy for the "family car" so I moved the rear back to soft. Now it is just within acceptable for smoothness, while still having a good improvement in handling.
If this was simply a "fun car" that I would leave in sport mode, then I would have kept the rear on firm because the cars handling was great.

Also, if you do go for the sway bars, so you dont have to look it up elsewhere: the torque is 45 ftlbs for the bushings and 80 for the end-links

 

[NSHFXstinger]

When I ordered my rear, Eibach missed putting their little tube of grease in there so I just used my own silicone grease via zerc fittings and have had no issues

When I put on my front I used the supplied grease and it squeaked. So I lifted the car back up and used the zerc fitting (and triple checked my torque) and it is now quiet like 97-98% of the time.
FYI the front bar just went on last weekend, the rear bar about 5-6 weeks ago. So my time frame is not a very good long-term measurement.

The roads here are pretty crappy and this is my daily driver. When I put the rear on (soft setting) It had some improvement in handling with no real noticeable difference in ride smoothness. When I put the front on, I left the front as soft and put the rear to firm (as advised by other forum members). However, it was just a little too bumpy for the "family car" so I moved the rear back to soft. Now it is just within acceptable for smoothness, while still having a good improvement in handling.
If this was simply a "fun car" that I would leave in sport mode, then I would have kept the rear on firm because the cars handling was great.

Also, if you do go for the sway bars, so you dont have to look it up elsewhere: the torque is 45 ftlbs for the bushings and 80 for the end-links.

Can I ask what is zerc fitting? Intersting in Swar bar but affraid noise

 

[NSHFXstinger]

When I ordered my rear, Eibach missed putting their little tube of grease in there so I just used my own silicone grease via zerc fittings and have had no issues

When I put on my front I used the supplied grease and it squeaked. So I lifted the car back up and used the zerc fitting (and triple checked my torque) and it is now quiet like 97-98% of the time.
FYI the front bar just went on last weekend, the rear bar about 5-6 weeks ago. So my time frame is not a very good long-term measurement.

The roads here are pretty crappy and this is my daily driver. When I put the rear on (soft setting) It had some improvement in handling with no real noticeable difference in ride smoothness. When I put the front on, I left the front as soft and put the rear to firm (as advised by other forum members). However, it was just a little too bumpy for the "family car" so I moved the rear back to soft. Now it is just within acceptable for smoothness, while still having a good improvement in handling.
If this was simply a "fun car" that I would leave in sport mode, then I would have kept the rear on firm because the cars handling was great.

Also, if you do go for the sway bars, so you dont have to look it up elsewhere: the torque is 45 ftlbs for the bushings and 80 for the end-links.

I figured out. So...the silicone grease come with Eibach is not good, replace with other will not make the noise, right?

 

[SKStinger]

The mando unit was enough for me. But understand, it will be an “override” of the knob selection for suspension. There are thousands of posts going back and forth, talking about the voltage values and how it multiplies this and that.
I can tell you, it is an absolute override (and absolutely noticeable) on mine.

meaning... if I set max firm in the app, it is max firm on any dial selection. Same for max soft (oxymoron).

so you always have to use the app to change suspension settings.

I don’t care. I either leave it for weeks firm. Or soft (cruisin). Takes a whopping 30 seconds to change via app.
Does it fully resolve the rear end twitchiness on turns if there is a bump. Not like the sways would. But good enough for me.

I really did the mando so I can have a very cushy ride (even in sport mode where I want acceleration and throttle response).

great purchase (I got mine used for $200).

I’ve had the Mando controller for a couple months and am completely happy with my suspension setup now (Eibach springs). I was considering sways but chose the Mando instead. I don’t see any need to touch the sway bars with this setup unless you’re tracking the car regularly.

 

[NS_Stinger]

I figured out. So...the silicone grease come with Eibach is not good, replace with other will not make the noise, right?

I'm running the rear eibach bar with teflon tape wrapped around the bar where it contacts the bushing, plus I used the eibach grease and then once the bar was on i hit the zerk fitting with motomaster wheel bearing grease and that bar hasnt made a sound in almost 2 years. The front bar I didnt use teflon tape, just the eibach grease and finished with motomaster wheel bearing grease on the zerk fitting. That bar went a year before it started squeaking a little, I gave it another dose of grease through the zerk about 3 months ago and not a peep since.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I figured out. So...the silicone grease come with Eibach is not good, replace with other will not make the noise, right?

Even greased fully, at least some Eibach front sway bars creak. Mine only creaks at very slow speed. I've noticed that once I'm moving at speeds over c. 25 MPH the creaking seems to go away. Right now, I'm entertaining the theory that the ECS affects the suspension stiffness such that the sway bar doesn't creak: at higher speeds everything is stiffer, with less play, and that eliminates the amount of play causing the creaking sounds.

 

[NS_Stinger]

Even greased fully, at least some Eibach front sway bars creak. Mine only creaks at very slow speed. I've noticed that once I'm moving at speeds over c. 25 MPH the creaking seems to go away. Right now, I'm entertaining the theory that the ECS affects the suspension stiffness such that the sway bar doesn't creak: at higher speeds everything is stiffer, with less play, and that eliminates the amount of play causing the creaking sounds.

