Sway bar Sizes
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Car: 1982 SC/1984 Z28
Engine: 305 4BBL/305 4BBL H.O.
Transmission: 700R4/700R4
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen 3.23 Posi/3.73 10 Bolt
Sway bar Sizes
I recently removed a set of sway bars from a 1991 Firebird. I'm wanting to install these on my 1982 Camaro. The problem i have is, the rear sway bar measures .690(11/16). The only options for bushings that i have been able to find are 3/4, 15/16, and 1". Should I use the 3/4? Wouldn't those be too large?
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Car: 87IROC, 740iBMW, 328iBMW, 86GMC
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Re: Sway bar Sizes
You might consider measuring the bar in milimeters with a dial caliper. That will get you a closer fit to the correct size for aftermarket poly bushings.
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Car: 1982 SC/1984 Z28
Engine: 305 4BBL/305 4BBL H.O.
Transmission: 700R4/700R4
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen 3.23 Posi/3.73 10 Bolt
Re: Sway bar Sizes
are the End Links the same size as the ones in the front? When i removed the rear, it looked the same.
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Car: 1982 SC/1984 Z28
Engine: 305 4BBL/305 4BBL H.O.
Transmission: 700R4/700R4
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen 3.23 Posi/3.73 10 Bolt
Re: Sway bar Sizes
Here are the Bars i got today. I cleaned them up and sanded them down. I shot on a couple coats of Flat Black and sealed them with Clear Coat. Got the Brackets and everything. My Sport Coupe doesn't have a rear Sway Bar and the Front one is 1/8" Larger.
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Re: Sway bar Sizes
Never heard of a .690" sway bar for these cars. That's about 17.5mm.
Take a set of wrenches to them, and use them to measure the spot where the bushing goes.
If in fact it's .690", throw it away, and go get another one. The stock ones in early cars were 21 or 22mm, and in later ones as much as 24mm. (Z28s and TAs and such, not Berlinettas or SEs)
Usually with the aftermarket bushings, you get the largest one that's still smaller than the bar. They make them, as you found, in 1/16" increments.
Take a set of wrenches to them, and use them to measure the spot where the bushing goes.
If in fact it's .690", throw it away, and go get another one. The stock ones in early cars were 21 or 22mm, and in later ones as much as 24mm. (Z28s and TAs and such, not Berlinettas or SEs)
Usually with the aftermarket bushings, you get the largest one that's still smaller than the bar. They make them, as you found, in 1/16" increments.
#7
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Car: 1982 SC/1984 Z28
Engine: 305 4BBL/305 4BBL H.O.
Transmission: 700R4/700R4
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen 3.23 Posi/3.73 10 Bolt
Re: Sway bar Sizes
11/16 Wrench will NOT fit and a 3/4 will fit but is a little loose. Just a LITTLE loose. 18MM is will also fit it about like the 3/4.
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#8
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Re: Sway bar Sizes
Prolly 18mm then... I think that was the smallest one any of these cars ever got, but I could be wrong; I've never actually seen one, but that's prolly because they only came on 6-cyl cars, which besides just seeing em driving down the road, I've never really seen one up close, and I suppose it's possible they put even smaller ones on some 6-cyl or 4-cyl cars somewhere and I wouldn't know about it...
Might be better than no bar at all, but if I was going to spend money on bushings and put forth effort to put a bar on, I'd sure try to find a better set than that.
Aftermarket bushings come with their own brackets. They're usually MUCH thinner than the stock ones. Unless you go with direct replacements like Moog or something, which you'd have to look up by application, you won't be needing those stock brackets.
Might be better than no bar at all, but if I was going to spend money on bushings and put forth effort to put a bar on, I'd sure try to find a better set than that.
Aftermarket bushings come with their own brackets. They're usually MUCH thinner than the stock ones. Unless you go with direct replacements like Moog or something, which you'd have to look up by application, you won't be needing those stock brackets.
#9
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Re: Sway bar Sizes
I too think that 18mm was the smallest, but Spohn shows the smallest as a 19 (for whatever that's worth). Note in the following link that the ES front bushings require the OE brackets (I believe, TDS uses the OE for their 36mm greaseable as does Spohn), while the rears come with a bracket .
http://www.spohn.net/shop/1982-1992-...s-Accessories/
JamesC
http://www.spohn.net/shop/1982-1992-...s-Accessories/
JamesC
Last edited by JamesC; 10-28-2010 at 06:49 AM.
#10
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Car: 1982 SC/1984 Z28
Engine: 305 4BBL/305 4BBL H.O.
Transmission: 700R4/700R4
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen 3.23 Posi/3.73 10 Bolt
Re: Sway bar Sizes
Prolly 18mm then... I think that was the smallest one any of these cars ever got, but I could be wrong; I've never actually seen one, but that's prolly because they only came on 6-cyl cars, which besides just seeing em driving down the road, I've never really seen one up close, and I suppose it's possible they put even smaller ones on some 6-cyl or 4-cyl cars somewhere and I wouldn't know about it...
Might be better than no bar at all, but if I was going to spend money on bushings and put forth effort to put a bar on, I'd sure try to find a better set than that.
Aftermarket bushings come with their own brackets. They're usually MUCH thinner than the stock ones. Unless you go with direct replacements like Moog or something, which you'd have to look up by application, you won't be needing those stock brackets.
Might be better than no bar at all, but if I was going to spend money on bushings and put forth effort to put a bar on, I'd sure try to find a better set than that.
Aftermarket bushings come with their own brackets. They're usually MUCH thinner than the stock ones. Unless you go with direct replacements like Moog or something, which you'd have to look up by application, you won't be needing those stock brackets.
The bar is for the Rear. The Front is 30MM.
