Worth going up a sway bar size or two?

[Hotwatermusic]

This is my stock rear sway bar on my 74, which I am guessing is a 16mm. How much bigger would I have to go up in size to have a noticeable difference in performance during hard street driving? How big of sway bars can a 74 chassis handle without having to weld on new brackets, modifications, etc.? I have to change out all the bushings anyway, so I figured if ever I was going to put better sway bars on, now is the time.

[paulgtr]

I have a 75, and my mechanic just put on charlie bars. they are 25mm I believe. huge difference from stock. needed new brackets to hold them. probably more than you're looking for.

[Hotwatermusic]

Originally Posted by paulgtr

I have a 75, and my mechanic just put on charlie bars. they are 25mm I believe. huge difference from stock. needed new brackets to hold them. probably more than you're looking for.

Where did you get the "charlie bars"? I just searched Pelican and couldn't find anything by that name. *Huge difference* is exactly what I want. The one thing I didn't want to do was swap them out for another size or brand that made absolutely no difference in performance. After doing some research I've realized that going up any marked size in sway bars is going to require new brackets, so if that's the case, then that's what I will do.

[Steve@Rennsport]

HWM,

JMHO, but even a Carrera swaybar upgrade is going to require rear mount replacements (Wevo) so that should be a given if you wish to make any changes.

Charlie bars are long NLA (unless you find a used set) and I'd recommend upgrading to a through-the-body-design such as Smart Racing's and others to get not only adjustability, but the ability to remove pre-load which can alter the car's handling in left & right hand corners.

[paulgtr]

My mechanic had a very good used set of charlie bars. but the smart racing bars are if not copies very similar. listen to what Steve says, it is exactly what my mechanic said

[moneymanager]

Force required to twist the bar is a four power thing, so increasing the size of the bar by 10% adds 46% to stiffness, everything else being equal. You can feel 46% but it isn't dramatic.