Swaybar Help Needed

[Fishcop]

Hi All

I need help working out what size and type of swaybar would most suit my car and driving style.

My car is a pretty much stock 69T, and never came with swaybars. Given that it is stock and not usually flogged on the road or track, what size should I go for.

The car is ready to accept a through the body bar with all holes and tabs present. What was originally used on this era car? Are the after-market "Swayaway" type suitable? What size can I go to and have it compliment my current setup?

As usual, all your ideas and opinions are sought.

Cheers

[HarryD]

My 73 has the same story. I just purchased a set of Weltmeister 22 mm bars that I have been told would be good for my needs (street fun, AutoX excitement).

[911pcars]

John,
A 911 w/o sway bars is not that far away from being an ordinary car. My car ('69T) also started out the same as yours - no sway bars. The car handles totally different with anti-roll or sway bars (a night and day comparison). I would suggest you do install them. The progression I went through started with the factory bars. The "S" had the largest bars at 16mm frt/15mm rear. Depending on your needs, you may wish to stop here ... or continue since the car is more fun to drive when the suspension is set up closer to its potential. The front bar should bolt right in. I believe even the drop link bracket is already welded onto the control arms. You will need to weld the rear sway bar brackets to the chassis (use the HD factory version) and a ball pivot onto each rear control (banana) arm. However, most aftermarket rear bar drop links bolt onto the swing plate.

I'm currently using a B&B (no longer around?) 20.5mm front bar and a Weltmeister 19mm rear bar with 21/27 torsion bars and Koni sport shocks. I waited until the sway bars were installed before upgrading to larger torsion bars thinking I didn't want a jarring street ride. In fact, the addition of large sway bars owners typically install (21/21) probably create a less compliant ride than the addition of larger torsion bars which btw, control a lot of undesireable weight transfer. What I'm trying to say is that you should consider torsion bars and sway bars as a package or at least one followed by the other for best results. To summarize:

1. Install front/rear sway bars (21/19)
2. Koni or Bilstein equiv. shocks
3. 21/26 or 21/27mm torsion bars ... and
4. Adjust ride height (lower car) and align and/or ..
5. Corner balance and align

Somewhere in there install some decent performance tires. Try to ride/drive in a car so equipped to compare.

That's the short version
Hope this helps,
Sherwood Lee
http://members.rennlist.org/911pcars

[Fishcop]

Thanks to you once again Sherwood.
Your last line kind of sums up my problem living in Far North Queensland, can you say "Hicksville"? Comparing with other cars is a luxury I don't have

I basically thought waht you have said, but not wanting the expense of new torsion bars as well as sway bars I thought the factory size would suit me. But having said that you never seem to be able to stop on these cars, so I think I'll I go the 21/19 swaybars and continue to save for the torsions. I guess I'll be needing them for my (one day) 3.0!

Thankyou too HarryD, looks like you are on the right path.

[Early_S_Man]

John,

15 mm front and rear bars were optional in 1969 for 'T' models.

I feel Sway-A-Way 19 mm bars front and rear would be good on an otherwise stock car, and Bilsteins or Konis would compliment them well! You will like the improvement!

[Fishcop]

Thanks Warren,
I've just had my Konis rebuilt recently, replaced all bushes, lowered the car with spacers, no probs with ball-joints or tie-rods at this stage, rebuilt the S brakes with stainless lines and I've really begun to notice the difference. Not to mention the new bushes in the gear linkages! I can only imagine that the sway bar addition will complete the upgrades.

I was only going to go with the fron bar at this stage, but is this a mistake? Should I be putting front and rear on together?

Thanks

[Early_S_Man]

John,

I think two at the same time is the better choice. And, I know you will like the results!