Rear sway bar size

Topic: Rear sway bar size (Read 1741 times) previous topic - next topic

Rear sway bar size

April 12, 2006, 02:10:17 PM

Well I was playing with the Tbird this past weekend and I noticed something about my stock rear sway bar. If I punch the throttle in a turn the rear of the car will start to come out a very little bit before it goes back to understear. Now I have the stock V8 LX rear sway bar (ie the really little one) so if I upgraded to the 7/8" TC one would that help to induce some controllable overstear? I'm just looking to balance out the handling a little bit. Oh yeah the front sway bar is the 1 and 1/8" sway bar with poly bushings and endlinks.

Rear sway bar size

Reply #1 – April 12, 2006, 03:25:55 PM

You could try it, but I doubt it would do much. The rear swaybar design on the Fox-platform cars sucks.

Also, turbo coupes didn't have a 7/8" rear swaybar...it was more like 3/4". I got a '99 GT rear swaybar on my car and it is in fact 7/8".

Rear sway bar size

Reply #2 – April 13, 2006, 12:49:43 AM

Oh well I'll give it a shot and see what happens. Now I just have to find a '99 and up GT.

Rear sway bar size

Reply #3 – April 13, 2006, 02:52:25 PM

I was told '96-98 Cobras had a 1" rear bar...but you will pay some bucks to get one of those (last I heard it was around $150).

It's too bad nobody's selling new take-off '99-04 Mustang parts on ebay anymore because thats where I got my '99 GT rear bar. Originally found it on ebay as a new takeoff and got it for something like $35? I've had the thing for over 5 years though, originally ran it on my Mustang and now it's on my TC.

Rear sway bar size

Reply #4 – April 13, 2006, 03:22:31 PM

96-98 GT's had a 24mm solid bar

The Cobras used 26mm and 27mm hollow bars which were replaced by a 25mm solid bar because they kept breaking the ends off.

It may help a bit, but....and I know you're tired of hearing me say it...your wheels/tires are probably more the issue. Even getting some CC plates up front to allow for more positive caster will help with understeer a bit and allow for more front grip.

Rear sway bar size

Reply #5 – April 13, 2006, 05:20:55 PM

Quote

It may help a bit, but....and I know you're tired of hearing me say it...your wheels/tires are probably more the issue. Even getting some CC plates up front to allow for more positive caster will help with understeer a bit and allow for more front grip.

That is a good point. I do plan on upgrading the wheels/tires in addition to the rear sway bar. Those 215/70/R14 tires just don't cut it any more. I'm more than likely going to go with 17"x8.5" '93 Cobra replica wheels. Any idea on a good size tire for a wheel that size?

Rear sway bar size

Reply #6 – April 13, 2006, 11:38:21 PM

Nothing wider than a 245-255 in a 45 series tire... 275/40's MAYBE in the rear on an 8.5" wheel.

Rear sway bar size

Reply #7 – April 14, 2006, 06:14:15 PM

Quote

Nothing wider than a 245-255 in a 45 series tire... 275/40's MAYBE in the rear on an 8.5" wheel.

I was thinking a 245/45/R17 tires would be a good fit. I don't want big tires in the rear I'd rather have them all the same size. I don't want it to look like a red neck car:hick:

Rear sway bar size

Reply #8 – May 04, 2006, 04:27:05 PM

I'm starting to think that my tires are too big and cause more problems than they solve. I have 245/50/16 tires on stock snowflake wheels. This is about the widest tire you can fit on this wheel and I think that's a bad thing, but I wasn't quite as wise at the time. Snowflakes are 7" wide to my knowledge. Is this a problem? Does this cause the sidewall to be very unstable? They look great, but I really don't care about looks as much as stability.

Rear sway bar size

Reply #9 – May 04, 2006, 05:01:10 PM

http://www.miracerros.com/mustang/sway2.htm

This appears to be accurate for future reference.

Rear sway bar size

Reply #10 – May 05, 2006, 09:40:05 AM

Quote from: jlewis05

http://www.miracerros.com/mustang/sway2.htm

This appears to be accurate for future reference.

lol, i was just about to post that. it's a nice site. got tons of info. :)

Rear sway bar size

Reply #11 – May 05, 2006, 10:00:14 AM

Once you get some ideas of what size you want from the link above check here: http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?t=1357 That should give an idea of what can be had in the aftermarket.