Author Topic: Big Sway Bars ???  (Read 5808 times)

Offline HP_Cuda

  • Hit the skinny little pedal on the right!
  • Sr. Resident
  • ******
  • Posts: 5268
  • Mopar or No Car!
Re: Big Sway Bars ???
« Reply #15 on: September 07, 2013 - 04:44:52 PM »

When I have put larger front sway bars on my other cars you can notice the front end is much stiffer to try and get body roll.

I have a car that is setup with stage 3 racing and I'll bet anyone on here they cannot get the rear to move up and down more than 1/2" at most. That sucker is stiff as hell but the downside is you get to feel all the bumps in the road and should start wearing a kidney belt to drive it.

 :bigsmile:
1970 Cuda Clone 440 4 speed - sublime green
1970 Cuda 383 4 speed - yellow - SOLD




Offline Chryco Psycho

  • Administrator
  • C-C.com Guru
  • *****
  • Posts: 36620
  • 70 Challenger R/T SE 70 tube Chassis Cuda now sold
Re: Big Sway Bars ???
« Reply #16 on: September 07, 2013 - 07:57:18 PM »
using a relatively soft compliant spring you ride quality should be good with no hopping or chatter with the wheels leaving the road but using huge sway bars will still keep the car flat in the corners . generally this combo yields awesome cornering

Challenger - You`ll wish You Hadn`t

Offline HP2

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 4478
Re: Big Sway Bars ???
« Reply #17 on: September 08, 2013 - 10:40:03 AM »
Its all about the mathmatical combination. If you go bigger on sway bars, you can go smaller on springs or vice-versa.

On my car I get the same combo of numbers with .96 t-bars and a 1.25 sway bar as 1.22 t-bars and a 1.125 sway bar.

Offline Mopar Mitch

  • Autocrosser/Road Course Racer
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 682
Re: Big Sway Bars ???
« Reply #18 on: September 09, 2013 - 04:28:46 PM »
On my T/A I'm running 1.24 TBs, 225 lbs/ inch w/5" arch fbr-glass mono leafs, 1.25" solid front sway bar, 1' solid rear sway bar, Koni Red "D" adjustable shocks,.... car weighs ~3150 in max low-weight race trim... set up for smooth surfaces of autocross and/or road course tracks... also with past Hoosier A6 autocross race radials (16x10 rims, 275-45-16 tires)... sticks like glue, corners/handles great!

For any/everyday "local street/and hwy" cruising, I run on BFG T/As 255-60-15 fronts, 275-60-15s rear... both f/r are 15x8 minilite vintage rims... a very nice ride and with added comfort from the taller 60-series sidewalls.... they aren't bad for the road copurse lapping events, but no good for pylon autocrossing.

The low-mount rear sway bar does have the noted advantage of exhaust clearance (IF the pipes go over the differential), although my exhaust dumps just in front and down of the differential (weight savings... no tail pipes, etc).  I'm not ceratin of how much an actual difference could be noticed with the rear sway bar above or below... I've recently observed the Gurnet race AAR having its rear sway bar mounted low, but still attached first to the frame rails, then to the differential.

I believe Helwig offers an adjustable frame-hung rear sway bar.. or else I think there's someone on our various e-chats that had Helwig make such a bar (that was the red Valiant out west)... and it was 3-point adjustable.

Running the narrower B-body differential does raise some concern about the required sway bar mounts... perhaps actually requiring an appropriately narrower rear bar if still mounted to the upper frame rails.
Autocross/road racers go in deeper... and come out harder!

See  MOPAR ACTION MAGAZINE, AUGUST 2006 ISSUE for featured article and details on my autocross T/A.

Offline jordan

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 601
  • no replacement for displacement
Re: Big Sway Bars ???
« Reply #19 on: September 10, 2013 - 10:09:57 AM »
what does the lower end link of the rear sway bar mount to.  I am assembling my rear end now and my car did not come with sway bars, and I dont see what the link will connect to.  Im guessing I need to buy a bracket or mount of some kind.  Anybody got a good picture or a source of where I can get one?
"Don't brake until you see God!"

Offline brads70

  • C-C.com Expert
  • ********
  • Posts: 18747
Re: Big Sway Bars ???
« Reply #20 on: September 10, 2013 - 10:20:18 AM »
what does the lower end link of the rear sway bar mount to.  I am assembling my rear end now and my car did not come with sway bars, and I dont see what the link will connect to.  Im guessing I need to buy a bracket or mount of some kind.  Anybody got a good picture or a source of where I can get one?


 I assume you mean the stock style? You need to find the plates that go under the springs.
Look here at firm feel's picture...
http://www.firmfeel.com/swaybarsrear_e.html
Brad
1970 Challenger 451stroker/4L60 auto OD
Barrie,Ontario,Canada
Proud to own one of the best cars ever made!!!!!

