MK7 GTI Rear Sway Bar Install DIY

We show you how to install a rear sway bar on a MK7 GTI. We also talk about the benefits of what a rear sway bar will do to help improve the handling on a your VW GTI.
MK7 GTI 24mm Rear Sway Bar
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MK7 GTI 26mm Rear Sway Bar
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MK7 Golf R 25mm Rear Sway Bar
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Triple Square Bit Set for VW and Audi
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DAP Magnetic Bolt Tray
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[@AlexKeyesRacing]

Sway Bar is the single biggest change I felt on my car. Our GTIs need them in the rear a lot!

[@tyranelewis7763]

@KC 27MM Neuspeed Race rear sway bar

[@azandets9368]

1000% agree, installed mine 2 days ago. When I was in 4th grade I drooled over mk5 GTIs and dreamed about what they would be like to drive. I own a mk7.5 now and a 26mm H&R rear sway bar and a traction control delete, made my GTI handle the way I dreamed it would as a child. I’m in love with my car all over again. GTI + rear sway bar + pilot sport 4s + traction control delete = everything I could ever dream of wanting from a car. This is a must have mod for Mk7s. MUST HAVE.

[@lucaslealleite]

@@azandets9368 whats The main difference betwen The 26s and 24s mm? Im thinking about buying one of these for my MK7, which is not The GTI but The 140whp

[@timmie426]

@@azandets9368 did you disable / decrease the XDS?

[@azandets9368]

@@timmie426 I disabled it

[@AdamChandler86]

Thanks Paul for your contributions to the community.

[@pezz_pezzer]

Best upgrade I have done for handling to date besides tires. Highly recommended.

[@AFG-Tiger]

Did you do 24mm or 26?

[@john-henrycorbett2647]

Awesome vid as always Paul, thanks! Know u mentioned the front sway bar is a bit of a strech for DIY but any chance of you doing a vid on it? Very interested to see how to go about it

[@07D675]

Awesome video, super helpful. Only thing is, i would recommend loading the rear suspension by either jacking it up a bit while lifted, or or on ramps after a good snug with tools, then torqueing down the rest of the components. Also, what size triple square was used for the Sway Bar Link?

[@extrememike]

This jobs is actually more difficult that it appears. If you have the stock exhaust you have to unbolt/loosen it the in order to create more space to pull the the bar out. Also those end links are a nightmare. I en up cracking the triple square in one of them. 😅

[@tonmasi]

Thanks Paul, is it possible to do a video on how to replace lower control arm / bushing on the Mk7 gti? Thanks

[@Ichiashi]

My question is what if one of the bolts from the from swaybar breaks off should I do or use to get it?

[@Benny_From_NY]

When you have access to a lift makes life is a whole lot easier. I have a golf mk6 does the rear suspension need to be decompressed or compressed in order to replace the rear sway bar? I don’t have access to a lift I would use ramps.

[@frankxu3040]

can you do a review drive of the before and after you install a part ( in general)

[@420Patriot]

on a lowered mk 7 would a new front sway bar prevent rubbing on the axel?

[@jamesm2889]

24mm was the best mod I ever did

[@tyranelewis7763]

does it matter if suspension unloaded or loaded to prevent noise?

[@MrKoolaid218]

Do a strut tower brace video. Thank you

[@sirfartsalot1328]

I wonder why he didn't use new, better, end links. Also, if you line up the end links while you're dropping them in they line up quite well.

[@DonsShed]

What size Rear Sway Bar are the rest of you guys using for a Daily Driver? 24mm or 26mm? Cheers :)

[@pkl714]

What kind of lube did you use on the bushings?

[@paydroya659]

He really did it on a lift, talk about preloading the bar, if you have to install it on a lift make sure to loosen the all bolts n retorque when the wheels are on the ground,

[@InsaneLegendStudio]

Can you do you a video of how to fix or remove the window switch from the driver side my switch is too lose and my passenger window wont go up from the driver side on my mk7 2015 2 door if anyone knows a link to a video like that please message me thanks! and love your videos!

