Sway bar confusion

[Ford.P51]

Hi all, another Mopar newbie question.

I've got a 72 Challenger, plain jane 318, the previous owner turned it into an odd mix of parts all over the car. 71 grill, one 71 fender, El camino mirrors, etc...  Slowly trying to make this car right again.....

I ordered a bunch of the Moog front suspension parts, but I realized after they arrived that the sway bar links don't seem to match whats on the car.  Here's two pics:





Is the sway bar and its mount correct for this car?

Thanks in advance!

[ksierens]

That looks like some type of after market sway bar to me.

[brads70]

Never seen that on a E-Body?  The LCA's should have tabs on them for the sway bar link kits.

[burdar]

Like was said above, the LCA's have tabs on them to mount the links.  If you car doesn't have tabs on the LCA's, the car didn't come from the factory with a front bar.

I'll bet you are going to have to replace the strut rods now that an aftermarket swaybar set-up was mounted to them.  Lots of times they are bent anyway.  I would imagine that they are really bent now. 

[Ford.P51]

Thanks guys!!! I looked at the shop manual, and thought that there should be tabs on the LCAs, but wasn't sure. Thanks for clearing that up.

Is there any way to figure out if a sway bar came on the car from the factory? The buck tag?

I thought it was weird that they were attached to the strut rods. I agree burdar, I'll add strut rods to the list of things to replace. And LCAs, and sway bar , and ....

[burdar]

A non Rallye 318 car may have not had a bar. If there are no tabs on the LCA's then the car didn't come with one.  Just out of curiosity, does the car have an 8 3/4 rear end or an 8 1/4?  Did it have front drums or discs?

[HP2]

What it looks like you have is a 73-79 B body or possibly a 76-85 FJM body front sway bar. Outside chance it might be off a truck or van or aftermarket as well, as some of those clamp to the strut bar as well.

It functions the same as the type that bolts to the lower control arm. It is slightly less effective than the original style. Sure is puny too. If you change it to a more original style, then most kits will come with bolt on brackets to mount to the lower control arm, or you can buy OEM looking, weld on replacement brackets from Hotchkis or Summit.

[Ford.P51]

A non Rallye 318 car may have not had a bar. If there are no tabs on the LCA's then the car didn't come with one.  Just out of curiosity, does the car have an 8 3/4 rear end or an 8 1/4?  Did it have front drums or discs?

No tabs on the LCA's, 8 3/4 rear end, drums all around.

[Ford.P51]

What it looks like you have is a 73-79 B body or possibly a 76-85 FJM body front sway bar. Outside chance it might be off a truck or van or aftermarket as well, as some of those clamp to the strut bar as well.

It functions the same as the type that bolts to the lower control arm. It is slightly less effective than the original style. Sure is puny too. If you change it to a more original style, then most kits will come with bolt on brackets to mount to the lower control arm, or you can buy OEM looking, weld on replacement brackets from Hotchkis or Summit.

I saw a pick of the B-body sway bar in the Haynes manual last night, was wondering if that was possibly it. I think I'll eventually do like you mentioned and get a kit that includes the sway bar and brackets. I found the Hotchkis brackets on Summit last night, haven't found any others yet though. I'm guessing that even if I bought the weld on brackets that I'd still need an e-body sway bar.

[HP2]

The brackets would work with your existing sway bar, if that is a concern. The end links will attached it to the bracket instead of the clamp that attaches to the strut. You could add the weld on bracket now, then change sway bars later.

Funny thing is if you buy those brackets from Summit, they will ship direct from Hotchkis and take an additional 3-5 days, but if you buy them direct from Hotchkis, you will get them sooner but pay more for them.

I recall there is someone else making the brackets, but I forget who it is. Their version is a thinner stamping, more like the original. The Hotchkis versions are a bit thicker and more sturdy.

[Ford.P51]

The brackets would work with your existing sway bar, if that is a concern. The end links will attached it to the bracket instead of the clamp that attaches to the strut. You could add the weld on bracket now, then change sway bars later.

It sure would be easy to weld those brackets on before I put everything back on. I may have to do that.

Funny thing is if you buy those brackets from Summit, they will ship direct from Hotchkis and take an additional 3-5 days, but if you buy them direct from Hotchkis, you will get them sooner but pay more for them.

LOL, the universal truth, everything costs time or money!

[brads70]

I'd suggest pulling off the LCA's and replacing the bushings, by the looks of it they are most likley original.... you have gone this far?

[Ford.P51]

No I haven't done those yet. I'm in the midst of a disc brake upgrade that has turned into a "replace most of the front suspension" upgrade. I suspect that you're right and the bushings of both the upper and lower arms are original. I think I'm going to tackle the bushings and the sway bar in the next round of mods - I've spent enough money this month.