My restoration thread 
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=59072.0
 My handling upgrade post
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=73985.0

Offline anlauto

  • Permanent Resident
  • *******
  • Posts: 12328
  • I'm Alan G...I'm a Mopar Addict
    • Alan Gallant Automotive Restoration
Re: Big Sway Bars ???
« Reply #21 on: September 10, 2013 - 10:33:05 AM »
Hey I was gonna say that... :sadwavey:
I've taught you everything you know.....but I haven't taught you everything I know !
www.alangallantautomotiverestoration.com

Offline jordan

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 601
  • no replacement for displacement
Re: Big Sway Bars ???
« Reply #22 on: September 10, 2013 - 09:57:53 PM »
I didnt get a chance to call today.  I wonder if Firm Feel sells them individually?  Anybody know?  Will my endlinks fit with Dr.Diff 1" offset hangers, or do I need the special ones hotchkiss sells? 
"Don't brake until you see God!"

Offline brads70

  • C-C.com Expert
  • ********
  • Posts: 18747
Re: Big Sway Bars ???
« Reply #23 on: September 10, 2013 - 10:09:07 PM »
I didnt get a chance to call today.  I wonder if Firm Feel sells them individually?  Anybody know?  Will my endlinks fit with Dr.Diff 1" offset hangers, or do I need the special ones hotchkiss sells?


Member Shelbydog modified his sway bar plates for the offset rear end. Look here...... you might have to do the same? 1st page near the bottom.
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=75255.0
Brad
1970 Challenger 451stroker/4L60 auto OD
Barrie,Ontario,Canada
Proud to own one of the best cars ever made!!!!!

My restoration thread 
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=59072.0
 My handling upgrade post
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=73985.0

Offline 73EStroker

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1343
Re: Big Sway Bars ???
« Reply #24 on: September 11, 2013 - 02:05:36 PM »
I got the same as BIGSCHLUNK - Front 1-1/4 hollow Hellwig - that mounts to the original attachments and fits where the stock one goes. First thing I noticed was the improved steering reaction in a corner. Left the stocker on the back. Have 0.92 T Bars.
Barry (Salmon Arm)

Offline jordan

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 601
  • no replacement for displacement
Re: Big Sway Bars ???
« Reply #25 on: September 11, 2013 - 07:00:14 PM »
Thanks for the link Brad.  I may have to do that.  Today I bought some brackets from Firm Feel.  $135  Ouch!  Gonna feel funny cutting them up.  I may see if the end link will fit before I do.  But now I know I have a back up plan. 
"Don't brake until you see God!"

Offline Chryco Psycho

  • Administrator
  • C-C.com Guru
  • *****
  • Posts: 36620
  • 70 Challenger R/T SE 70 tube Chassis Cuda now sold
Re: Big Sway Bars ???
« Reply #26 on: September 11, 2013 - 07:46:41 PM »
I assume you are talking about the rear sway bar brackets , I was able to slide my bar into the trailer hitch & bend the bar inward the truck didn't move oddly so you may be able to tweak it that way

Challenger - You`ll wish You Hadn`t

Offline jordan

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 601
  • no replacement for displacement
Re: Big Sway Bars ???
« Reply #27 on: September 22, 2013 - 09:11:25 PM »
I got my rear sway bar brackets from Firm Feel.  It looks like it fits between the spring and the axle perch.  The locating pin on the spring locates the sway bar bracket, but is not long enough to locate the axle perches.  Is my axle only located by the u-bolts now?  Do I just line up the holes and hope for the best?  Measure side to side from the springs to get the best side to side center?  Is this how the factory sent out cars?  Will it hold up to huge power and cornering?  Too many questions?   :dunno:  :1zhelp:
"Don't brake until you see God!"

Offline jordan

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 601
  • no replacement for displacement
Re: Big Sway Bars ???
« Reply #28 on: September 23, 2013 - 07:23:28 AM »
I figured it all out.  I got my rear install mostly done, and then I started the sway bar.  It is part of a XV level 1 system, but its and Adco sway bar that attaches to the rear axle housing.  I wont need the $135 Firm Feel brackets that I bought!!  I was surprised when I open the box and saw that it was hung from the axle instead of the frame.  XV stated in their website that the Level 1 kit is stock appearing and geometry.  I thought the factory always hung sway bars from the frame.  It actually works out better for me this way since I narrowed the rear a little, everything still fits, and I dont have to worry about how the axle perches fit with the sway bar bracket.  I still need to drill the frame for the frame bracket and trim the end link bolt so it all fits. 
"Don't brake until you see God!"

Offline anlauto

  • Permanent Resident
  • *******
  • Posts: 12328
  • I'm Alan G...I'm a Mopar Addict
    • Alan Gallant Automotive Restoration
Re: Big Sway Bars ???
« Reply #29 on: September 23, 2013 - 08:32:40 AM »
Can you post a picture of it when you're done the installation ? :wave:
I've taught you everything you know.....but I haven't taught you everything I know !
www.alangallantautomotiverestoration.com