[@pebjr6621]

I would like to upgrade my 2015 Tdi, but I have a rear torsion beam suspension..... 😪

[@dimasvw2518]

Well, what is your have adjustable end links

[@johnzhu5735]

There are two errors in the video. 1) the suspension should be tightened with the wheel with load. This is in the instructions for most end links. 2) most of the golf suspension bolts are stretch/one time use bolts and need to be replaced. These could be a cause of some of your noisy suspension.

[@mikegrudic]

Yup, I followed this video and an endlink bolt came loose during hard driving, causing a clunking noise. My tech blamed it on the lack of preload before tightening.

[@lucassolorzano6460]

what size bolts are needed?

[@nikodominiko]

So this kind of work should be better done on ramps?

[@francoisloriot2674]

sway bars only twist when the body rolls, not when both sides are at same height, so loading will not change anything really, except the angle of the sides.

[@SlowDriverSean]

@@francoisloriot2674right. I’m not sure why a lot of people seem to think there is “load” based on the spring length. Same thing with adjustable end links. You don’t swap out end links every time a fat person sits in the car.

[@zukacs]

What's the stock sway bar size on 2018 TTS?

[@chriskeegan8919]

So the triple square is an M5 correct?

[@Somewondude]

is it bad to use the same bolts?

[@w116tjb]

Do you sell that C pillar wrap?

[@niceguy235uk1]

Does this stop the horrendous rattling that comes from the rear suspension? Replaced the shocks with Bilstein and it is still the same.

[@Osprey1994]

Rattling?

[@TorranceMoreno92]

Nice

[@smitherzz001]

Hi Paul I did a 26 mm sway bar install on my GTI performance 2017 and everything went well on the install but I'm hearing a knock noise when I go around corners sometimes what could that be I check to see if anything is touching and nothing is touching. You mentioned lubricating the clamps I didn't do that is that what it would be?

[@nickantuar1682]

Did you ever work out what the issue was? I'm getting the same problem.

[@tommicky6296]

Replace Endlinks with new

[@dllnthmpsn]

Would this work on a 2015 TDI with the Torsion Beam?

[@Dollheirs]

Dillon Thompson no, only neuspeed that I know of makes one for the twist beam

[@garycoots5629]

What is the best lube for the bushings? I have a 2016 Mk7 that I'm wanting to stiffen the suspension and at the same time, get rid of all the annoying squeaks.

[@MegaHollywood1971]

Lithium or Synthetic NLGI 2 grease. It's basically dielectric, but you'll need to get them in whatever size cartridge your grease gun holds (3oz or 14oz typically).

[@forgottenknowledge8917]

My uncle

[@Chino7GTI]

I did the front sway bar on my mk7 by myself, is kind pain to get the sway bar out cuz if don't have your subframe drop it low enough you won't able to that it out, also the HR sway bar don't come with the front bracket you have to use the factory one ☝️

[@johnnyh788]

How do you like it ? I am interested but install is pain in the ass.

[@Chino7GTI]

johnny Huang honestly I like it a lot even though is hard to install. You will feel big difference when you turn fast the car is feel stable and sharp. But one thing is if you don't want stiffer ride I don't recommend cuz it changed a little because the sway bar are a lot thicker than stock one. I currently have H&R 28 front and 26 rear.

[@johnnyh788]

Cool, you have a build thread. I need some instruction of how to drop the subfarme. Goon install Control arm require drop subfarme in my car, I check it already the transmission is blocking it. Any tips?

[@Chino7GTI]

johnny Huang I have installed a superpro control arms as well, if you going to do sway bar and control arms I suggest you to do it the same time because you can save time and money( have to do alignment every time you mess with suspension mods also if you planning to do a subframe mount like the VWR you should do it the same time too). To drop the subframe is really easy, theres only have four bolts hold on to the subframe, but before you drop the subframe you have to disconnect the endlink from the sway bar, and you have to loosen four bolt the hold the steering rack from the subframe, also the three bolts from each side of ball joints and the subframe and control arms should drop without any problem( make sure the wires are not attach to the subframe also)

[@Blaylock1988]

Paul, what is your opinion on hollow vs solid sway bars? Do you recommend one over the other?

[@ABeans07]

They are the same thing. However a 22 solid sway bar might be equal to a 26mm hollow.

