ADDCO Sway Bar Review

kucharskimb · 07-24-2005, 02:23 PM

Hello
Like many of you, I find myself to be on a limited budget when doing repairs or upgrades on my 911. When it came time to upgrade sway bars, I found the $600-2000 price tag difficult to swallow with the models that are popularly available. As an old Chevy muscle car guy, I knew there were other options/companies available. However, pictures, specs and tech info were hard to come by on both websites, and via phone conversations.

ADDCO http://www.addco.net/ has been around for a long time, and generally produces quality products and hardware. With a delivered price of $270 for both front and rear sway bars and all assorted hardware, it was worth an investigation...

Prior to ordering, I asked as many questions as I could think of:

Was it adjustable? Yes.
Did it use the factory mounting points? Yes.
Does the front bar go through the trunk? Yes.
Does the front use the triangular mounting points? Yes
Did the rear come with weld-on mounts? Yes.
Does the rear mount to the existing trailing arm balls? Yes

After a four-plus week shipping fiasco, I have received the rear 3/4" bar (19mm). Part number is #961. (The front is still out there somewhere.) It came well packaged, with a separate box for all of the mounting hardware. I knew the drop links would be the poly type bushings, top and bottom. This is standard on most muscle cars, and I didn't see the company changing their style for just a few import cars.

The first thing I noticed was the offset, or lever arm of the sway bar. (The distance from front mounting/pivot point to rear mounting point) The longer the lever arm, the smaller the effective torsional stiffness of the sway bar. The stock rear 15mm bar had an off-set of about 7" from front to back.

The dimensions of the ADDCO bar were 43" x 10". The gain that was sought by increasing the bar's diameter by 26percent (15mm to 19mm) was lost by a lever arm that was also increased by 43percent (7” to 10”). Steel type will also dictate torsional stiffness differences. I do not have the material sheets for the original and the new bar, but even if the new material was 25percent stiffer, it would be about a break even situation. Not the direction I wanted to go.

43” wide in the front… If you get a chance, take a measurement between the spring plates. It measures about 42". Anyone have concerns yet?...

This kit uses the mounting points that were standard on the early 911's. I.e., the gusset between the banana trailing arm and the axle, where the ball mounts were welded in. I already had the balls there, so I either wanted something to attached to the balls, or something that would attach to the spring plates. The hardware in this kit that attaches to this gusset is a piece of 1/4" angle iron with a thru bolt (thru the gusset). The drop link attaches to the angle iron and drops to the eyelet in the sway bar. (typical American set-up) See pictures.

The mounting point on the chassis was also not as expected. I had been given the impression that the kit included the weld-on style mounts that were OEM style. There was also a U-bolt type kit available, but the weld-on's were included stock in this kit. This kit required the drilling of 3/8" holes in the chassis, slip the U-bolts into the sheet metal, and attach the mounting bracket. I would have to believe that the area where this would have attached is plenty reinforced, but I don't have that info.

The kit was not adjustable, either in drop link length, or in lever arm length.

The below pictures should paint the full picture. If I receive the front sway bar, I will also do a write up on it. Comments and questions are welcome.

I prefer not to discuss the company I ordered these from, as I cannot distinguish were the shipping, ordering and customer service issues stem from. Other companies will sell you the parts, but they can’t offer much in tech support. Even ADDCO, after pulling several kits off of their shelves, could not give me a definitive answer of which front kit would fit my thru-the-trunk requirements.

Conclusions:
I guess I’ll be shipping these back. 5 weeks of my life wasted in anticipation and phone calls. Who should buy these? IMO, someone on a budget that cannot find used parts from a stock application.

If anyone has a 19mm Weltmeister kit they would like to sell, I'm interested.
Good luck

kucharskimb · 07-24-2005, 02:26 PM

kucharskimb · 07-24-2005, 02:31 PM

Instructions included with this kit.

RoninLB · 07-24-2005, 08:55 PM

I was at their Fla shop about 25yrs ago. I used a set on a Camaro. Good bang for the buck but not the finest in quality details. It was good enough for the Camaro but based on previous, although nice, experience it would be the furthest thing in my mind on installing them on a 911.

I think my stock sway bars are 18mm. Their good enough street with 21/27mm springs. I imagine there's plenty of them around the 911 junk yards. 18mm is slightly larger than 11/16. ie: less than half way between 11/16 & 3/4. My yr still has the ball attachments. I guess a decent deal is $100ea, although not many guys want them so maybe a better deal by a good shopper can be had.If you go this route don't forget to get new plastic bushings.

I'd have to confirm my bar size if needed.

SC-targa · 07-25-2005, 06:28 AM

I used Addco bars on an Opel back in the 70's and I was happy with them at the time. Not sure if I'd feel the same now.
Jerry Kroeger

kucharskimb · 07-28-2005, 04:18 PM

Received the front ADDCO bar the other day. Kit is number 120.

Quick review and some pics. Stout 7/8" bar = 22.2mm.
Dimensions were 37" x 9". Compared to the original 15mm bar with 6" offsets / lever arms, this bar is much stiffer...

The increase from 15mm to 22.2mm is approximately 380percent. the increase in lever arm increases mechanical advantage by approx 50percent, thus making the overall torsional stiffness increase of 190percent.

this bar is an underbody mount style. same as the '75 and on setup. this bar also uses droplinks which mount to the original U-brackets that are located on top of the lower control arms. As it turns out, it is the same mounting hardware as the rear bar.

pictures and instructions included.

at $125 plus shipping, this might be a good alternative to finding a stock set up.

kucharskimb · 07-28-2005, 04:20 PM

Good luck.
Matt

RoninLB · 09:40 PM

I'd paint it a low gloss or flat as it looks like its going to rust. I like a color I can easily dab a touch-up to.

ps: if it was mine I'd get longer and stronger drop link bolts.. and long enough to double nut. All figuring it'll be in&out often.

ken_xman · 07-29-2005, 05:53 AM

I have Addco sway bars, front and rear on my wifes '01 Jeep Grand Cherokee limited & they are great. Almost no body roll. Handles like its on rails.
.....But its a Jeep, not a Porsche

slammed1000 · 07-29-2005, 03:01 PM

i installed a set on my 73 without a problem. the only issue i saw was that the front bar did not go through the body like the original. the rear went on the same as the factory. the sway bars definitely helped the car alot. for the $200 i have in them both i think they will work just fine.....