suspensionmaxx endlink geometry

i've been searching but mostly see things like this and this which have a different setup than my rebel / ORT.

watched this, but it doesn't have as clear of a view as i was hoping for:


after doing the 5100s + ucas i installed the suspensionmaxx endlinks (https://suspensionmaxx.com/product/SMX-1319L). everything bolted up fine, and parts align ok (each side leans in toward the engine a bit and the weird top "wedge washer" or whatever it's called is properly indexed) but the geometry looks weird. the bushing looks way too pinched on the bottom.

i was in a rush (always a bad idea) so figure i'll unbolt everything when i have more time and try rotating things to see if it makes any difference. if anyone has good pictures of how these look bolted up to a rebel/ort (looks like our lower control arms are different, and also looks like the sway bar connection is different) with the 5100's or similar level i would appreciate it. just want to have a better comparison point when i'm under there.

thanks!

Yours look like mine, which also look like his (and I believe to be correct):

Thanks for the replies! This helps a lot. Also going to download their pdf install docs like that thread shared.

The one in the box wasn’t much and had sections missing. I know it’s an easy job, but wouldn’t be the first time I messed up something “easy”!

BlackSheepRebel said:

i've been searching but mostly see things like this and this which have a different setup than my rebel / ORT.

watched this, but it doesn't have as clear of a view as i was hoping for:

SuspensionMaxx End Links - Ram Rebel

In this video I replace my factory front sway bar end links with the new SuspensionMaxx end links. These end links are about 3/4" longer and have serviceabl...

youtu.be

after doing the 5100s + ucas i installed the suspensionmaxx endlinks (https://suspensionmaxx.com/product/SMX-1319L). everything bolted up fine, and parts align ok (each side leans in toward the engine a bit and the weird top "wedge washer" or whatever it's called is properly indexed) but the geometry looks weird. the bushing looks way too pinched on the bottom.

i was in a rush (always a bad idea) so figure i'll unbolt everything when i have more time and try rotating things to see if it makes any difference. if anyone has good pictures of how these look bolted up to a rebel/ort (looks like our lower control arms are different, and also looks like the sway bar connection is different) with the 5100's or similar level i would appreciate it. just want to have a better comparison point when i'm under there.

thanks!

Click to expand...

You posted in the 5th gen section so what year truck do you have? The swaybar endlinks are different

Quick_Shifter said:

You posted in the 5th gen section so what year truck do you have? The swaybar endlinks are different

Click to expand...

Good point. 2021. I’ll post a pic of what mine look like before reworking them (at a birthday party ). It can’t be right.

I might be stupid, or paranoid, or something is weird. In case it's the first or second option, figured I'd share some pics of what I'm seeing. Who knows, it might save someone else paranoia or premature wear.

I took them off tonight and played around with rotating them differently to see if that made any difference. Really, between the bottom bolt and top bearing surface being angled, there's not a lot of options in how they go in. Once the bolts are in, you can rotate the bottom "shroud" or whatever it's called, but that doesn't make a lot of difference in what's bothering me (maybe I should just get over it, but hope to confirm with another install on the 19+ trucks since the instructions specifically call out alignment being key to avoiding premature wear).

First, I've got a 2021 Rebel with the Bilstein 5100's at circlip position #5 (~1.7" atop the 1" factory lift). That's why I ordered SMX-1319L which specifically states it's for 2019+ 2-3.5" leveled trucks. Another thread mentioned getting their PDF install instructions, but I had no luck. They've got install sheets galore but none listed for the 1319L. Maybe it's similar enough to others they don't see a need, but it's odd because the box did come with "2019+" instructions.

Nothing here: https://suspensionmaxx.com/installation-instructions

This was in the box. Looked odd at first, notice how the "required tools" section is cut off (not a big deal but what else is missing?) and the back side has two boxes that seem like they should have something printed but don't. Maybe they're shipping a lot of parts. Good for them.




If you look at this video around the ~8:13 mark it's a good shot of an install on a 2019. The top bushings do not look pinched. The bottom part appears angled in away from the tire (but camera angles make a big difference):


Here's what I've got... super pinched on top. I've tried loosening everything up and rotating the bottom to affect the angle but it doesn't make much difference which way I go. Different than the video, but chose the current angle based upon interpreting the instructions in the box.

Took everything apart again tonight. Straightened out all the bushings. Rotated the top and swapped sides for the hell of it. Looked great. When torquing, things want to rotate and crush the bottom bushing in the top. Fixed that by over tightening and backing off a little. Still not like the picture in their doc (the driver side pic there even has more space than mine did out of the box, maybe it’s a tolerance issue), but better than it was. Will run awhile and see if there are any weird noises or signs of wear.

Way better than stock, but if these do prematurely wear I might see if Carli, Thuren, etc have options.

One thing I will say, the older models that just bolt straight up into the sway bar vs from the side like mine wouldn't have this issue. Sort of wish mopar had kept that format, or suspensionmaxx actually had a stock-like bolt you could get a ratchet on to prevent rotation.

Otherwise these look amazing and are clearly stronger than stock. While I improved it a bit, I still worry the upper cup and ring will rub under flex and make noise (hopefully not worse). We'll see!

It is nice to see the perfect swaybar alignment again...so at least that is fixed.