[@BDelaney4000]

First off I love the vids Paul. Is it easier to install the sway bar without any preload or would this be fine to do on ramps? P.S.- after watching you with those end-links I couldn't help but think you might be in the market for some ratcheting wrenches :)

[@TheBigChin187]

Bryan Delaney the car on ramps wouldn't better I tried both preloaded work best 👍

[@RileyBassing]

How different it is to install on the R vs this?

[@winslow2795]

Exactly the same. Watch out for the headlight level sensor.

[@jmt0728]

Is there torque specs for all the hardware for the rear sway bar?

[@vividvulpe9842]

Since it’s a part that moves with your control arms, id think arm-tight is plenty enough. Over tightening wouldnt be any good

[@eppyz]

I keep hearing people say your supposed to "Pre Load" the sway bar when you install it. Is this true? and if so how do you do that?

[@forgottenknowledge8917]

A year later. No. Just tighten it when it's off the ground

[@RSX250]

For anyone working on a R. You will have to lower your exhaust system.

[@TheSinMOG]

Hehehe R are a pain to install mods on

[@tyranelewis7763]

GTI as well. it made the removal and install so much easier and its only 2 bolts to let it hang enough to ease the swap

[@winslow2795]

I don't think you do. I didn't do it on mine

[@reqhart]

Not true, you can pull it off without lowering exhaust.

[@iArcticFire]

I would like a diy for the front sway bar!

[@Jbaaaaak]

the MK7 benefits from just a rear swaybar much more than it benefit from both front and rear. Adding just the rear adds oversteer which balances the car out so just a rear swaybar is great.

[@RickJohnson]

Similar steps for a Golf R, or is there something to consider with the rear diff?

[@RyanPark]

It's the same, just did it, the differential is not in the way, it's right where the bar bends down.

[@eflizotte]

Crucial to use the triple square to hold the end link not loosen the end link.

[@ericpiotrowski2148]

Made the mistake and snapped it off. Good advice

[@williammendolaro5701]

What is the size is that end link triple square need. Paul mumbles at 8:03 "..our smallest bit in the kit... is fortunately in included there"

[@07HDDriver]

Personal opinion (unsolicited), MK7 GTI already handles neutrally on stock suspension. I would worry about how tail happy the car would be with just an upgraded rear sway bar, particularly in the wet where it is pretty easy to get the tail out before the ESC kicks in. Worked wonders for my terminally understeering Elantra though.

[@bertito43]

Maybe you’re not pushing the GTI enough but these cars are understeer machines from factory

[@chrismelisse1284]

@@bertito43 and love themselves some body roll

[@JDDD33]

Good video, but Sway bars need to be tightened up when the vechile is under load (I.e. wheels not hanging, and the car lifted by wheel ramps) - i.e whilst the springs are compressed at the cars normal resting stance

[@stumo114]

Err, no they don't. The joints are free to move and so is the bar in the mountings so there isn't anything that is twisting/bending/etc when the wheels are hanging. Other parts of the suspension should be tightened at resting height but not sway bars.

[@WhenzLunch]

I'm really considering doing a center exit exhaust. The rear diffuser on eBay for a center exit is about $100. 😏

[@Haydenbacon306]

WHENZLUNCH link? Just curious as to which one your talking about

[@dha588]

its much easier if you lower the exhaust . there's only two bolts holding the exhaust.

[@smitherzz001]

David Ha it's a way easier !!! I just did this install and lowered the exhaust ! Had it in like 2 sec

[@otownhardcore]

I hate Triple Square soooooo much!

[@josephboyd7182]

DIY with a 4-point lift. Yeah, right.

[@ivdubgti]

Makes DIY Videos Has Lift ..............

[@Pond_life]

Funny try removing on the ground where you only have a 16" of ground clearance... NEXT

[@Abhi35367]

WASTE WASTE WASTE OF MONEY IT ALREADY HAVE SWAY BAR

[@dumbeezy5480]

Dont comment if you don't know :]

[@pikkagtr1942]

same if you were to go with another turbo....waste of monies......it already has a turbo!!!

[@Nelbone]

Don’t reproduce

[@bertito43]

You sound like a smart guy. NOT