Title asks it. I rebuilt the front of my 75, swapped in a 7/8 sway bar; lowered the front by cutting one coil out of the springs. Where I live the roads are tight, twisty, and hilly. Car handles very well (in my opinion); seems to be neutral in the turns and I'm still using the brand X all season tires that are on it. I have wider wheels to put on and will be putting a better tire on too. So, if you put a rear sway bar on did you see and gain? How did it affect the handling? Thanks in advance RichK
I apologize if you already know this, but adding a rear sway bar will make the car more 'loose'. In other words it will 'rotate' better, but also a lot more likely to spin out, or get sideways. Lots of fun But also something not so great in a RWD car with lots of power. A bigger front sway bar will make the car plow or 'push' more. It will want to go straight when you turn. It will feel more precise, because of less roll. And on a car like ours the suspension is poor so if you can keep body roll to a minimum it usually helps handling as a whole from what I've heard. With a bigger front sway bar a rear bar would make the car more neutral and might not make it too 'loose'. But its hard to say! I have a rear bar for my car, haven't put it on yet. I'm interested to see as well! Although it is hard to ever reach the limit of any car on the street, really. You might feel like it, but more than likely you aren't even close. If you've ever autocrossed you know what I mean!
I have an Addco rear bar I got cheap from JC Whitney. Made a nice difference going around cloverleaf on-ramps. Seems like strong cross winds make the car twitchy though.
Not yet but it's on my long list of things to do to my Maverick. I have the 7/8 front bar though. Puting in my cut coil springs (1 coil) tonight (finally); I'll let you know how it sits and drives after the alignment...
T.L. I think you'll like the way it sits and rives with one cut coil. I cut one coil from my springs and straightened the end so it sits properly in the spring pocket and the stance is great! it drives quite nicely too. It's actually a bit too street friendly for me since all I've used the car for this summer has been drag racing. I would suggest giving it a bit more caster than the factory specs though so it goes nice and straight.
This is mine with 1 full coil cut out. Tires are way to big (215-75/15) and rub on tight turns but I now have some slotted mags to replace them. And new tires of course. RichK
I have been running a rear bar for a number of years and for my driving there is no down side. Depends on how far to the edge any car is pushed as to the final value of any setup. It involves tires, tire pressures, spring rates, trim height, steering geometry, traction devices and a few other parameters. A setup on one car may not be liked by another owner of the same kind of car. On a race track there are always an infinate number of combinations. This is what often make a winner while other cars can't keep up in the turns. My front is the 7/8 bar. The rear bar is my old front moved to the back with mounts on the axle housing and mounts on the frame using fabbed link bolts.
I wonder why bigger bars are not offered by the aftermarket. for these cars.:confused: Look at the size of the sway-bars on Camaros & Firebirds (1-1/8" and 1-1/4" fronts, and 7/8" rears)....and Granadas and many mid-size GM cars. We should be able to get at least a 1-inch front bar (that actually fits properly)...
Bluegrass; How did you do the front bar on the rear? Got any pics or a description of what you did? TL; Addco lists bigger bars, front & rear for the Granada. Doesn't the 4 door Mav share the same platform with the Granada? RichK
The Camaro bars are hollow. One reason they are so much bigger. The Granda bars are a bit wider. I am running one on my car (a 15/16 Versailles bar). It requires some different links but it is acceptable. However I don't know about the rear.
The later model Camaro bars are hollow but My '83 Trans Am has a solid 1-1/4" front bar and a solid 7/8" rear bar...
I dunno TL I am not a Gm expert for sure. But a buddy of mine had a 87 Camaro with a 1 3/8 bar he replaced with a 1 1/2" and we cut his old one in half and it had a 3/8" or so hole in it. But as far as other years or even other models I don't know for sure. Maybe Camaros need more bar, I mean they need everything they can get right?:bananaman
Yes, the later models (maybe '87 & up) had hollow bars. This was done to save on weight. I just think that bigger bars should be available for Mavericks & Comets. It's like they (the aftermarket) don't want our cars to out-perform the Mustangs & Camaros...
