[ricks63]

Can someone give me a idea of what a 71 Trans Am front sway bar is worth? Thanks appreciate the help.

[77 Canamman]

The '70-'81 1.25" front Trans Am bars normally sell for $60-$110 depending on pitting, finish, and wear.

[Norwood]

Wear?

[bird72]

I recently bought one from a member. It was fresh powdercoated and nice at $125, which I considered a great buy.

[77 Canamman]

Originally Posted by Norwood

Wear?

I have seen front bars worn where the frame bushings are.

[Norwood]

The rubber wears out the steel? Again I learn something new

[77 Canamman]

You have never seen grooves worn into harmonic balancer hubs???

You need to get out more.

[Norwood]

Very good analogy I would say. A harmonic balancer makes an infinant amount of revolutions vs a sway bar that has very limited movment. Good one , I'm going to make sure I check my sway bar for excessive wear. Lol

[77 Canamman]

If it's worn, I'm sure your buddy Burd has a nOS bar for five thousand dollars..

[Judge273]

I'm thinking there's more to this thread than sway bars? Better get some popcorn...

[Aus78Formula]

If you can see the ground out your windows as you turn, your sway bar is wallowed out.

Burd doesn't have a NOS swaybar. We know this because he hasn't told us he does.

[72projectbird]

Originally Posted by 77 Canamman

The '70-'81 1.25" front Trans Am bars normally sell for $60-$110 depending on pitting, finish, and wear.

Sweet! I have a bunch of them kicking around, along with the rear bar.

[njsteve]

I'd love to upgrade the original 1" front and 9/16" rear bars in the Gramma car if anyone has a set of big bars to get rid of. And yes, the original front has wear marks where the original bushings trapped road dirt and ground away the outer finish over 42 years of driving. :-)

[marxjunk]

Steve i have a set off a 79 formula...i dont think they are bigger on the rear are they?

they do wear...the brackets cut the bar with age and neglect...

[njsteve]

Yes, I believe the rear bar is 3/4" on the T/A and the Formula with handling package.

[keith k]

Originally Posted by njsteve

I'd love to upgrade the original And yes, the original front has wear marks where the original bushings trapped road dirt and ground away the outer finish over 42 years of driving. :-)

I've seen some that were surprisingly worn down in the bushing contact area, too..

I sort of wondered how that could be, but I think it comes down to a couple things:
1) The bar moves a LOT... every little bump in the road results in some small rotation of the bar at the bushing.
2) Once they get some grit caught in between the bar and the rubber bushing, whether it's rust or sand or whatever..., the grit tends to "stick" in the rubber, and thus the rotation ends up being between the bar and the non-moving grit.

Or it could be a result of something completely different...

[marxjunk]

hmmm..lemme look..

[77 Canamman]

Some of the fillers used in the rubber compound are very hard elements, like carbon black and silica. Also, particles like salt and silicon can get between the bushing and the shaft surface.

[Norwood]

All good points but the next time I hear someone say my sway bar wore out will be the first time.

[72projectbird]

Speaking about sway bars wearing out, when I had my front bar removed for new bushings and a coat of paint, I noticed the frame had a small tear under the driver side between the two mounting bolts for the bar. Funky stuff, as it wasn't really rusted.

I guess the car had a rough life before I obtained it lol.