Sway Bar Qusetion
 

I have a 65 Tempest. I wanted to do a modest upgrade to my front suspension. I purchased a 1 1/8" front sway bar. I have been using the stock sway bar with 17x8 rally 2s with 41/2"backspace 255/50/17 no problem with fitment, but dipped when I made turns.
I put the new Sway bar in and the tires hit when turning at about 85% of full turn both sides.
The new sway bar was wider across the front. Does anybody know of a sway bar that is shaped more like original sway bar?

Thanks Greg

I run a TA WS6 1.25" front bar on my '64 GTO, but I run 215/55/17's on 15x7's with 4.625" BS. I do have Wilwood front disc brakes, so that does require more BS. I used to run 235/60/15's on 15x7's with 4.25" BS with the same front bar.

To be honest, I'm surprised that you can fit a 255/50/17 under the front end. That's a lot of tire...

Is your new bar a factory bar or aftermarket?

Typo 225/50/17 tires front 255 on back.

That being the case, I don't understand the problem.

You are running less BS than I am on 1" wider wheels.

I now know I could have run 225/50/17's on my car, but went conservative on tire width due to having some rubbing issues with on the 235/60/15's - but the rubbing was on the outside - not the inside.

My 1.25" TA WS6 bar is the same shape as the OE bar. It must be the aftermarket bar design that is causing the issue. I'm not sure exactly what year my bar is - but it should be off a 2nd gen bird (1970 - 1981).

I believe it is the bar it is after market. Where do you buy a sway bar like you have?

Thanks

Greg

We put a 1 1/8” sway bar from a ‘70 Camaro under our ‘66 Tempest as well with no issues. I’ve not heard about an aftermarket sway bar causing an issue like that. But if you can find a sway bar from a 2nd F-body you should be fine.

Many of the cheapo sway bars are for multiple models, and can be wider. Measure from the outside of the bar curves to where the bushing rides and compare it to your original. If it's more than 1.5" wider on each side, it will contact the tire/wheel.

If that's the case, buy a model specific bar and it should work. Or purchase one for a 2nd gen firebird/camaro.

Does it contact the tire or the wheel?

How long are your end links? The ends of the bar should be horizontal to the ground when the car is sitting on the ground at ride height. If they are too long, it can push the ends of the bars up, out of the rotation path of the wheel center, and contact the tire/wheel.


.

I found one on Craig's List several years ago.

You could check ebay, local salvage yards or even a parts wanted ad right here.

It touches the tire


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Greg

This may be a stupid question....

But is the sway bar mounted upside down? If per chance it is, that would affect the geometry and could cause a rub.

The question is not stupid. Does some one have a picture of a assembled sway bar.

Thanks

Greg

FWIW...
 

1.25 TA bar in my '66

A different angle...

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...1&d=1566395843

I am pretty sure I have a one size fits none. I will look for a trans am sway bar. I don't trust these pictures from vendors on the internet none of them look like the picture of the old and the new.

Thanks

Greg

You have stock control arms on that car! That suspension positive cambers during compression. You will loose half the contract patch of the front tires during a panic stop with those short stiff sidewall tires.. You need to get modern control arms with .9 and .5 tall ball joints to run those tires. They will correct the backward camber issue that all A bodys came with..

Mark Savetske address's this in his suspension book.. I would get that book before doing anything else..

Well after everything was tightened up and the car was lowered to ground it gave it enough for the tires to clear
Signed
Embarrassed



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Glad to hear you got it figured out...

Champ,

The sway bar links i put in are half as tall as yours, the ones I took out were like yours. I put in a 1 1/8 bar and it rides pretty rough. do those bolts or links bolted to the a arm and the sway bar make a difference in ride?

Thanks
Greg

The thicker bar causes a rougher ride because it increases the spring rate when only one wheel moves [ over a bump or depression ]. I removed the large Bar I had on my GTO & went back to the factory 15/16" bar & ride is noticeably smoother. Couldn't really detect any difference in cornering ability either.

When I originally put this on, I still had the factory A arms on and the links were shorter.

After putting on the Global West tubular A arms (which had no provision for mounting a sway bar) and Koni coilovers, I actually drove the car for awhile with no front bar until I could have one of my customers fabricate (I have ZERO welding skills) a mounting area.

He selected the links to use once he had the welding done.

I'm happy with the results and don't think the ride is harsh.