rear sway bar installation question?

[sammygon1]

I am planning on installing a factory rear sway bar on my '69T, it does not have the mounts on the body for the sway bar. What does the weltmeister adapter kit contain? The factory bar has the ball joint type of links, will the Weltmeister adapter work with this? So as far as I know I need the body mounts and link attachment points. i assume this must be whats included in the adapter kit. Thanks for the help, Sam

[HarryD]

Sam,

I installed the Weltmeister kit. It came with two mounts that go on the torsion bar tubes, an adapter that replaces the adjusting eccentrics in the spring plates and various nuts and bolts to connect the whole shooting match together. I am not sure if the factory bar will hook up to the weltmeister drop link connection points due to differing locations. As I recall, the factory points are welded to the bannana arms. Someone wiser than me can chime in here.

I should have some pictures at home. If you need them, I'll try to find them tonight.

[911pcars]

On a car without factory bars, you'll have to purchase and weld on the chassis mounts. I suggest putting your car on a drive-on lift, like the type found at muffler shops so the suspension will be at ride height. First, install the sway bar ends onto the spring plates. This will help you locate the bar position to weld onto the chassis (torsion bar housing).

Hope this helps,
Sherwood
http://members.rennlist.org/911pcars

[cstreit]

I'm not particularly fond of the Weltmeister bolt-on mounts. When you look at the stress loads that occur on them, the force goes at a 45 degree angle to where they mount onto the torsion bar. I have seem them move and mis-align the swaybar.

The weld on ones are much better and don't take too long to install (getting the old factory tabs OFF is an easy 2-4 hour job though!)

The ends of the drop links in some kits (Like Weltmeister) use a modified eccentric bolt in place of the factory ones to provide a place to mount them. Easy-Peasy.

[911pcars]

I think Chris is referring to the WM adapter kit that clamps the chassis mounts on the torsion tube rather than the factory weld-on mounting system. I agree.

WM uses a relatively puny 5/16 socket head bolt to attach the sway bar end to the eccentric. Under high loads, this can bend. Tarret makes a sway bar using the same eccentric mount principle, but their eccentric uses a much bigger mounting bolt (3/8"?). Not sure if it's available without buying their complete bar kit.

Tarret has a website. Can also be purchase through Chuck's Elephant site I believe.

Sherwood

[HarryD]

Originally posted by 911pcars
On a car without factory bars, you'll have to purchase and weld on the chassis mounts. I suggest putting your car on a drive-on lift, like the type found at muffler shops so the suspension will be at ride height. First, install the sway bar ends onto the spring plates. This will help you locate the bar position to weld onto the chassis (torsion bar housing).

Hope this helps,
Sherwood
http://members.rennlist.org/911pcars

Sherwood,

I hate to muddy the waters, but Sam is planning on using the factory sway bars, not the after market ones.

Do the ends of factory sway bars line up correctly with the ends of aftermarket sway bars?

[sammygon1]

So can I buy the reinforced sway bar mounts from elephant racing (I have a welder)and then just try and find the ball joint type mounts froma junk yard. Or would it be best to get the original chassis mounts from a junk yard as well? Thanks, Sam

[911pcars]

"Do the ends of factory sway bars line up correctly with the ends of aftermarket sway bars?"

Some aftermarket bars use the same factory suspension mounting point (Charley Bars, AJUSA, SmartRacing(?)). That is, the '77 on, bolt-on, threaded boss that replaced the ball joint connection on earlier control arms.

Other manufacturers (WM, Tarret) use a replacement eccentric on the spring plate.

I don't think any aftermarket sway bar uses the control arm ball joint as the suspension mounting location. Some early factory control arms won't even have the ball joints.

Sherwood

[HarryD]

Originally posted by 911pcars
"Do the ends of factory sway bars line up correctly with the ends of aftermarket sway bars?"

Some aftermarket bars use the same factory suspension mounting point (Charley Bars, AJUSA, SmartRacing(?)). That is, the '77 on, bolt-on, threaded boss that replaced the ball joint connection on earlier control arms.

Other manufacturers (WM, Tarret) use a replacement eccentric on the spring plate.

I don't think any aftermarket sway bar uses the control arm ball joint as the suspension mounting location. Some early factory control arms won't even have the ball joints.

Sherwood

Sherwood,

Just to help me understand, per the handy drawing below, the factory sway bars ends would go on the tabs you see on part #2? The other guys replace eccentric #31?

[911pcars]

"....the factory sway bars ends would go on the tabs you see on part #2? The other guys replace eccentric #31?"

Harry,
That's correct. However, the portion of the control arm where the sway bar connects is not shown in the illustration.

Sherwood

[sammygon1]

So what are your recommendations for adding chassis mounts for a sway bar? Aftermarket or used factory equipment. Either way I'm welding them on.

[911pcars]

All the factory mounts weld on so there can't be too much of a supply of used sway bar mounts. I have no experience with the u-bolt, WM mount adapters, but some people have issues with them.

As to how strong a weld-on mount one needs; that may depend on the driving conditions and bar size. Use as much reinforcement as needed if the suspension is going to be heavily loaded (as in racing) and/or a large OD bar and/or the lever distance is adjusted to a minimum. For a regular street-driven car, the factory mount should be fine. Not sure if the current reinforced mount is the only version available. And of course, if there's no price difference, go with the strongest one you can find or reinforce the factory one accordingly.

Sherwood

[HarryD]

Rallyjon posted some shots of the rear bar with the bolt on system. You can see them here:

Rear swaybar hangin' low--any options?