HELP! I can't get my Tanabe rear sway bar on!

Take a look at the pic and you'll see that the Tanabe bushing's base is much taller than stock. For this reason (I think) I can't seem to get the brackets back on the car...the nuts won't go on even a turn.

The bushings have a number on them: NO 24 FD3S R. The retailer said they called Tanabe Japan to verify that I had all the right parts and supposedly I do.

Anyone else have this issue? Am I missing something? What do I do?

 

no way is that the right bushing unless they intended for spacers to go between the bracket and the frame mount

 

Yeah that definately seems to be the wrong bushing/bracket...I would figure out the diameter of the rear bar and find some replacement polyurethane bushings/brackets @ auto parts store

 

I believe Enerygy suspension carries universal fitments & are available @ any advanced auto parts

 

Called Tanabe USA and they're going to contact Japan and get me an answer ASAP...I linked the guy to this topic and as soon as he saw the pic, he recognized something was wrong...I'm happy to go the Energy Suspension route, but c'mon I paid good money for these parts and therefore they should work / fit properly.

Ugh! I'm frustrated!

By the way, driving around with a huge front bar and no rear bar is really hilarious. The car understeers like a Subaru...my zoom zoom turned into chugga chugg. Now all I need is an exhaust that goes burble burble instead of vibrate vibrate.

 

I thought that too at first, but the factory studs are not long enough.

 

WARNING: If you own a 2006 RX8, DO NOT buy the Tanabe rear sway bar!!!

They told me that the bracket changed and so I would have to find a bracket that fits! Can you believe that? I told them that I expect a full refund because their product doesn't fit on my car without modification! They are going to run it by Japan and give me a call back ASAP.

Wow! I expected more from Tanabe than "please get a bracket from another car to make it fit." Can you blame me?

 

That won't fit on an earlier model RX-8 either, no wonder they hosed the SSR wheel brand too ...

 

that's just bull

stick it to 'em, make them fit it to your car or get your money back

 

They finally called me back...They are willing to give me a full refund for the rear sway bar...I told them I bought the front and rear as a set (the truth) and that I want a full refund for the front as well...they are gonna ask Japan and get back to me.

I'll keep you posted.

 

Derex'8 your avitar is either funny or sad...skinny dude with a fat chick?

 

it just means he's a good wingman

 

^^^ Ditto...but being that I'm in the army "Battle buddy"

 

get the Progress Technology bars ...

 

wow, tanabe USA doesnt have a mind of their own, they gotta run and get japans permission to issue a 2-300 dollar refund? how odd and very unimpressive.

i was looking at some sway bars and after reading this thread ive swayed my decision from tanabe to progress.... no pun intended

 

progress tech bar thread

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-wheels-tires-brakes-suspension-55/sway-bars-109096/

 

Yeah...what a bunch of bureaucrats!

They finally gave me "permission" to pack up both the front and rear bars and return them to Upgrade Motoring here in the valley. They will have to "inspect" the items to make sure everything is there and then give me the refund.


Thanks! I'll look into that.

I don't want the Racing Beat bars because they are set up for "slight understeer" according to them. Since I'm not tracking the car any more than 3-4 days a year, I think I'd prefer slight oversteer. It's more fun on the street that way

 

wut do you mean? I thought tire rack handled them

 

TireRack is only the US distributor for SSR wheels. SSR filed for bankruptcy and was bought out by Tanabe, the rest speaks for itself ...

https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...3&postcount=10

 

I have Tanabe sustec sway bars (F+R). I didn't have any problems with the bushings but I replaced them anyways with energy suspension bushings; I thought that bushings that Tanabe suplied was a little flimsy...

 

you did have the same problem, post your pics of the Tanabe bushings from the other thread

 

For a minute you had me thinking I was a retard...please post a link to the other problem thread to reinforce my sanity.

By the way, I still haven't received my refund even though they've had the sways for 3 days now. All of a sudden, they're saying they need 30 days to clear the refund! What a bunch of f$#3ers!

 

looks like my bad, the picture I recalled seeing is on the front bar and it appears that the bracket just wasn't tightened down fully. Regardless, the bushings shown in this thread won't work

https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...8&postcount=10

 

Damn skippy!

 

Final Update:

Tanabe have finally refunded me for the front and rear sway bars.
It took about 5 weeks.
They asked for my year, make, model and VIN and will be doing some research to get this problem squared away.

Now I can order the PT sways.