necessity of sway bar
 

When I got my car, I noticed that the driver side end of the front sway bar was not in its mount on the control arm. It looks like the sway bar is bent, as it's nowhere near the mount, and I couldn't get even close to getting it back it.

I removed the sway bar completely, until I get a new one. I'm wondering if there is any danger in driving the car without it. I know it's there to improve handling, so I'm thinking I can go without it until I get another.

Also, anybody have a front sway bar for sale?

Hi, I wouldn't be speed racer without the front sway bar but am sure that you can do everyday driving without it until you find one. If you have a rear bar the rear may be stiff on the corners and the front kinda loose so just play it by ear until you get a used one installed.

Sounds like good advice. I didn't think it'd be an issue, but hadn't thought about the rear being stiffer than the front.

Yeah, that will get real tail-happy on you in a hurry. Can be driven, but be careful.

I would be a little concerned to verify the source of the failure - those are typically the last thing in the corner to bend. Perhaps it fell out of a mount?

Mine came out after I had to get it towed. Unfortunately, I was working when it was towed, so I can only guess that the tow truck used it to hoist the car up onto the bed of the truck (I didn't have a towing eye at the time). So my guess was they saw a bar, thought it would be a good attackment point, and pulled the sway bar out of its mount.

I didn't share enough information regarding the source... The bracket that hangs from the body was also bent. It looks like a previous owner hit something. I had hoped it was only the bracket, but once I straightened it out, I couldn't get the sway bar to line up.

The brackets that the bar hang from are not the greatest design and often fail. Some guys have added a brace that triangulates that hanging bracket and adds some stregnth.

I'm curious, did the bar "look" bent because one of these brackets had broken or was the bar actually bent after you removed it completely?

Vern

It's hard to tell if it's bent just by looking at it, but if I try to put it into the brackets at the control arms, completely removed from the other brackets, it doesn't line up... the end of the sway bar missing the bracket by a few inches.

I have a good condition front bar from an '86 turbo, if interested email me at Jrome51@aol.com

I have front and rear stock bars from my 84 that you can have if you pay the postage. They should fit, I replaced mine w/ turbo bars and the old ones are in the way. The bushings are cheap from Pelican. PM me if you want them.

Steve

Hay Steve, what size is the rear bar?

I autocross my n/a with no front bar and the 18mm rear bar off the turbo S. I do have 250lb springs on the front and I really like the balance of the car like this.

It may just be the hanging brackets are bent.

I find it is easiest to install if you first install the hanging brackets onto the sway bar (off the car), then install the hanging brackets to the car - with the ends of the swaybar hanging loose. The install the ends.

Lastly, the hanging tabs are shaped like an "L" and can actually be installed incorrectly (ie., one facing forward and one facing backwards). If this is the case, your bar will definately seem like it's bent.

Hope this helps a little.

Vern

I don't remember the size but it was the stock ones from an 84 w/ the sport suspension option. I'll hold on to them if you want them.
For some reason 18mm sticks in my mind.
Steve