Factory Sway bars

[Neal Colingham]

I have a chance to get front and rear factory sway bars for my 76 2.0. The front comes with all the mounts. Will this installation be like the tech articles or will I need some other installation instructions. I know the
tech article is geared toward the Weltmeister
sway bar and I think the factory front bar does not go through the trunk compartment.
Anyone installed a factory bar ?.

[Neal Colingham]

Brian, how much do think the front bar is worth, I am bidding on Ebay and it's at 60:00
right now with 2 days left.

[oredith]

contact Don at don9146@earthlink.net.. i think he's got a set of front sway bar (linkage and all) that he's willing to sell.. most likely cheaper than 60...

Jeff

[mike mueller]

I installed a factory front swaybar on my car a few months ago, it's not that hard, the biggest pain is removing the fuel tank.
While you have the tank out, it might be a good idea to replace your fuel lines and fuel filter since you have easy access to them. I increased the length of my hoses to make it easier to remove the tank in the future.

That sounds like a fair price, I paid about that much from a P-car dismantler w/brackets and bolts. I didn't weld mine but I might add a few tack welds now.

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Mike Mueller
Antioch, CA
1970 1.8

[Neal Colingham]

How much difference in handling did you notice. my car is a 76, always garaged so it's in pretty good shape. No suspension work has been performed except new 100 lb springs
on the KYB gas shocks and new Bilsteins on the front. Tires are Pontenza 195/50 15.
The car seems to wander or just feel loose.
Will the bar help this ?

[Neal Colingham]

How much does the sway bar help handling. My car is a 76 2.0 with new bilsteins up front and new 100 lb springs on the KYB gas shocks in the rear. Tires are Potenza P195/50 15
no other suspension work has been done such as new bushings..etc. Handling is sometimes
vauge or rambling, will the sway bar help this?

[mike mueller]

my car had kontrolle shocks (cheap hyd type)
all around and 205/60-15's. I felt the swaybar made a big differance, i should have replaced all the rubber bushings for the bar and links at the time of install but I was lazy/cheap. I'm sure it would have made a bigger impact with newer rubber.

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Mike Mueller
Antioch, CA
1970 1.8

[bowlsby]

Get the front bar at least. I noticed a remarkable change in handling ability before and after I mounted a front stock bar (15mm). I also have recently installed the stock rear bar and I have to agree with DD that I prefer the car with the rear bar for my driving needs. I doubt the rear bar would be appropriate for the track but for the light street driving I do, it makes it mo' funner.

[Wayne 962]

The bars installed in the tech articles on this site were stock sway bars, not the Weltmeister ones.

-Wayne

[mkinne]

I just installed a stock front sway bar on my '73. Bought it at Pomona for $45. All parts were there but rubber was worn so I got all new ones from PP. My A-arms already had brackets (guess I was one of those lucky ones). I fabbed my own backing plates and installed just like the tech article.

I should have done this long ago. Feels like a new car. Much tighter and funner to drive. Its been windy here in So. Cal and I have noticed added stability in gusty cross winds. Nice.

The only negative seems to be a little under-steer (sometimes scary). I had gotten used to slight over-steer (sometimes fun). Any suggestions for improving handling by adjusting the strut towers? Suspension is stock. Rear springs were replaced long ago but have not sagged yet. Strut towers are centered in mounting space. Steering is light, responsive, and returns to center comfortably.

TIA
Matt