Sway Bar

petew · 2013-08-24 21:55

Just looking at the front end on my Country Sedan Wagon and noticed that it doesn't have a sway bar. Were they optional or is mine just missing ?

Pete

hiball3985 · 2013-08-25 07:09

I've never seen one without. This might be a good reason to get a good after market one, I have one on my endless list.

RICH MUISE · 2013-08-25 08:28

Ditto what hiball said. Mine, like most of the guys have used, is from Southwest thunderbirds(Texas) or Concours(Nevada). Concours is a distributor for Southwest. It's the same bar, same price when I got mine. Nice fit, easy bolt-on install, the 1 1/8 solid bar makes a huge difference in handling over the anemic stock swaybar. The links for both the suppliers is in our supplier links list.
Rich

robhaerr · 2013-08-25 10:31

I highly recommend getting a front and rear sway bar!

The wagon handles like a slot car! Short portion of video clip should start automatically at 10:55 into the clip...(if not, fast forward to that point)...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYCmPCcb6hQ#t=10m55s

petew · 2013-08-25 16:57

Yes that is my plan , aftermarket front and rear bars . I was just wondering if it should have had one from the factory.

robhaerr · 2013-08-25 18:08

Yes...mine had one.

Jeff Norwell · 2013-10-26 06:51

I need one too(front sway bar).. I like the one on Jay's car(Ecode).....
Rich,fellas...I looked up Concourse... the price for a front sway bar is pricey---$409.00.....I suppose it's needed and gives good results from all I have heard.
I am assuming again this is a bolt on piece.
Is there a Rear sway bar available?
is it a bolt on as well?

hiball3985 · 2013-10-26 07:10

That doesn't sound right Jeff, I looked not to long ago and a front was $229, $409 must be for the front and rear?

Jeff Norwell · 2013-10-26 07:21

Jim...maybe I have the wrong product.... I was looking at this...

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb.dll?parta~dyndetail~Z5Z5Z50000051e~Z5Z5Z5AAQUF~P409.90~~~~S3WT0UOQJ576686001751d~Z5Z5Z5~Z5Z5Z50000051e

****EDIT*** Jim.. your right.... front and rear....sorry!

Jeff Norwell · 2013-10-26 07:22

So i wonder if the rear unit is a bolt in too?
Or is there required welding of brackets?

hiball3985 · 2013-10-26 08:11

I think the rear does require some welding, but my memory is bad

. maybe some here that has used it and can answer better

Harry · 2013-11-06 12:08

The rear anti sway bar comes with 2 angle iron brackets for the sway bar links to mount to the frame, I located them and drilled and taped the hole for each one.( 3/8 x 16 thread) is what I used. They can also be welded quite easy.
You need about 3 hands to get every thing lined up to bolt down to the rear end, I did it by myself but took a lot longer.
Really helped the drivability of my car.

57 imposter · 2013-11-09 15:11

I bought one from southwest thunderbirds but when the links were installed and the bar attached, the bar hits the lower control arm and the brackets they supplied incorporate into the front bumper mounting brackets which look like they are going to give me trouble with the bumper brackets. the engine and transmission are in now and the siruation hasn't improved and it looks as tho as the lower control arm moves up, the bad situation is just going to get worse. I have not tried to install the frame mounting brackets and have moved the entire installation to my , I'll deal with you later, file. It does,however remain one of those nagging little problems that I see every time I look at the car. It sounds like some of you guys have installed the same bar with no problems so maybe it will all work out in the end with no issues. If it does, it will be the first time!

RICH MUISE · 2013-11-09 18:06

The oem bumper brackets have to be installed as and where they originally were. Otherwise, the bumper bolt holes won't line up. That said, the new sway bar bracket sits on top of the oem bumper brackets using the same oem bolt holes, just with the new longer bolts supplied with the sway bar. In other words, the bumper bracket is sandwiched between the frame and the new bracket. I can't see how that would create an interference problem, as your not moving the oem bumper brackets from where they were.
Just a note...As shown in my pics, I have not mounted my bumper brackets yet , simply because I didn't want them in the way while working on the car.

RICH MUISE · 2013-11-09 20:04

Something else to check...I know the assembly instructions that came with it aren't too good, if you got them at all. I didn't get any, had to have them fax me a copy.
There is a slight bend on the ends of the bar. If the bar is hitting the control arm, you may have the bend going in the wrong direction...just flip the bar left side to right side. Mine is about a 1/4" from hitting, but it goes up and down with the control arm, right?, so I wouldn't think the 1/4" is a problem. I can post a closeup pic of the assembly onto the control arm if you need.

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Sway Bar