Spreader bars, what are my choices?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 483
Likes: 3
From: Pequannock NJ
Their website only listed two models, one for stock suspension and the other for shark bite suspension. Both pictures showed a stock mechanical fan.
If there is another model they don't seem to list it.
If there is another model they don't seem to list it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,945
Likes: 851
From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
i used the speed direct bar, but have VBP everything else. i can say without reservation there is NO placebo effect involved. its the first suspension mod people should make.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Last edited by Paul L; Jan 24, 2015 at 01:58 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Just take your time and position it carefully to avoid interference with the fan blades. There is more than adequate adjustment room on the brackets to get it right.
BTW, my pics are from about four years ago. I have never regretted that purchase. My old 1974 is as stable as heck when driving and cornering.
BTW, my pics are from about four years ago. I have never regretted that purchase. My old 1974 is as stable as heck when driving and cornering.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 483
Likes: 3
From: Pequannock NJ
I'm sure the instructions will have some more info on this but how do you know when it's been adjusted correctly? I know it's supposed to "spread" the upper shock towers but how do you know if you spread them too far or not enough?
Just take your time and position it carefully to avoid interference with the fan blades. There is more than adequate adjustment room on the brackets to get it right.
BTW, my pics are from about four years ago. I have never regretted that purchase. My old 1974 is as stable as heck when driving and cornering.
BTW, my pics are from about four years ago. I have never regretted that purchase. My old 1974 is as stable as heck when driving and cornering.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
It doesn't "spread" per se. It prevents movement of the front frame during driving. If you are dialed in on front alignment, just snug the bar up to keep that condition. The spreader bar cannot be used to move the frame dimensions. Don't try!!
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 483
Likes: 3
From: Pequannock NJ
Ok, that makes sense. Is it recommends to install the bar with full ride weight with all 4 wheels on the ground or should the front end be jacked up with some weight off the front end?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
I did mine with each front wheel jacked up to take the load off the control arms so the nuts could be loosened without stress. And then re-tightened. Others may dis-agree. But four or so years without problems.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 9,446
Likes: 240
From: Powassan ON
I did the same thing.Jack it up just enough to take the weight off the top arm nuts.
13/16 socket and wrench for the control arm nuts,IIRC. You'll need some dexterity to work around the rad hose. I think I needed a fairly long extension on the ratchet as well, I forget why exactly, to get around something or other.
Paul, in the pic it looks like you have a loose nut
I installed one side, the hard to reach side, then removed the jack and did the other side. I screwed the hem joints into the bar as far as possible then jacked up the other side and screws the him joint s out an equal amount until I could get the second bolt through the mount. I then added the suggested amount of "preload", I think it was one complete turn of the bar. Or was it am half turn? Follow the instructions and you'll be fine.
Some here have replaced the home joint hardware with a higher strength bolt. I didn't. So far so good though.
Dodosmike
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
The techniques described above are appropriate for installing the brackets to the upper control arm bolts. However once the brackets are installed and secured to the control arm bolts, the bar itself should be installed with the weight of the car on the wheels. That is the position of the car when the alignment is done and therefore where it should be when the bar is installed. The bar is intended to keep the front suspension from flexing unduly and altering these suspension settings as the front suspension loads and unloads as it moves up and down.
To illustrate the amount of flex there is in your suspension from a loaded (weight on wheels) position to an unloaded position, all you need do is install the bar in the brackets (either loaded or unloaded) and note how easily it rotates on the heim joints. Then either load or unload (opposite of where it was installed) the suspension by either lowering it to the ground to place the weight on the wheels or the opposite, raising the front end off the ground, and then try to rotate the bar. The resistance you will encounter is the result of suspension flex from nothing but the static weight of the car and is an eye opener!
Good luck... GUSTO
To illustrate the amount of flex there is in your suspension from a loaded (weight on wheels) position to an unloaded position, all you need do is install the bar in the brackets (either loaded or unloaded) and note how easily it rotates on the heim joints. Then either load or unload (opposite of where it was installed) the suspension by either lowering it to the ground to place the weight on the wheels or the opposite, raising the front end off the ground, and then try to rotate the bar. The resistance you will encounter is the result of suspension flex from nothing but the static weight of the car and is an eye opener!
Good luck... GUSTO
Last edited by GUSTO14; Jan 25, 2015 at 10:46 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,462
Likes: 985
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
The techniques described above are appropriate for installing the brackets to the upper control arm bolts. However once the brackets are installed and secured to the control arm bolts, the bar itself should be installed with the weight of the car on the wheels. That is the position of the car when the alignment is done and therefore where it should be when the bar is installed. The bar is intended to keep the front suspension from flexing unduly and altering these suspension settings as the front suspension loads and unloads as it moves up and down.
To illustrate the amount of flex there is in your suspension from a loaded (weight on wheels) position to an unloaded position, all you need do is install the bar in the brackets (either loaded or unloaded) and note how easily it rotates on the heim joints. Then either load or unload (opposite of where it was installed) the suspension by either lowering it to the ground to place the weight on the wheels or the opposite, raising the front end off the ground, and then try to rotate the bar. The resistance you will encounter is the result of suspension flex from nothing but the static weight of the car and is an eye opener!
Good luck... GUSTO
To illustrate the amount of flex there is in your suspension from a loaded (weight on wheels) position to an unloaded position, all you need do is install the bar in the brackets (either loaded or unloaded) and note how easily it rotates on the heim joints. Then either load or unload (opposite of where it was installed) the suspension by either lowering it to the ground to place the weight on the wheels or the opposite, raising the front end off the ground, and then try to rotate the bar. The resistance you will encounter is the result of suspension flex from nothing but the static weight of the car and is an eye opener!
Good luck... GUSTO
This how I installed my spreader bar about 5 years ago….
I jacked each side up for installation of the bar between the control arms and then let the car down on its wheels-tightened the bar snug while on the ground-works perfectly. I had to install and remove the bar TWICE this past spring with the engine upgrade/rebuild-expert with spreader bars now LOL….
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 483
Likes: 3
From: Pequannock NJ
As there seems to be some questions/ difference of opinions on how to install the bar I asked Speed Direct 3 questions and got a response today
1. Should the bar be installed with the front wheels on the ground with all of their ride weight?
2. Should the spreader bar be set to push the shock towers out to their original factory location?
3. If the car should be jacked up for the installation, should all the weight come off of the front wheels or just partial?
And their answer
You can install the spreader bar with the car on the ground. Yes, you want to push it out so it keeps the a-arms from flexing inwards. There are adjustments for this and you just have to dial it out more.
I'm not sure if this answers everything I asked but it does give some info
1. Should the bar be installed with the front wheels on the ground with all of their ride weight?
2. Should the spreader bar be set to push the shock towers out to their original factory location?
3. If the car should be jacked up for the installation, should all the weight come off of the front wheels or just partial?
And their answer
You can install the spreader bar with the car on the ground. Yes, you want to push it out so it keeps the a-arms from flexing inwards. There are adjustments for this and you just have to dial it out more.
I'm not sure if this answers everything I asked but it does give some info
Racer
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 307
Likes: 19
From: Kirkland WA
I'd like to get one like right now, but plan to change to tubular upper control arms eventually for the caster angle improvement. Anyone know if the mounting bracket will fit both types? I thought I saw the Sharkbite bar with two different brackets/part numbers depending on the type of arms in use.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 338
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles Ca
I'd like to get one like right now, but plan to change to tubular upper control arms eventually for the caster angle improvement. Anyone know if the mounting bracket will fit both types? I thought I saw the Sharkbite bar with two different brackets/part numbers depending on the type of arms in use.
I believe if you don't have speed direct upper control arms they use the same bolts that you would use to adjust the caster and bolt the control arm shaft to the frame.
Toby
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 483
Likes: 3
From: Pequannock NJ
I would think an alignment is in order, you put a preload of some sort on the bar which would push out the towers slightly, not very much but a little bit. For me I'm swapping the steering box at the same time I install the spreader bar so I need an alignment no matter what.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 483
Likes: 3
From: Pequannock NJ
My spreader bar came in the other day and the one surprising thing about it to me at least was how small in diameter the bar is. I understand it's going into a tight space but it's really small, anyone ever find their spreader bent?