Rear Sway Bar Interference
#1
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Rear Sway Bar Interference
I have put 275 60 15s in the rear of my '81. I recently purchased a Van Steel 3/4 " rear sway bar. I can't install it because the bar hits the inside of both rear tires.
Is there another bar that someone may have used that worked with this combination without the interference?
Craig
Is there another bar that someone may have used that worked with this combination without the interference?
Craig
Last edited by Street Rat; 11-14-2018 at 04:59 PM.
#2
Race Director
Have you contacted Van Steele and let them know what you have going on as a problem with it??? They might not be aware that they might have a problem in how it was made. it is worth a call.
Assuming your wheels have the correct backspacing...that can cause for a problem if your rim is wider than 8" also.
DUB
Assuming your wheels have the correct backspacing...that can cause for a problem if your rim is wider than 8" also.
DUB
#3
Team Owner
At the shop I had to mod rear sway bars from time to time. Make two 45 degree bends on each side of the cross bar to decrease the length
easy to do with a hydraulic press
easy to do with a hydraulic press
#4
Melting Slicks
If I remember correctly you are running non stock wheels and so the stock clearances are out the window. I recently went through this with a custom spring from Van Steel, and it now fits, but is 1 1/2 inches shorter per side than a stock length spring.
Give them a call and see what they can do for you.
Give them a call and see what they can do for you.
#5
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Have you contacted Van Steele and let them know what you have going on as a problem with it??? They might not be aware that they might have a problem in how it was made. it is worth a call.
Assuming your wheels have the correct backspacing...that can cause for a problem if your rim is wider than 8" also.
DUB
Assuming your wheels have the correct backspacing...that can cause for a problem if your rim is wider than 8" also.
DUB
I called Van Steel and asked about the issue. They told me to just leave the bar off.
They offer a kit for this problem for models up to '79. Nothing for the '81.
#6
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
If I remember correctly you are running non stock wheels and so the stock clearances are out the window. I recently went through this with a custom spring from Van Steel, and it now fits, but is 1 1/2 inches shorter per side than a stock length spring.
Give them a call and see what they can do for you.
Give them a call and see what they can do for you.
I was hoping that you would respond.
I'm talking about the rear sway bar. I shortened the spring some time ago and got clearance for it. What are you using for the rear bar on your car?
#8
Melting Slicks
Mine's still up in the air. I swapped the 4.11 gears in, then decided to drop the trans to install my custom converter.
The spring I had made is 440 lbs so I am hoping to just not run a rear bar now. If later I decide I need one,.....I still have the old bar I can try and do what Gkull suggested, or get a short bar. I was running a 360 lb spring with the bar before, so I'm really hoping the 440 lb will compensate enough.
BTW I ended up with aprox 4 3/4 inch wheel backset with my Weld 15x9s and 295 55 15 drag radials. Looks like it'll work, but be pretty close to the T arm pocket. I'll know when it's back down on all fours this spring. This pic shows what I did to move everything inboard 1 1/2 inches.
The spring I had made is 440 lbs so I am hoping to just not run a rear bar now. If later I decide I need one,.....I still have the old bar I can try and do what Gkull suggested, or get a short bar. I was running a 360 lb spring with the bar before, so I'm really hoping the 440 lb will compensate enough.
BTW I ended up with aprox 4 3/4 inch wheel backset with my Weld 15x9s and 295 55 15 drag radials. Looks like it'll work, but be pretty close to the T arm pocket. I'll know when it's back down on all fours this spring. This pic shows what I did to move everything inboard 1 1/2 inches.
Last edited by The Money Pit; 11-15-2018 at 10:56 AM.
#9
Team Owner
Just for demo purposes. cut a piece of 12 inch solid copper wire. Then mark it at 2 inches, 4 inches from each end. Now at the 2 inch point on each end bend it to a 45 degree angle. Now at each 4 inch point bend the wire back down to straight with a 45 degree bend. Now lay it on the table and measure the end to end length. With 4 bends depending on how far apart they are you can take an inch or two out of the total width. Very simple
#11
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
I regrouped and ordered a factory type sway bar from Mid America Motorworks today.
According to some folks, this bar should work with my lack of inside tire clearance.
When I receive it I will post some information about the install.
Craig
According to some folks, this bar should work with my lack of inside tire clearance.
When I receive it I will post some information about the install.
Craig
#12
#13
Le Mans Master
I don't know if this will help you, but this is a stock rear bar on my 79'. Has about an inch clearance to the 255/60 tire on stock aluminum wheels.
#14
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by Duke94
I don't know if this will help you, but this is a stock rear bar on my 79'. Has about an inch clearance to the 255/60 tire on stock aluminum wheels.