I'm looking to upgrade the front sway bar and add rear sway bar to my '68 'Bird. For complete set I've found Suspension Techniques for approx $235, Addco for approx $300 and Hotchkis for approx $550. All have the same diameter bars.
Is there a performance differerence between the manufacturers to warrant the price difference?
Anyone experience an issue with the proper "fit" of the bars?
Any input is appreciated.

I'm looking to upgrade the front sway bar and add rear sway bar to my '68 'Bird. For complete set I've found Suspension Techniques for approx $235, Addco for approx $300 and Hotchkis for approx $550. All have the same diameter bars.
Is there a performance differerence between the manufacturers to warrant the price difference?
Anyone experience an issue with the proper "fit" of the bars?
Any input is appreciated.

Not that this is a 68 but I got mine from http://www.performancesuspension.com/ for my 78. They came with a name but I don't rem what it is right now...it started with an H...but both fit well and I did not have any problems installing them. The rear was missing 2 bushings but they got those sent right away. If you send me an email at [email protected] I will send you the name once I get home... good luck. http://forums.performanceyears.com/g...icon_smile.gif

http://www.visualmktg.biz/transam78/

I checked their site and I think you have a Helwig bar. I had one of these on my F-150 and it worked well too.
My question is if the price difference translates into performance or quality difference when dealing with a sway bar?

Try saner performance fabrication, He will build you a sway bar any diameter you want, He has a web site but I can't remember it.

http://kurtspontiac.homestead.com/Pre1964Pontiacs.html

68FB400-

Go to this site about 1st gen Camaro/Firebird suspensions. The author talks alot about sway bars, coil/leaf springs etc.

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homep...suspension.htm

the author is an Auto-Xer and actually says most 1st gens don't need a rear swaybar with adequate rear leaf springs. Anyway, very valuable info on that site.

Chris78transam, I also was missing two bushing's from the performance suspension (helwig) 1 inch rear swaybar. They must forget to put them in all the kits. It really stiffen up the rear of the car. The front swaybar quality wasn't as nice as my original so I used mine with the new hardware and poly bushings. So I have a brand new front 1 1/4 swaybar if anybody needs it for a 2nd gen.

http://www.pontiaconline.com/members/117/

Here's the link to Saner Performance Fabrication:

http://www.sanerperffab.com/

Hope this helps,
Lloyd

'72 Formula 455 - TH400, 3.08 posi, A/C, Y99 suspension, tach & gauges, AM-FM stereo, 8-track, Formula steering wheel, etc.; Lucerne Blue with Medium Blue deluxe Interior; 12.96 @ 104 MPH @ the '03 PSN's

Soon I'll starting a body-off restoration on a 72 GTO 455HO, TH400, A/C, etc.; Sundance Orange with Ivory buckets

My experience adding sway bars to my old truck- Addco's didn't fit said my frame was an odd width(same measurment as 5 other PUs) and the ends don't look as nice as a factory bar, but alot better than a Hellwig.They did make me a custom one though for N/C.

Suspension Techinques on my old Honda Accord-GREAT fit and great quality.Not sure how their domestic stuff is.

I just put an Addco on my '66 Catalina. It was all around "good" I was just looking to upgrade from the stock 3/4" bar. I've used Hotchkiss before... If you have the money, they are worth it! They use hollow tube instead of a solid bar (big weight savings) and come with nice greasable urethane bushings.

Yea its Hellwig and well got no driving on it but it sure looks great! http://forums.performanceyears.com/g...icon_smile.gif Make sure when you order that you tell em 4 bushings for the rear please!