2013 WRX Limited Eibach Sway Bars and Kartboy Endlinks Install (lots of pics)

[JellyBean]

This is my first major mod to the WRX I have done. Before I start doing any HP gain mods I wanted to fix the body roll of the WRX and make sure I will be able to put the extra power to the ground.

First step - Off to Cobb Tuning in Plano for a precise custom laser alignment for the street on their Hunter Optical Aligner.





Next I orderd the following from Rallysportdirect.com with 2 Day shipping. They did a great job getting me the items on time and were great to speak with. I will be ordering from them again.
Kartboy Front Endlinks - KAR KB-017-F
Kartboy Rear Endlinks - KAR - KB-017-08REAR
Eibach Sway Bar Kit with Front Adjustable 25mm Sway Bar and Rear Adjustable 22mm Sway Bar

I followed the instructions that came with the Sway Bars and download the Kartboy instructions. I also read other posts on this and other sites for a more help. Install took me about 2.5 hours. After I was done I noticed that the rear endlinks were not perpendicular and the fronts were way off. I drove it like this for a bit but searched online and found were others used the spacers from the rear endlink kit to fix the perpendicular issue. I alread used the spacers in the rear kit for the proper spacing in the rear lower control arm. So I went to Home Depot and got some washers to make my own spacers and it works much better now.

Rear Before


Rear After - Install note: have the car on ramps for there to be full load on the suspension. I used a floor jack in the middle as a saftey net (never really trust the plastic ramps). I also had to use the floor jack to lift the rear end a bit to fit the larger rear sway bar and then lowered it back on the ramps to complete the install

[JellyBean]

Rear Endlink Details and Tuning. After installing the sway bars I had to fix the perpendicular issue for the rear and front endlinks. I used Three washers in total between the way bar and top endlink bushing. I used the Kartboy washers on each side of the bushing. The other two washers were the Zinc Plated M12 Flat Washers and then I used a 3/8" Flat Washer where the bolt goes through the hole in the sway bar then the nut attaches. I also set the rear sway bar to the Firmest setting.

[JellyBean]

Here is the Front Endlink Fix. I used the 3/8" Zinc Flat Washers. Again the Karboy supplied washers are on each side of the endlink bushings. For the top bushing I put two zinc washers in before the sway bar and the bottom bushing I used 3 Zinc washers before the lower control arm mounting bracket.

[Methodical4u]

soooooooooooo? How does it handle now?

[JellyBean]

soooooooooooo? How does it handle now?

Oh man yes I forgot to add that, sorry. The car handles so much better now. Body roll is not a concern any longer, steering is more responsive, and I still retain the quiet comfortable stock ride. I have several s curves that are now a blast to run through. Parts costs me $298 for the sway bars and $210 for the endlinks. The alignment was $106.

[Methodical4u]

Oh man yes I forgot to add that, sorry. The car handles so much better now. Body roll is not a concern any longer, steering is more responsive, and I still retain the quiet comfortable stock ride. I have several s curves that are now a blast to run through. Parts costs me $298 for the sway bars and $210 for the endlinks. The alignment was $106.

Yeah, I added the power mods first, but I don't drive fast when it comes to DD. However, I am a firm believer of making sure the brakes and suspension can keep up with the added power. Sounds good though. Thanks for the write up, i'll be using it when I am able to get the stuff.

[commbubba19]

I noticed the stock endlinks in the front have that same cockeyed positioning. I wonder why subaru designed it that way.

[mgmoehn]

I know an alignment will be necessary ... either before or after... any reason to get it before like you did?

Was that just to figure out how stiff/soft you wanted to make your sway bars to account for the fine tuning in the corners?

I am planning on doing this upgrade in the next couple of months.. I decided against getting a new set of rims and plasti-dipping the OEM ones... so I am going to spend some money on the eibach and KB endlinks...

I guess I was going to get the summer tires back on first... see how the car drove.. buy the setup install and then see how it drove...
then get an alignment to fix anything I felt was wrong?

[11blackSTi]

Do you have anything done to help the rear allignment or is it just stock set up (camber adjustment bolts)? If it's stock it's funny how different that can be car to car (since I believe they really can't do much adjustment to rear camber due to the rear suspension set up on the 3rd gen). I'm only at like .8 front camber (L & R), but was thinking about going to 1.5 as I've heard it corners a little nicer around that point.

Looks like you put a few hours into the set up, so I hope you enjoy!!!

[Mikie13]

Why didn't you get the alignment afterwards???

[A265]

Mikie, I could be wrong but sways and endlinks don't change the geometry so it doesn't really matter that he did it before, the alignment will stay remain the same.

OP: Did you need camber bolts to get -2 degrees in the front? Or do the bolts on 2013 wrx allow for more negative camber?

[Mikie13]

Mikie, I could be wrong but sways and endlinks don't change the geometry so it doesn't really matter that he did it before, the alignment will stay remain the same.

OP: Did you need camber bolts to get -2 degrees in the front? Or do the bolts on 2013 wrx allow for more negative camber?

Yeah it makes sense. All depends on how it was installed as well...if it was done properly under load on ramps/ground. If it was done on jack stands, then it would have removed the load and could have messed with specs.

[rage-wrx]

Mikie, I could be wrong but sways and endlinks don't change the geometry so it doesn't really matter that he did it before, the alignment will stay remain the same.

OP: Did you need camber bolts to get -2 degrees in the front? Or do the bolts on 2013 wrx allow for more negative camber?

I have heard that the stock camber bolts on the 2011+ allow for upto -2 camber in the front.

[hazynighthawk]

looking for this exact setup. I have the rear eibach bar currently . icannot find the front where did you get it ? same as the sti front ? also the endlinks worth the price ?

[cjbigcog]

JellyBean....
I'm getting ready to do this same installation on my '11. I'm curious why you used M12 washers instead of all 3/8 washers.