Rear sway bar
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Balto Md
Rear sway bar
My rear sway bar on my 76 was missing when I bought the car. If I buy the kit with urethane bushings will it work with a fiberglass spring set up? I'm guessing it will but I can't help but wonder if whoever put the spring on left it off (why?) or if the car just didn't come with one. I what to improve the handling some. Any ideas on this will be appreciated. 
Senior Member since 1492
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 87,933
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From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
What not try to find a stock rear sway bar. I have a 5/16" BB bar on my rear. Doesn't sound like much but made a big difference.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,455
Likes: 977
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
This topic has been discussed many times on the forum. If you want to add a bar I would put on a stock rear bar to match your front bar diameter for your year. My 78 gymkhana vette had a 1 1/8inch front bar and a 7/16 rear (might have been a 9/16th) OEM bar. I don't believe that the 76 vettes had a front bar that large, maybe 1 inch or less so be careful about adding anything but a very small diameter rear bar since anything bigger with that small front bar will induce oversteer. Of course, changing both bars to a bigger matching set for a C3 is a different story. I currently run the stock 1 1/8inch front bar with poly mounting and poly endlinks with a 3/4 inch OEM style (uses the OEM end links, not the aftermarket horizontal holes in the bar like the front sway bar setup) with poly mounting bushes on this bar as well-car is very neutral handling! I would be very careful about larger than stock rear bars and particularly those with aftermarket type end links-many people on the forum with these bars report more oversteer than they like. All of the mid to late C3's are setup from the factory to understeer.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Balto Md
I'm new on here and probably should have researched earlier threads. I appreciate the info. I now understand an will probably use OEM style. I will measure the front bar before purchasing. Thanks again.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
From: Franksville Wisconsin
I just brought similar topic up few weeks ago. You don't want more than 1/2" sway bar. I just got off ebay a 7/16 oem bar for my '81 I'm uning new poly bushings with it and new poly front sway bar link kit. I'm just waiting for one sway bar link and I plan to install. A note: you may have to loosen and move brake lines over slightly, I did.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
My rear sway bar on my 76 was missing when I bought the car. If I buy the kit with urethane bushings will it work with a fiberglass spring set up? I'm guessing it will but I can't help but wonder if whoever put the spring on left it off (why?) or if the car just didn't come with one. I what to improve the handling some. Any ideas on this will be appreciated.
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
From: Franksville Wisconsin
Racer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
From: Franksville Wisconsin
Been told if using 7/16 rear bar with stock front bar should be ok. If your suspension is soft enough no problem. If you have heavy spings may be a problem. My car has very soft rear suspension so I think a sway bar will compliment it nicely.(oem composite spring)
