Rear Sway Bar - - - - - - - - Do they really Help???

[Glennster]

I'm looking into buying a Rear Sway Bar for my 70 Challenger. I'm curious about a few things. First, does it really help handling? Will it really take some of the roll out as I corner?
How about the install, I have an 8 3/4 rear end, is it pretty easy to install?
THANKS for any help ! ! !

[burdar]

Yes, they do help.  They were a new inovative thing back when these cars were built.  Now every car has them...even the cheap base models.

Installation is easy.  If you aren't worried about a completely stock look, you can buy a brand new kit from Hotchkis.  You'll have to remove the U-bolts from the rear axle so you can slide the end link plates between the springs and the rear axle perches.  I assume new(longer) u-bolts come with the kit but I'm not sure.  Maybe you don't even need longer ones? 

You will have to drill holes in the frame rails for the swaybar brackets.  The stock brackets are tapered to match the contour of the frame.  I assume the Hotchkis one are tapered too.  This makes it very easy to locate.  The brackets basically locate themselves.  Hook up the end links, swing the bar up into place and mark where you have to drill. 

The hardest part of the whole install will probably be removing the old U-bolts.

[brads70]

I would add a bigger front bar before I got a rear one. IMO? The Hotchkis stuff is REALLY nice because it's so lightweight. I added both to my buggy so I can't say if just the rear one made a drastic improvement. You don't need to put the end link plates in with the Hotchkis set up. That's the factory set up . The nice part about the Hotchkis set up is it allow more clearance for exhaust.  Looks here and click on installation instructions

http://www.hotchkis.net/rear_sport_sway_bar_set_7074_mopar_e_body.html

PST sells what looks to be the same stuff.
http://www.p-s-t.com/s.nl/it.A/id.7085/.f?sc=12    -front
http://www.p-s-t.com/s.nl/it.A/id.7089/.f?sc=12    - rear


IMO there is no one part that will make it handle like a modern car, but it's the combination that makes it work. Each part does improve it don't get me wrong , all I'm saying is don't expect miracles after bolting on one part.

[LAA66]

 Adding one to mine helped a little, however the rear springs are pretty stiff as it were. I found one locally for $125 with the brackets and end links intact and think it was money well spent.  The original U-bolts fit with plenty of thread to spare even with the added plate.

 One thing I do like about the factory setup is it allows the use of a floor jack and stands under the axle housing.

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Are you using ordinary old school cheap shocks? The shocks are what I would upgrade first.   

[burdar]

I thought Hotchkis was a copy of the factory setup.  I was wrong.  It looks like the bar hangs from the axle housing.  I like the factory setup where the bar is suspended from the frame.   

[Road_Runner]

Adding one to mine helped a little, however the rear springs are pretty stiff as it were. I found one locally for $125 with the brackets and end links intact and think it was money well spent.  The original U-bolts fit with plenty of thread to spare even with the added plate.

 One thing I do like about the factory setup is it allows the use of a floor jack and stands under the axle housing.

How did you know where to position the brackets on the frame?  I've got a stock rear bar to go on my Barracuda which has undercoating like yours and I'd like to only clean off just where the bracket goes...

Thanks, Jim

[burdar]

How did you know where to position the brackets on the frame?  I've got a stock rear bar to go on my Barracuda which has undercoating like yours and I'd like to only clean off just where the bracket goes...

The stock brackets are tapered to match the contour of the frame....................This makes it very easy to locate.  The brackets basically locate themselves.

[Road_Runner]

Well, I read that before but I've looked under mine and with the thick undercoating if its obvious where the brackets go it still eludes me.  That said, I havent had it up on a lift only looking at it as close as I could get crawling under the back of the car (& I'm not exactly small), so maybe if I can get real close I can see where the contour matches the brackets...

Later, Jim

[72cudamaan]

I thought Hotchkis was a copy of the factory setup.  I was wrong.  It looks like the bar hangs from the axle housing.  I like the factory setup where the bar is suspended from the frame.

It looks like that because the car is jacked up by the differential. At least  I think so anyway.

[brads70]

It looks like that because the car is jacked up by the differential. At least  I think so anyway.

Yep, the Hotchkis rear sway bar hangs off the rear end . The stock set up the bar hangs from the frame rails.

[burdar]

Well, I read that before but I've looked under mine and with the thick undercoating if its obvious where the brackets go it still eludes me.  That said, I havent had it up on a lift only looking at it as close as I could get crawling under the back of the car (& I'm not exactly small), so maybe if I can get real close I can see where the contour matches the brackets...

Later, Jim

Jim...just hold the bar up onto the frame.(wider part of the brackets at the top)  It will fall into the correct place.  You can be a little off and it won't affect the bar in any way.  I'm sure the factory bars weren't in the exact same spot on every car.  Since you have a lot of undercoating in that area, I would hold the bar up to the rails where it kind of fits.  Mark the general area where you need to remove some undercoating.  Once the undercoating is gone, you can hold the bar up against the frame again to narrow down its placement a little better.  You can always spray some more undercoating if you removed a little more then you'd like.

[LAA66]

How did you know where to position the brackets on the frame?  I've got a stock rear bar to go on my Barracuda which has undercoating like yours and I'd like to only clean off just where the bracket goes...

Thanks, Jim

 I took some time and lined up the bar (connected to the links) then used a rubber hammer to set it in place.  Like Burdar said it just fit right into place. I figured the undercoating would be good insulation against rust and it afforded a nice tight fit so it was not removed.

 Make sure the car is level and supported on the rear axle when you do the final set on the frame brackets. Use aircraft nuts so the brackets and frame snug just right.  

[GranCuda1970]

Good info!! I have the perches and the end links and am about to install a factory rear sway bar.

[GranCuda1970]

Have not checked myself but a shop restoration guy told me that there are local indents on the frame for drilling to add the sway bar may not be able to see if undercoated.