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Car: 1982 SC/1984 Z28
Engine: 305 4BBL/305 4BBL H.O.
Transmission: 700R4/700R4
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen 3.23 Posi/3.73 10 Bolt
Re: Sway bar Sizes
I ordered 30MM for the Front and 19MM for the back. we'll see what happens when they arrive. Hopefully, they're the right ones.
#13
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Re: Sway bar Sizes
Note on Spohn's web site that both front and rear have the same part number (D-19-406). Spohn's links are apparently prothane. I know there are some differences in the ES vs. Prothane trans mount (for whatever that means in this application).
JamesC
JamesC
Last edited by JamesC; 11-01-2010 at 12:03 PM.
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Car: 89 IROC
Engine: 305 TPI / ZZ4 cam
Transmission: Stage 2 700R4, LS1 driveshaft
Axle/Gears: Strange 3.42 w/ Auburn
Re: Sway bar Sizes
I guess ES has the swaybar more level with the road.
Note: The ES red poly bushing itself is slightly taller (about 1 mm) than the Spohn (Prothane) one.
Note: The ES red poly bushing itself is slightly taller (about 1 mm) than the Spohn (Prothane) one.
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Re: Sway bar Sizes
http://www.top-downsolutions.com/pro...products_id=65
JamesC
Last edited by JamesC; 11-01-2010 at 01:04 PM.
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Car: 1982 SC/1984 Z28
Engine: 305 4BBL/305 4BBL H.O.
Transmission: 700R4/700R4
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen 3.23 Posi/3.73 10 Bolt
Re: Sway bar Sizes
Well, i have since found a 36MM Front Bar and all i have is the 19MM Rear. I'm Currently keeping my eyes open for a good 24MM rear bar.
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Car: 1982 SC/1984 Z28
Engine: 305 4BBL/305 4BBL H.O.
Transmission: 700R4/700R4
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen 3.23 Posi/3.73 10 Bolt
Re: Sway bar Sizes
I haven't installed Sub Frame Connectors, but they're on my list. Are you saying that I should have them installed BEFORE installing the 36mm/24mm Bar Combo?
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Car: 89 IROC
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Transmission: Stage 2 700R4, LS1 driveshaft
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Re: Sway bar Sizes
Good luck.
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#23
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Car: 1982 SC/1984 Z28
Engine: 305 4BBL/305 4BBL H.O.
Transmission: 700R4/700R4
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen 3.23 Posi/3.73 10 Bolt
Re: Sway bar Sizes
I think i'm gonna go ahead and TRY the 36/19 Combo. I Need to find myself a good set of Control Arms first though. I hate to install this on Control arms that have an oblonged hole. Seems thats all i can find around here. Besides, I intend to replace my Control Arm bushings, so i'll wait for all the planets to be in line before i install the new sway bar combo. I can tweek it from there with a good baseline.
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Re: Sway bar Sizes
36/19 is going to make the car UNBELIEVABLY tight... that is, when you attempt to turn the car and exceed the traction limit of the tires, the front will slide first, meaning the car will try to go in a straight line. The steering will ALWAYS feel sluggish, like the car isn't responding to the wheel. I don't think you'll like it.
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Car: 1982 SC/1984 Z28
Engine: 305 4BBL/305 4BBL H.O.
Transmission: 700R4/700R4
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen 3.23 Posi/3.73 10 Bolt
Re: Sway bar Sizes
Well, i might find a 24MM bar for cheap before i find a good set of stock control arms at this rate. it seems that all i see are ones with the oblonged hole. if i had access to a Machine Shop, i'd get a set and fix em BETTER than new. I just moved to a new National Guard unit and we don't have ANY shop yet, so i have to wait for my Machine Shop. BTW, that's what my MOS is, so i can handle the project. I just hope that i don't have to wait that long to get this thing setup the way i want. I'll probably lose patience and BUY a set of Tubulars for $400.
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Re: Sway bar Sizes
All of the arms I have seen have oblong holes. I think that they are made that way for clearance and won't hurt the way the swaybar works.
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Re: Sway bar Sizes
It would make sense that if the holes end up wearing that way then the end links are binding in the hole. Anyway, Like I said, I have yet to see a factory GM arm, even from other vehicles that the hole wasen't oblong. If it wore that way I couldn't tell but even if it did then it was needed for enought clearance.
#30
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Re: Sway bar Sizes
The egging may have more to do with poor OE bushings than the a-arms or the end links. Note in the following link that the ES bushings are supposed to fit into the hole on both sides of the a-arm--the 1LE nylon bushings that I once used certainly didn't do that. At any rate, whatever the cause, the problem is common.
BTW, for whatever the info's worth, my Parts and Illustration Cat. shows the hole round.
Curious, I went looking for pics. Check the a-arm pics in post #10 of the following link (There are other pics as well if you're willing to wade through them, but they're all round):
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/memb...t-my-87-a.html
JamesC
BTW, for whatever the info's worth, my Parts and Illustration Cat. shows the hole round.
Curious, I went looking for pics. Check the a-arm pics in post #10 of the following link (There are other pics as well if you're willing to wade through them, but they're all round):
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/memb...t-my-87-a.html
JamesC
Last edited by JamesC; 11-22-2010 at 12:57 PM.
#31
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Car: 1982 SC/1984 Z28
Engine: 305 4BBL/305 4BBL H.O.
Transmission: 700R4/700R4
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen 3.23 Posi/3.73 10 Bolt
Re: Sway bar Sizes
I found a pair. I had Business in Alexandria (125 Miles south of here) and checked their U-Pull-It yard. They had a 1984 Firebird there. It didn't want to give up it's Control Arms, but i was persuasive. The Springs didn't want to come out of the pockets and most of the bolts were frozen. It took me a little extra work, but i got em.
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