Sway bar
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 337
Likes: 56
Sway bar
Hello. My question is about the front sway bar on my 69. Actually, I'm not really sure on how the bar does what it does. In the A.I.M. the bracket to frame is to be tightened about 10 to 12 ft. lbs. Does the bar have to be able to "flex" or twist ever so slightly in theses brackets to counter act the swaying? Should the brackets be only hand tight to the frame or should they be tightened to prevent any movement of the bar? Hope this makes sense and thanks for any explanations.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,521
Likes: 1,956
From: Temple Terrace Florida
The bar's job is to keep, as best as possible, both wheels flat to the ground when turning into and out of a turn. Adjustments should be made on level ground with the wheels facing forward and parallel to each other. Jerry
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 1,063
Likes: 170
From: Buckeye Lake, OH
Let's say - the passenger side anti-sway bar link wasn't tightened/torqued and was 'loose' (maybe 1/2" - 5/8" from being tight). Would that cause the car to sit lower on the passenger front?
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,692
Likes: 2,572
No, if the vehicle is stationary, the bar cannt effect the stance of the car if the link nut isn't tight.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,334
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
You could never tighten the brackets enough to squish the rubber enough to prevent that bar from turning.
For what it's worth, the poly bushings are normally greased (to prevent squeaking)
The idea is to prevent the bar from moving up/down or front/back so that all of the rotating up/down force from one side is applied as rotating up/down to the other side and not used up flopping the bar around inside a worn out bushing. The poly bushings are a lot stiffer so they help to keep the bar rotating rather than moving around in every other axis.
Unless the bar is bent or the end-links are totally miss-set, sitting on the ground stopped or driving in a straight line on a flat road, one side doesn't affect the other side at all. Only when one side tries to go up (or down) will it try to pull the other side with it
M
For what it's worth, the poly bushings are normally greased (to prevent squeaking)
The idea is to prevent the bar from moving up/down or front/back so that all of the rotating up/down force from one side is applied as rotating up/down to the other side and not used up flopping the bar around inside a worn out bushing. The poly bushings are a lot stiffer so they help to keep the bar rotating rather than moving around in every other axis.
Unless the bar is bent or the end-links are totally miss-set, sitting on the ground stopped or driving in a straight line on a flat road, one side doesn't affect the other side at all. Only when one side tries to go up (or down) will it try to pull the other side with it
M
Old Pro Solo Guy
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 8,032
Likes: 4,387
From: Marlton NJ
When we tune a race car, we make sure the bar is "neutral"
That means when the car is on the springs only, the bar will just slip in and touch it's mounting bolts on the a-arms, with zero extra slack
There should be no gap.
If there is a gap, and you tighten the bar, you have pre-loaded it, and that may affect both ride height, and different understeer effects left vs right.
No gap on both sides! Is just right.
That means when the car is on the springs only, the bar will just slip in and touch it's mounting bolts on the a-arms, with zero extra slack
There should be no gap.
If there is a gap, and you tighten the bar, you have pre-loaded it, and that may affect both ride height, and different understeer effects left vs right.
No gap on both sides! Is just right.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer