swaybars

Topic: swaybars (Read 8756 times) previous topic - next topic

swaybars

January 26, 2005, 12:03:48 AM

ok, id like to come up with a list of swaybar options for us besides the tc ones. is their anything bigger? i could have sworn that after market made a bigger set for the front and back for us, but i cant rember where i found em.. any ideas?

Re: swaybars

Reply #1 – January 26, 2005, 01:16:49 AM

Funny you should ask. Just noticed at the Hellwig site they list front and rear sways for 83- 88 birds and cougs. front is 1 5/16" and the rear is 1". They don't list prices, but they have a dealer locator.

http://www.hellwigproducts.com It's under performance and muscle car. Found it when I was looking for a sway bar for my '04 Ram.

Re: swaybars

Reply #2 – January 26, 2005, 07:59:48 AM

Well, the biggest stock Fox front sway bar is on the 5.0 Mustangs and the TurboCoupes (33mm- 1 5/16"). There are some aftermarket ones that are 1 3/8".

You can get larger rear bars from SN-94 Mustangs. The Cobras had 25,26,27mm ones and the GTs had 24mm. Watch out for the 26-27mm ones. they are hollow and the ends can break off. The 24 and 25mm ones were solid. Got a couple in my garage :p

Re: swaybars

Reply #3 – January 26, 2005, 11:49:31 AM

Chew on this if you'd like!

Addco Swaybars (http://www.addco.net):
T-Bird/Cougar 83-85 (1)- Front = 1 1/8” (part# 752) Rear = ¾” (part# 288)
T-Bird/Cougar 83-85 (2)- Front = 1 3/8” (part# 597) Rear = 7/8” (part# 667)
T-Bird/Cougar 86-88 – Front = 1 1/8” (part# 504) Rear = Same as 83-85 T-Bird (1)
Mustang 83-93 – Front = 1 1/8” (part# 752) Rear = Same as 83-85 T-Bird (1)
Mustang 83-93 – Front = Same as 83-85 T-Bird (2) Rear = Same as 83-85 T-Bird (2)

Competition Engineering (http://www.competitionengineering.com)
Mustang 79-98 – Rear = 1” (part# c2020)

Eibach (http://www.eibach.com)
Mustang 79-93 – Front = 36mm (part# 3510.320) Rear = 24mm (part# 3510.320)*

Hellwig Suspension (http://www.hellwigproducts.com)
T-Bird/Cougar 80-88 – Front = 1 5/16” (part# 6701)** Rear = 1” (part# 6800)***
Mustang 79-93 – Front = 1 5/16” (part# 6700) Rear = 1” (part#6801)

Maximum Motorsports (http://www.maximummotorsports.com)
Mustang 79-02 – Rear = 1” (part# RSB-30)

Steeda Autosports (http://www.steeda.com)
Mustang 79-93 – Front = 1 3/8” (part# 555-1088)
Mustang 79-93 – Front = 1 3/8” (part# 555-1087)
Mustang 79-04 – Rear Adjustable = (no diameter given) (part# 006-470)
Mustang 79-01 – Rear = (no diameter given) (part# 566-19711)

Suspension Techniques (subdivision of beltech corp. http://www.beltechcorp.com)****
Mustang 79-93 – Front = 1 3/8” (part# 50050) Rear = 15/16” (part# 51040)

*Note: These bars are not listed separately, part # applies to front and rear kit.
**Note: Bar not listed as available From Summit Racing
***Note: Summit Racing lists this bar at 1 1/8” I suggest calling hellwig to confirm or deny.
****Note: Beltech Corp’s website does not list any products from the Suspension Techniques line. No other website was found.

Re: swaybars

Reply #4 – January 26, 2005, 11:53:32 AM

That's all i've found for the moment, but if I come up with more i'll add to it. Now out of that list I personally own the addco bar (86-88 model) and think it's pretty decent. I'm actually looking into possibly picking up the 1 3/8" suspension techniques front bar and the hellwig 1' (or 1 1/8") for the rear. But for now i'm reasonably satisfied with what I have the front end. Nothing like being able to take a corner at 40mph!

Re: swaybars

Reply #5 – January 26, 2005, 10:55:25 PM

Be careful with some of those early Fox front bars. I have an 82 GT bar that does not fit on my 87 Tbird.

I am running a Koni Rallysport bar out back - it's bigger than the TC bar.

Chris

Re: swaybars

Reply #6 – January 26, 2005, 11:03:25 PM

how much bigger chris? is it 1.125" 1-1/8" and how do u like it?

Re: swaybars

Reply #7 – January 26, 2005, 11:27:15 PM

I think it's the 17.5mm bar. With the larger Koni bar out back, and the TC bar in front, I really like the handling of the car. I might put the stock front bar back on the car just to do a final test. It's a lighter bar, and I don't think I'd give up too much.

The biggest bar isn't always the best - it has to do with your struts, shocks, springs, what kind of bushings you use, everything. Getting the roll stiffness and shock rate the way you like it may take a while, but it's really fun to test and tune it.

With sway bars available at any junk yard, and shocks and struts easy to come by, I say jump in and turn them wrenches!

For more about this kind of thing, check out Ross Bentley's book, "Speed Secrets - Professional Race Driving Techniques."

Chris

Re: swaybars

Reply #8 – January 27, 2005, 12:05:06 PM

Updated list with competition engineering component. Still hunting for more.

Re: swaybars

Reply #9 – March 28, 2005, 04:40:07 PM

Updated with maximum motorsports and steeda components.

Re: swaybars

Reply #10 – May 04, 2005, 03:34:44 PM

why isnt this one a stickie eric? by stickie I mean in the hits and misses or something.

Re: swaybars

Reply #11 – June 02, 2005, 01:54:20 PM

I got front and rear from an '88 Cougar LS for my '84 5.0 bird.
Front - 1 5/16"
Rear - .810"
I put them on with no other changes to the suspension and was pleasently surprised.
Huge difference in cornering, much less body roll, more steering feedback and a little
stiffer ride all around.
Best part was the price. $20 US at the boneyard. $16 for new front bushings at NAPA.
Took less than an hour to install.

Re: swaybars

Reply #12 – June 13, 2005, 12:17:43 PM

I just put Turbo coupe front bar on last night with energy suspension bushings. Man I can't believe what a difference it made!

Re: swaybars

Reply #13 – July 14, 2005, 02:03:23 PM

Does any one know what sizes the stock mustang and t-bird bars are that are SMALLER than the monster turbocoupe bar? I need to do some sway bar tuning to see if I can reduce understeer. Decreasing roll stiffness in the front is supposed to help cure an understeer condition. I figured it's worth a shot...

Re: swaybars

Reply #14 – July 24, 2005, 03:00:54 PM

2.3L Mustangs have a 7/8" front swaybar on them. That's probably a little TOO small for a turbo coupe. '94+ V6's or older 5.0's might have the slightly smaller front bar you need.

Also, I have a '99 Mustang GT rear swaybar on my Turbo Coupe that I've had for years (used to have it on my '90 Mustang). It's about 7/8". I got it for cheap back when there were lots of factory take-off mustang parts on ebay.