Anti Sway Bar

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jhdeval

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I know that most people recommend the FirmFeel anti sway bar for the early A bodies but I don't have 300+ for it. Does anyone else make a good bar that is not quite as expensive?
 
Its all about the mounts on the early A's than the bar. I tried the Addco bar and after 3 or 4 hours of trying to make the mounts work, I talked to the people at FirmFeel and bought theirs. It is a much better designed mount...
 
I noticed PST has a bar as well. Is it any good? What about using the mounts from firmfeel with another bar?
 
I had front and rear sway bars installed on my '74 Valiant when it was in the shop for other front end work. Otherwise, I would have done it myself as the instructions indicated it was not complicated. Looking at the final installation, it looks easy to install too.

All you will need is a drill for a few holes. I used Hellwig sway bars.
 
While I appreciate California Darts question it does not really apply to the thread question. I have been told multiple time not to buy the addco bar because the mounts suck on early a bodies.

I checked out the Hellwig bar and the price is right.

http://www.race-mart.com/Hellwig-HEW-55914.html

Any opinions I know it is a knew product and has been tested on multiple vehicles. I also like that it is 1.25 versus the other 1 1/8 bars for the same price.
 
Yes, but I noticed it says "tubular", so if that means hollow, then 1. that's pretty awesome for reduced weight and 2. it may change its characteristics as far as not being as rigid as the usual solid 1.25 bar.
 
It is a tubular bar and it weighs 11lb. This is about 1/2 the weight of a 1-1/4" solid bar. It is about 10% softer than a solid bar but it is plenty of spring rate for an early A-body. Here are some pictures of the bar and its mounting. I may be a little biased but these are the best in the industry. The brackets are made from laser cut and CNC formed 3/16" steel.

389434891.jpg

384421538.jpg

389460209.jpg
 
I installed the Hellwig rear sway bar in my 73 swinger. I haven't driven it yet, but the installation instructions were very straight-forward and the materials are top notch. Also, note that they sponsor FABO. There might be discounts available?
 
The mount looks nice and solid. Dave I have a question about your installation. In the last picture it shows how to place the plate. There is one pre drilled hole. Is that always there? Also it states to use a bolt how do you tighten the bolt down?
 
Dave@Hellwig said:
It is about 10% softer than a solid bar but it is plenty of spring rate for an early A-body.
Click to expand...

I'll believe ya on that! I've got an old 1" Hellwig bar on the front of my '69 Dart, and I couldn't even imagine wanting more stiffness than that!
 
Dave@Hellwig said:
It is a tubular bar and it weighs 11lb. This is about 1/2 the weight of a 1-1/4" solid bar. It is about 10% softer than a solid bar but it is plenty of spring rate for an early A-body. Here are some pictures of the bar and its mounting. I may be a little biased but these are the best in the industry. The brackets are made from laser cut and CNC formed 3/16" steel.

389434891.jpg

384421538.jpg

389460209.jpg
Click to expand...

Yesterday I started on my K member and installing the Addco front anti-sway bar kit. I expected for the price I paid to reflect what I got and that I would have to beef it up. I was right. The instructions could be much better and as a bolt on kit it’s kind of cheesy but, I’m going with it anyway. The first thing I did not agree with is using the lower shock mount bolt to carry the loads of the shock and the torsion bar. I welded it to the lower control arm and I may yet add a gusset on the bottom or two gussets. I haven’t decided that yet.
The brackets that attach the poly bushing look to be the weakest part in the whole set up. You can see I added my own gusset but, I like the set up in the quote above much better. Very nice design. I do not trust the grade 5 bolts in the kit to carry the loads so I welded everything in place. The kit supplied bolts are good for holding things in place to weld only (in my opinion).
 

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I agree, totally.....that factory sway bar mount looks like deflection city without an additional tab like you welded in there. Nice.
 
cudavert said:
I'll believe ya on that! I've got an old 1" Hellwig bar on the front of my '69 Dart, and I couldn't even imagine wanting more stiffness than that!
Click to expand...

Adding a rear bar will really make a difference............

RearSwayBarResults.jpg
 
Yeah, every single piece of that bolt together mount just looks like a stress failure waiting to happen. Lifting an apple with a toothpick comes to mind...
 
FomocoReformed are you talking about the Addco that Brad426 installed or the Hellwig unit that Dave suggested?
 
jhdeval - The hole is there on the vehicles that we have test fitted. I have heard that some of the early 63's do not have the hole. However, the sway bar can be mocked up with the brackets attached to determine hole location. The bolts are easy to tighten as the early A body K member is open on the back side allowing easy access to tighten the nuts. pm me your email and I can forward the instruction sheet.
 
Those are factory swaybar mount holes. 1965 was the first year for a swaybar. 1965 and 1966 A-bodies should have those holes.
 
FomocoReformed said:
Yeah, every single piece of that bolt together mount just looks like a stress failure waiting to happen. Lifting an apple with a toothpick comes to mind...
Click to expand...


lol, I couldn't have said that better myself. The welds should certainly improve on an otherwise faulty design. While I am still a fan of the Hellwig design, I like the idea of using sub-par designs and making them better on the individual car. Good job!
 
Well, because of the price I bought the sway bar front and rear set for 239.00 shipped. Since I'm not going to race the car and only want it for a more stable ride I hope they work ok. Didn't realize Helwig was a sponsor or I would have called them for a set price.
 
Dave@Hellwig

Does your kit need to have that welded part there?
 
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