I can't find one negative comment about Addco sway bars. Seems like the way to go. My question is, will they work well with an otherwise stock suspension with 14 inch rubber? I don't have plans to upgrade anything else. I already have a B-body tugging mod money from my wallet
The goal here is just to fix the feeling of leaning like a double decker bus while changing lanes. I am happy with the car otherwise. Only problem I have is that it handles like a dog.
If I do upgrade the sways, will there need to be any supporting mods done? For example, in the b-body world, you have to change the rear lower control arms to support a larger sway bar. Otherwise the stiff sway bar will rip the stamped steel control arm right in half. Just curious if there are known issues in performing these upgrades I should be aware of.
Also, this "tie bar" thing is new to me. From what I gather it is installed in the rear between the left and right sway bar mounts. I have read that it helps. Would it be something I should look into?
My Caprice page
I would stick with one change at a time, and gauge for yourself how each affects your impression of the car's handling. I myself ran a rear Addco anti-sway bar on otherwise stock suspension and noticed the car did recover more quickly from sharp maneuvers. A front bar is also quite important, especially if your car has the base package with no preinstalled stock front bar. A tie bar is more of a supporting upgrade, as are strut brace bars -- these are less critical but still a good move. You might also consider getting some adjustable performance struts. Products like the KYB AGXs, Koni Yellows and Tokico D-Spec struts are usually associated with lowered suspension applications, but the ability to dial-in your ride stiffness is a universal benefit, even at stock ride height.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Sunday, June 24, 2007 7:38 PM
Shop Manuals, Brochures:
www.kenmcgeeautobooks.com
I looked under the front of the car just now. It looks like I have a front bar. It does look very anorexic. Maybe I am just used to looking at my 1 7/8" on the other car. What is the diameter of the stock unit? If the Addco unit is not much stiffer then should I just get the rear and call it a day? If I had no bar in the front like Geeky it would be a no brainer. I guess I am just questioning how good the stock front vs the Addco front.
My Caprice page
I answered my own question:
FRONT
-18mm stock FE1 bar (stock on 95-99)*
-22mm stock FE2 bar (stock on 2000-2002)*
-24mm stock FE3 bar (stock on 2003-2004)*
-25.4mm addco bar
-25.4mm eibach bar (-sold in combo with their 22mm rear)
-26mm mantapart.com bar
local place = custom bar
I have a 24mm sway stock according to this because I have a 2003. 24mm vs the addco 25.4mm, one would think there is not much of a difference in the bars. That would be of course assuming the materials used in both bars had similar torsional properties. Looks like I need to do some more digging. The mantapart bar looks like it might be a good bar too. I need to search on that as well.
My Caprice page
Could not find much feeback on mantapart sway bars. Who here can comment about them?
My Caprice page
I can't speak for the quality of their sway bar, but I do know there are a lot of horror stories about dealing with Mantapart as a company. Most people have probably looked past it for that reason alone.
Shop Manuals, Brochures:
www.kenmcgeeautobooks.com
I am learning the search function a little better now. One guy put it like this.....
"Mantapart still = the suxorz."
Ok, so addco it is! So, how would would the addco rear feel like with the stock 24mm front? Anybody? <crickets chirping>
My Caprice page
wow... i had no idea our cars came with 3 different sized front sway bars...
booooooo for 95-99 having the smallest
my experience= addco (new style) and custom rear tie bar.. WOW, one of the best things ive ever done to any of my cars. im very impressed and couldnt be happier with the setup.
I upgraded sway bars before I replaced the springs and struts. I think replacing springs and struts should be your first step towards a proper handling car. You still get too much body roll with just the sway bars.
zyaaaa, Thank you! I assume you did both bars at once. Did you do it on stock springs first? I assume you did both bars at first too.
Zach, I agree that it would handle much better if I went through the whole setup. But dang, it is like 1000 bucks to do all that!!! I am not after an all out handling car. I just simply want it to work better. I want it to feel safe. Right now it is down right scary. If you are saying that it is not worth doing because I will not see much improvement then that would be one thing. I don't think that is what you mean. This car will never be my autocross car. This is just a daily driver. I have a 4200lb boat I use for road course and auto-x
I know it won't handle great if I do addco alone. But I do expect it to be quite a bit better. I am willing to dump $300 and a day of labor to make it better. Or would I be better off keeping it stock and pocket the cash? I have never rode in a modded cavi so I really have no idea what to expect. I have put a set of big bars on different cars and it really was a big improvement even though the car was WAY under dampered and under sprung. I just hope these addco are enough bar. Sorry if I am coming off argumentative. That is not my intent.
My Caprice page
How big is the bar on the front of the car from the factory? I ask because putting two 1" bars on will leave the car in a state of understeer. I'd be inclined to put just the rear bar on and a couple of strut bars to make the car more consistent while just upgrading the bushings on the front bar to poly. The downside I had when running the addco's on OEM springs and shocks was the car would not be very predictable when you brought it to its limit. I think this was due to the fact that their was still significant body roll being exerted on the sway bars and they would sort of "snap" the car around on you if you pushed the car too hard. If all you do is drive it on the street and you don't drive it like a fool, you will be fine and the car will handle much better than it did before. That said, I feel like adding sway bars should come after upgrading springs/struts and doing so before hand is just putting a band-aid over the problem.
