Rear sway bar worth installing?

Discussion in 'The whoa and the sway.' started by Mike Trom, Mar 12, 2007.

  1. Mike Trom

    Mike Trom Platinum Level Contributor

    My GS currently does not have a rear sway bar and I was thinking about adding boxed control arms and sway bar to it.

    Is it worth adding (cost around $320) or not bother:Do No:
     
  2. SS-TRUCK

    SS-TRUCK Stage 1 X

    Yes they both are worth the money . The sway bar helps the rear from leaning in the turns plus helps stabilize the rear on launching . ON the control arms , boxing the arms are very well worth the expence . If you are handy with a welder you can easily box them yourself , but be sure and put NEW bushings in them . WE are using the urethane ones and they work good . But in answer to the question YES it is worth the money .
     
  3. David G

    David G de-modded....

    Mike, I added lower boxed arms from The Parts Place and a stock rear bar, at the same time I swapped in a 1.25" T/A front bar. Fantastic handling improvement in the corners. Not that I fly thru my turns, but you don't have to, to feel the difference.
     
  4. SS-TRUCK

    SS-TRUCK Stage 1 X

    That makes it a lot safer and you don't have to worry as much about the rear sliding out from under you . I will be glad to get mine back to gether and feel the difference with all new suspension and tires . Glad you are happy with the new parts . On my son's 95 Z/28 we replaced all the rear suspension , adjustable lower trailing arms . adjustable panhard bar and tubular adjustable torque arm . With most of the adjustments made it is a totally different handling and riding car.
     
  5. Mike Trom

    Mike Trom Platinum Level Contributor

    OK, so what is the best way to install new lower control arms? Wheels on the ground?, on jack stands? :Do No: Instead of learning by trial and error I will ask how to do it right the first time :)
     
  6. 68 LeSabre 4dr

    68 LeSabre 4dr Well-Known Member

    Mike , car set up on jack stands . Then put a floor jack under the rear end pumpkin and have fun ...... :TU: :TU:
     
  7. SS-TRUCK

    SS-TRUCK Stage 1 X

    If we were closer I would come over and do it for you . Since I am too far, here is the way I would do it . Put the rear of the car on jack stands under "frame" and let the rear hang . Put your floor jack under one side of the housing that you are going to work on . Have just a little preload on the axle as a safety factor and take the arm loose . You will know when the preload is right by turning the bolts . If they are difficult to turn try more or less preload until the bolts turn easier . My biggest piece of advice is please BE CAREFUL ! Or else bring it to me and we can put it up on the lift and stand under it . Much easier that way ..........Good Luck !!
     
  8. Mike Trom

    Mike Trom Platinum Level Contributor

    Thanks for the tips guys... time to order the parts I need and start soaking those bolts that have not been moved since April of 1968:Dou:
     
  9. tlivingd

    tlivingd BIG BLOCK, THE ANTI PRIUS

    well worth it as long as you have a front bar larger than stock. make sure to get the shim kit. mine needed a total of 1/4" of shimming on the rear arms. also when deciding on shim thickness make sure rear axle is at ride height.

    added 1.25 front bar and a 1 inch rear bar and tightened up the suspension greatly. it's lost some of it's boat like charm however.

    also you need to have spacers in the u shaped channel of the rear arms, and boxing is also advised.
     
  10. CJay

    CJay Supercar owner Staff Member

    Mike- when you tighten up the control arm bolts, make sure the rear suspension has the car's weight on it. In other words, as if all four wheels were on the ground. Very Important!

    Besides the improvement in handling, factory rear sway bars look cool!
     
  11. GotTattooz

    GotTattooz Well-Known Member

    Hell yes!! I have a 1 1/4 inch sway bar on the front and a 1 1/8inch bar on the back of my 67 Skylark, and I can out corner a lot of the newer cars on the road. I don't have boxed control arms yet, but atleast it doesn't lean like the Titanic when I turn now. I love the way old cars "float" at highway speeds, but I love the feeling of sticking a corner better.

    -Josh
     
  12. SS-TRUCK

    SS-TRUCK Stage 1 X

    These sway bars , are they aftermarket or off of a production car ?
     
  13. Hector

    Hector '79 Buick Limited

    My car is heavier that yours and I made the point to see at what speed I could aproach a certain road,after the 1 1/4" front and rear 1" bars,I could drive the road 16 mph faster and with much more confidence.Now I'm keeping my eyes peeled to find out if '94-'96 B body arms are a direct fit,there's a few kits out there for them.I miss some of the "buoyancy" from the old set up but to drive a big or heavy car that can modestly corner is a luxury that appeals to me:3gears: .
     
  14. Sturmgewehr

    Sturmgewehr Well-Known Member

    GOOD point Jason, and yes by all means put the rear bar in and box those control arms:TU: Pete
     
  15. alec296

    alec296 i need another buick

    you should see the size of the sway bar on the front of my 65 special
    i doubt its even 3/4 inch. i dont really think it helps any
     
  16. Mike Trom

    Mike Trom Platinum Level Contributor

    Parts are on order :Brow:

    Jason, you are right about the cool factor.... right now it just looks like something is missing when you look at the back of the car :(
     
  17. Curtis Litzen

    Curtis Litzen Well-Known Member

    Hi , What after market sway bars are people using for their 70-72 skylarks.
    Aftermarket and if so what kind do you suggest.Thanks Curtis:beers2:
     
  18. Mike Trom

    Mike Trom Platinum Level Contributor

  19. BadBrad

    BadBrad Got 4-speed?

    Mike,

    I look forward to hearing your report on the handling difference. As the theory goes that bar will probably make the rear end looser (cause oversteer) compared to your cars current setup. Cars with stock sway bars do oversteer. I found that going with a larger TransAm front bar and the stock rear bar reverses the trend and causes the car to tend towards understeer. This makes the rear end more controlable. In a hard turn I can usually pour on the coals and still keep it straight.
     
  20. Mike Trom

    Mike Trom Platinum Level Contributor

    I was able to find some free time today and I installed the new control arms and sway bar. Not too bad of a job, the control arm bolts that have been in there since 1968 came out "pretty" easy. The whole job took me about 3 hours from putting the car on jack stands, removing the old parts, installing the new, taking it off jack stands... No power tools used, just muscle and boy am I going to be sore tomorrow :pp

    I was only able to take a short test ride because my state inspection is way over due and I did not want Mr. Police man to stop me. The few turns I made did feel tighter but I really won't know until I give it a better test :Brow:

    The cool factor is there though :TU:
     

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