Have you applied grease through the zerk fitting? It will totally silence the bar for a long time if you use a grease gun and push some thick wheel bearing grease through it. Spraying the bar around the bushing will only be a short term fix you need to use the fitting to get the lubes in where the bar touches the bushing, that is where the noise is.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I have not personally applied a grease gun. When I asked the service guys to look over the bar, check to make sure everything was secure and lubed, they said that everything looked good; I asked if it was fully lubed and was told yes.

Have you applied grease through the zerk fitting? It will totally silence the bar for a long time if you use a grease gun and push some thick wheel bearing grease through it. Spraying the bar around the bushing will only be a short term fix you need to use the fitting to get the lubes in where the bar touches the bushing, that is where the noise is.

 

[NS_Stinger]

Well if anyone wants a permanent squeak fix just buy some plumbers tape/teflon tape, wrap the spot on the sway bar where the bushing will contact it, make sure you wrap it about .25-.5" wider on both sides of where the bushing will sit. Two full turns of the tape around the bar in those spots. Then grease on top of the tape and then install. Once the install is done hit the zerk fitting with a grease gun and then you will never hear a sound again. I only got a sound on my front bar because I didn't have any teflon tape left. I've been doing the tape trick for 20 years, works everytime.

 

[Snowwhite]

My ARK bars I wrapped some regular plumbers tape and no grease when I installed them last year. I was getting a creaking noise from the front only when I went over speed bumps where both sides were being compressed. After some diagnosis of everything else, I finally realized it was probably the sway bushings since that’s the only situation where the sway bar would rotate inside the bushing. I took the front mounts off and most of the tape had been rubbed off. I replaced with the thicker yellow gas line tape, used the thick silicone grease that came with the sway bars thoroughly inside the bushings, and retightened. Noise gone over the same speed bumps that were causing it before.

 

[NSHFXstinger]

Well if anyone wants a permanent squeak fix just buy some plumbers tape/teflon tape, wrap the spot on the sway bar where the bushing will contact it, make sure you wrap it about .25-.5" wider on both sides of where the bushing will sit. Two full turns of the tape around the bar in those spots. Then grease on top of the tape and then install. Once the install is done hit the zerk fitting with a grease gun and then you will never hear a sound again. I only got a sound on my front bar because I didn't have any teflon tape left. I've been doing the tape trick for 20 years, works everytime.

Do you do that by yourself or a local shop?Wonder know how much will cost and can do such tirck to provent noise permanently.Thanks!

 

[NS_Stinger]

My ARK bars I wrapped some regular plumbers tape and no grease when I installed them last year. I was getting a creaking noise from the front only when I went over speed bumps where both sides were being compressed. After some diagnosis of everything else, I finally realized it was probably the sway bushings since that’s the only situation where the sway bar would rotate inside the bushing. I took the front mounts off and most of the tape had been rubbed off. I replaced with the thicker yellow gas line tape, used the thick silicone grease that came with the sway bars thoroughly inside the bushings, and retightened. Noise gone over the same speed bumps that were causing it before.

Yeah you have to use a lubricant even with the tape, you're still going to get friction in there and the tape will wear away without it.

 

[NS_Stinger]

Do you do that by yourself or a local shop?Wonder know how much will cost and can do such tirck to provent noise permanently.Thanks!

I did the install myself on both bars, the front was pretty simple the rear was a pain on the drivers side becasue you dont have much room to work with on that side. As for a local shop, I'd guess they would charge you for 1-2hrs labour for both bars.

 

[NSHFXstinger]

pain on the drivers side becasue you dont have much room to work with on that side. As for a local shop, I'd guess they would charge you for 1-2hrs labour for both

Thanks!

 

[sdstinger]

I have coilovers. Mando is the same company that made the hecu on the car and the strut controls

Did you try sway bars first or go right to coils? Definitely need better handling around corners and curves with regards to how tight the car is and the roll. Trying to decide if to- try sway bars first, if its not enough then go for coils....... or try sway bars, if not enough try the sways with Mando, and then if not enough go for coils... or just go straight for coils lolll
Sway bars seem like the go-to from what I've read. I wonder if people have the sways and Mando together and their experience with that

 

[General_Vodka]

Did you try sway bars first or go right to coils? Definitely need better handling around corners and curves with regards to how tight the car is and the roll. Trying to decide if to- try sway bars first, if its not enough then go for coils....... or try sway bars, if not enough try the sways with Mando, and then if not enough go for coils... or just go straight for coils lolll
Sway bars seem like the go-to from what I've read. I wonder if people have the sways and Mando together and their experience with that

I don't think you can do Mando since you don't have the adjustable suspension. I have both sways and Mando and am pretty happy. I also have endlinks, subframe braces, and subframe collar kit.

 

[sdstinger]

I don't think you can do Mando since you don't have the adjustable suspension. I have both sways and Mando and am pretty happy. I also have endlinks, subframe braces, and subframe collar kit.

Ah I gotcha, thank you! I guess after sways I'll consider those. Really appreciate the help as obviously I'm a newb