Sway bar upgrade Q?

I have a 71e with the turbo flares and large tires. I recently put Koni adj. on the rear and some 30mm bars to accompany them. I'm shopping for a some sway bars not to complete the package, and was wondering how far up in year 911's I could get some from. I noticed that some front bars are not through the body, but under the body. Are those better, and will they attach to my A-arms that have tabs for the link type? I've never had a chance to compare other 911's on this matter.
THanks in Advance....skip

I know that at least for late model 84-89 911's, through the body stablizers are superior that the originals. They put through the body ones on the turbo's but went with a less effective version on non turbo. I am going to be converting to this version soon. Weltmeister makes a good version along with AJUSA.

Went kind of stiff on those rear tosion bars, didn't you? Did you change the fronts too? Or, do you still have the Hydro-pneumatic self-leveling struts?

Forget about the 'under-body' front anti-roll bars!!! Sway-A-Way and Weltmeister are the two most 'adjustable types on the market, and I prefer the adjustable ones. Did you already have a rear anti-roll bar from the factory ... if not, an installation kit will be needed, and precision welding on your rear semi-trailing arms will be required.

Do you have a copy of Bruce Anderson's 'handbook' ??? Very good primer on suspensions, and updates/evolution/upgrades.

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

IMHO 30mm bars are too much for the rear of your 1971 911 unless you are racing it on a smooth race track, those huge bars were for the heavy newer cars. What do you have for front bars now. I belive that the SC cars started using the under the front sway bars in 1979. I feel that the older style thru the body are better they are adjustable you can move the drop link foward and backwards on the arm to change the rate. Remember that the front and rear torsion bars have to be balanced and then the sway bars come into effect. Most of the guys that I respect disconnect there front sway bar drop link for day to day driving. I,m running 21mm front and 26mm rear torsion bars and 20 front (thru the body)and 22mm rear sway bars with adjustable spring plates. I hate to say this but buy B. Anderson's book and read up on his suggestions for early 911 torsion and sway bars. If you get it too stiff you will lose grip on normal bumpy streets and shake your lady right out of her bra.

Randy Jones
1971 911

Speaking of sway bars, I recently discovered (well, I, uh, finally raised the car up and took a look under the front of it) that my 73 911 had factory-installed sway bars on it. The (also-factory-installed) rears were removed by a previous owner, and I'm putting in Weltmeisters there. But does anyone know what size the optional front sway bars were in 1973? Is there a contemporary upgrade (someone told me Weltmeister has a kit) to improve the factory through-the-body front sway bars, and is it worth doing?

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Jack Olsen
1973 911 T sunroof coupe
http://members.rennlist.com/jackolsen/Jalopy.html

[This message has been edited by JackOlsen (edited 08-21-2000).]

Jack - I believe the early (69-73) factory bars were 15mm, although some might have been 16mm.

Yes, if the rest of your suspension is pretty well dialed in, it is definitely worth going to 19mm or 22mm aftermarket adjustable bars. You gain a ton of roll resistance as well as the adjustability that the factory bars do not have.

Unfortunately even the "entry level" bars such as Weltmeister -- which are fine for most people -- start around $550/pair. Double that for high-end Charlie or TRG swaybars.

I'm back to stock right now on my 70E, reverted from Weltmeister 19mm, but now I'm thinking about going to Weltmeister or AJ-USA 22mm bars. Compared to my 914, the 911 is bodyroll-city, and I feel like I need to address that sooner or later. I'm gonna take the car to Steve Alarcon at Johnsons (Torrance, CA) for bushings, alignment, and overall suspension "evaluation" before doing anything else.

Chris C.

If any of you guys have copies of "UP FIXIN DER PORSCHE" volume IX there is an article titled "911 aftermarket stabilizer installation, Raymond Calvo" ( Hi Ray if your looking?)on page 93. Its a good article on installation and sizes to use.