What is this bar?

[mcbrems]

Below are some shots of the item attached to the bottom of the 914 I recently purchased. I hesitate to call it a sway bar because it looks nothing like any of the parts diagrams I have seen. It seems to be an aftermarket add-on, and it appears to somehow connect to the lower ball joints on each of the front suspension A-arms. The previous owner left the job undone, and the ends are hanging by bailing wire and a zip tie. I'm stumped. Is it worth keeping?

Thanks in advance,
MarkB

[URY914]

That's an after market swaybar. Take it off and get a proper one that goes thru the body under the fuel tank.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Most likely aftermarket, agreed. The later 911s use the same style of bar as that (called an "under-body sway bar"), so if the car had a five-lug conversion that is a possibility, but those look more like aftermarket brackets and ends on the bar. The A-arms pictured also don't have the brackets for the ends of the bar.

The through-body style of bar, like the stock 914 one, has better geometry and can be made adjustable relatively easily. It is in general a better solution.

--DD

[SirAndy]

Originally Posted by Dave at Pelican Parts

Most likely aftermarket, agreed. The later 911s use the same style of bar as that (called an "under-body sway bar"), so if the car had a five-lug conversion that is a possibility, but those look more like aftermarket brackets and ends on the bar. The A-arms pictured also don't have the brackets for the ends of the bar.

The through-body style of bar, like the stock 914 one, has better geometry and can be made adjustable relatively easily. It is in general a better solution.

Sway Bar, yes. 911 underbody sway-bar, no.

I had a 911 underbody sway bar for a while. They work just fine and are a direct bolt-in to the 914.

The bar in your pictures is a hack-job at best and should not be used. Remove it and get a proper through-body sway bar.

Also, the previous owner forgot to give you the front brake calipers. You might have a hard time getting the car to stop without them ...
Andy

[quicksix]

Put that car in the air and pull all the wheels off and go through it with a highly critical eye. The po that would think that was a remotely proper sway bar install should not be trusted with anything.Lets see some more pics of the car,and welcome to the madness.

[mcbrems]

No worries. This sway bar is the only weirdness I've encountered so far, and the body is down to the bucket in prep for soda blasting and painting. My eyeballs have literally seen every part come off the car. The PO was in the midst of a restore when he sold it, so many of the parts - including the front brakes - were bagged and in either trunk. Thanks for the welcome. Pelican is a godsend.