I have a 1973 Buick Riviera, and I am wanting to make it handle just a bit tighter. I plan on buying new bushings for the control arms, but was curious about the rear sway bar, and what others have used that fits. I also was wondering about stiffer springs, and where to buy them..... Thanks!
IMHO: Stiffer springs will only make that thing handle like a truck. First off, there's too much unsprung weight there, those things need the soft shocks and springs in order to be driveable. I would probably tighten up the bushings and that like you suggest, and then put slightly better shocks in it and maybe wider low-profile tires. That will be about the best I think you could do to that design and still have it roadable. It's got a rigid live axle, that alone changes the handling dynamics to that of a forklift. It's a big 2 ton car built on what is essentially the same thing they put into 1/2 ton pick ups, don't expect much.
The bushings will definetly improve the handling. You should look for a Riv with the factory Rear Sway Bar. It probably is exactly what you are looking for. It will improve handling . Its the path I took with my 73 Riv and I love it.
Boxing the rear trailing arms really helps, also wider rims and tyres are a good point to start from. By the way: Please put your name in your signature, we are all here on a friendly first name base :TU: And with only 5 posts behind your name it's never too late to introduce yourself (and your Buick) in the Wet behind the ears?? section of the board :Smarty:
The factory sway bar is attached in a way that it actually boxes the lower control arms as Erik mentioned. The bar bolts to a channel that goes up into the lower arm. If you do find a factory set-up just count on ALL new bolts and the "U" clips that the bolts go into.
In stages ive boxed the lower control arms and added new rubber bushings, added an ADDCO rear sway bar and recently added Bilstein schock on all 4 corners. Boxing on the lower control arms seemd to make the car feel extremely connected when trying to launch the car and the rear sway has definitely improved the cornering of the car. The new shocks have introduced a little bit of harshness into in the ride but the car still floats down the highway but its seems to feel more connected to the road. I think full coilovers and some lower profile tires would increase the handling to modern day sedan levels at the expensive of that luxury ride. A tighter steering box would probably help with that too.
I have a question. How does the ADDCO rear sway bar attach ?? Do you have a picture of the way it mounts ?? Thanks.
