How to Replace a BMW Sway Bar Link

1. Loosen the lug nuts that hold the wheels on. Lift the BMW with a floor jack and lower it onto jack stands. Remove the lug nuts and the wheels and set them aside.
2. Locate the sway bar and the end links. The sway bar is a thin length of metal that goes from one side of the suspension to the other. The end link is fastened to the end of the bar on one end and is bolted to the suspension on the other.
3. Remove the nut or bolt that holds the end link to the suspension with a socket set and ratchet. Depending on the design of the sway bar, you may need to hold the nut still while you loosen the bolt. Disconnect the link from the bar.
4. Remove the link from the sway bar. Again, the procedure will vary depending on the model of BMW and whether it is the front or rear bar. For instance, the end link on the rear bar of an E28 generation 5 Series and some other models is not even bolted to the bar but simply slides on so the bar goes through a hole in the bushing at the end of the link. On the front of an E45 3 Series, though, the link is bolted to the bar. To remove this type, you must first remove the bolt that holds it to the bar.
5. Install the new end link onto the sway bar in the reverse order that it was removed. Make sure the end link is at the same angle as the old one. Tighten the bolt and nut if applicable. If it is the type that slides on, you may want to lubricate the bushing with soapy water to ease installation. Reinstall the opposite end of the link onto the suspension. Reinstall the wheels and lower the car back to the ground with the jack.