Author Topic: Big Sway Bars ???  (Read 5811 times)

Offline anlauto

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Big Sway Bars ???
« on: September 06, 2013 - 10:27:43 AM »
Are there a larger aftermarket sway bars that will mount using the factory mounting locations?
By that I mean...
In the rear is there a heavier one that you can mount to the frame yet still use the plates by the leaf spring?

In the front is there a heavier one that will go through the K Frame and use the stock lower control arms?

Sort of like a factory looking upgrade...  :thinkerg:

If so, what brand ? Part number ?
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Offline cudazappa

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Re: Big Sway Bars ???
« Reply #1 on: September 06, 2013 - 10:49:56 AM »
I have an Addco 1 1/8 front sway bar on my Challenger.  Mounted kind of like the factory.  Needed to fab up new sway bar brackets because there's mounted the bar too far rearward.  In the rear Firm Feel makes factory style frame hung rear bars.  Firm Feel has a Front Solution, too.
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Offline dodj

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Re: Big Sway Bars ???
« Reply #2 on: September 06, 2013 - 10:51:45 AM »
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/aco-595/overview/year/1973/make/dodge/model/challenger
I installed one of these about 20 years ago. Fits through k member and mounts to original tabs on lca's.
Mine is 1 1/8" though.  I never needed to fab new brackets like zappa.
My rear sway bar mounts on the axle though. Definitely not factory looking.
Scott
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2007.5 3500 6.7 Cummins Diesel, Anarchy tuned.
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Offline Katfish

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Re: Big Sway Bars ???
« Reply #3 on: September 06, 2013 - 11:11:04 AM »
Curious too

Offline BIGSHCLUNK

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Re: Big Sway Bars ???
« Reply #4 on: September 06, 2013 - 11:45:25 AM »
I'm running a BIG Helwig bar in front. Stock mount locations.
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Offline Mopar Mitch

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Re: Big Sway Bars ???
« Reply #5 on: September 06, 2013 - 02:40:17 PM »
My T/A is setup for national competition SCCA Solo/autocross events (SCCA class E/Street Prepared)... been very succesful thruoughout late 70s-80-90s (I've taken the past ~10 years off for family matters;  now coming out a little for "social" fun over the past ~3-4 years).  I have custom-made solid sway bars mounting in the factory locations:  1.25" front, 1" rear.   I also do "social" lapping hi-speed road course events.. these big bars are no problem... car handles very flat and very neutral through the turns/curves, etc.   My custom sway bars were made by a past semi-professional SCCA TransAM road racer in the late 70s... that's how they made them in the past... regular bar-stock steel, heat.. bend, etc.  I've recently considered getting one of the new "hollow" 1.25" front sway bars for weight saving, maybe a little thicker than 1.25, say perhaps 1.375" diameter, and then 1.125" for the rear.. and making the rear adjustable.   Any of the current sway bar mfgrs shhould be able to make any diameter sway bar.. duplicating the same factory shape.   The frame-hung rear design (stock configuration) is better than the axle-hung designs.   The front opening through the k-frame can be a little tight... 1.25" diameter is tight and will fit.. anything larger is tighter to fit and may require some stretching the path through the k-frame.
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Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: Big Sway Bars ???
« Reply #6 on: September 06, 2013 - 11:13:08 PM »
Hotchkiss has the larger & lighter hollow bars

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Offline BIGSHCLUNK

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Re: Big Sway Bars ???
« Reply #7 on: September 07, 2013 - 12:20:44 AM »
forgot to mention , mines a hollow bar too!
70 Chally R/T Convertible- Yes she's really got a HEMI, no she's not a Charger!
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Offline Katfish

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Re: Big Sway Bars ???
« Reply #8 on: September 07, 2013 - 09:20:06 AM »
So what is the largest bar that will slide thru the k-member without mods?

Offline anlauto

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Re: Big Sway Bars ???
« Reply #9 on: September 07, 2013 - 09:26:48 AM »
What about the rear bar ? Any that go in the stock location ?
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Offline dodj

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Re: Big Sway Bars ???
« Reply #10 on: September 07, 2013 - 09:34:00 AM »
Firm feel (or Hotchkis) has a frame mount rear bar, but it is an adjustable one with three holes on each side. So not factory looking.
Scott
1973 Challenger  440 4 spd 
2007.5 3500 6.7 Cummins Diesel, Anarchy tuned.
Good friends don't let friends do stupid things. ........alone.

Offline brads70

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Re: Big Sway Bars ???
« Reply #11 on: September 07, 2013 - 10:01:14 AM »
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

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Re: Big Sway Bars ???
« Reply #12 on: September 07, 2013 - 10:10:15 AM »
http://www.firmfeel.com/swaybarsrear_e.html


Brad...Edjumacate me.....Is that larger then stock, or have any benifits over stock ? :icon16:
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Offline brads70

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Re: Big Sway Bars ???
« Reply #13 on: September 07, 2013 - 10:36:22 AM »
Brad...Edjumacate me.....Is that larger then stock, or have any benifits over stock ? :icon16:


IDK  for sure but I think it's the same size as stock. The stock style has been know to rip out of the frame rail. I went with Hotchkis design  for this reason and in addition it's lighter, has 3 holes for adjustments, and mounts under the rear end so it has more clearance for exhaust. And.... I didn't have to go looking for the stock rear end plates/mounts..... and...... when I went to the b-body width rear end  it was easy. Didn't have to shorten/lengthen the stock style mounts/plates.
Yes it's a little more unsprung weight but it's a very lite weight part anyhow so that didn't concern me?


Picture above is with my old 8 3/4 I've since then replaced it with a Dana 60 B-Body width for bigger rubber.

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 Chryco Psycho

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Re: Big Sway Bars ???
« Reply #14 on: September 07, 2013 - 10:54:55 AM »
I prefer the frame hung bars , they have less suspended weight , I have yet to see a factory bar rip out of the frame but a lot of the diff mounted ones are not attached well to the frame & will tear the mounts out of the frame rails . There is a ratio , larger front bar requires a larger rear bar to balance the load .

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