Rear sway bar question Hello all. What is the best sway bar I can get for a 68 Sportwagon? I figure the bigger the better. I also have seen rear sway bars that attach tothe lower control arms by bolting to the side, while others will have a plate bolted on the bottom of the arm which bolts to the bar. What is better? the one with the plate looks kind of corny. Thanx.
Get boxed lower arms or the kit to do so. Order a new rear bar from a Chevelle catalog. Install gas shocks and the 70-81 Trans Am 1.25" frt bar.
The factory setup with boxed control arms works good. If you box your own, make sure to put the bushing between the bolt holes so you don't crush the control arm bolting the sway bar on. Rear bar should be 1" and front 1.25". Good shocks and springs are a must also.
You can still get the stock rear bar from GM. Save some shipping as that sucker is heavy if you have to ship it....PN 394926. Most of the specialty shops will sell you this same bar at a nice markup over GM....this bar is 7/8" I believe (stock for all the 68-72 HD suspensions). just anther option. later Tim
With my sporty, I went with ho racing boxed arms, and their matched 1 3/8 front and rear bars. They are big. They made a huge difference and got rid of that high speed sway or wander I used to feel. They were bought new off of ebay and were all pretty cheap compared to some of the alternatives. I think I paid $125 a bar with all of the hardware, and $80 for the boxed rear arms. Just shop around. I also did air bags in the rear coils, kyb gas shocks, and a 2.8 quick ration steering box. I am very happy with the combination.
The rear bar on our A bodies bolts between the lower control arms, and not to the frame like the front bar. This makes it alot less effective, so you can go quite a bit bigger than stock without a problem. To my knowledge, the biggest available rear bar, is the HO Racing bar at 1 3/8". I have a Herb Adams rear bar that is 1 1/2". That bar is no longer made. In front I have the HO 1 3/8" with polyurethane hardware. It fits like a glove with absolutely no rubbing issues. The combination results in much improved handling and feel. The HR Parts and stuff rear bar attaches to the body and control arms. It is much more effective, and has helped many a racer straighten out their launch. On the street, it may produce unwanted oversteer in a panic situation though.
I just installed a Hellwig 1" rear bar to my UMI Performance tubular control arms and have the Hellwig 1-5/16" front bar in my garage. The UMI arms ($209) are a bolt-in replacement for the stock pieces, come with urethane bushings and are cheaper than the oem repro stuff. My rag's startin' ta handle like a rocket sled on rails! shop around for best price then order from Summit Racing to save on the shipping - they price match and only charge the standard $8.95 handling fee.
