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4th Gen v6 Front Swaybar
http://www.ccfbg.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=61&t=13475		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  Firm [ Mon Mar 12, 2012 3:05 pm ]
Post subject:  4th Gen v6 Front Swaybar
So, I had the Firebird in for some regular maintenance today and I was told my front swaybar is suspect (small crack starting). No symptoms displayed yet, so I guess I am not in a rush to do anything about it, but I figure now is probably a good time to upgrade. I've never done this before so I've got a few questions:

-Is there a difference between v6,v8, earlier, newer 4th gen sway bars?
-I assume I need to replace the bushings and links at the same time?
-If I go with an aftermarket upgraded swaybar, do I need similarly upgraded links? Or just stock replacements?
-Anyone recommend a good swaybar?
-Is this just a simply bolt on/bolt off install? or is there anything special to watch out for (or to remember to do) while installing?

If anyone has a swaybar their looking to sell let me know as well.

Thanks!

Edit: I did a quick search on summit, these all look fine to me...Is there anything that makes one better than the other? Personally, I am leaning towards the BMR because it's red, lol.
http://www.summitracing.com/search/Year/1996/Make/PONTIAC/Model/FIREBIRD/Department/Chassis-Suspension/Part-Type/Sway-Bars/Engine-Size/3-8L-231/Position/Front/?page=1&Ns=Price|Asc
Author:  Vetty [ Mon Mar 12, 2012 3:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 4th Gen v6 Front Swaybar
the cheapest biggest improvement would be to find a used WS6, SS, or 1LE take off. A stock v6 bar i think is 28mm, stock trans am or z28 is 30mm, and ws6 ss 1le comes with a 32mm. My stock bars ears are rusted and actually cracked. Found a great deal on this BMR 35mm i just picked up. For a daily on a v6 i dont think poly is needed but i guess it all depends on cost when you got to local parts store the difference. Im looking at bushings now since they have to come straight from BMR as Energy Suspension only makes up to 32mm and endlinks likely can be found at your local parts in either.

There is a guy on kijiji selling a bunch of Firehawk takes offs and i think he was asking $60 and only has 30k on it or something
Author:  transamtom [ Mon Mar 12, 2012 3:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 4th Gen v6 Front Swaybar
Just get Moog links at the parts store.
Author:  Firm [ Mon Mar 12, 2012 6:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 4th Gen v6 Front Swaybar
Thanks guys! As much as I like Moog Links (especially since I can get them cheap via work), what about getting a kit like this:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BMR-SB001R/

This way I wouldn't have to piece it together.

Oh, and thanks for the suggestion Vetty...I will check kijiji and see what I can find.
Author:  ktuga [ Tue Mar 13, 2012 12:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 4th Gen v6 Front Swaybar
Sway bars get material failure bc of IMPACT stress and the hallow ones have a small cross-sectional area, so u can conclude the rest. If its a solid sway bar, u are increasing the cross-sectional area (harder for the sway bar to twist) and it will make a hard/solid front end. to compare: a 32mm hallow can be equivalent to a 30mm solid (im guessing but should be around those lines). The car will shake twice more if u go over a whole on the street, but at same time will handle "more on rails". I went from a front 34mm hallow to a 35mm solid :-D
Author:  eddie jr [ Thu Mar 22, 2012 8:31 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 4th Gen v6 Front Swaybar
Just remember that if you are changing sway bars that you will affect the handling characteristics of the car, so it would be best to change front and back at the same time otherwise you will wind up with more understeer (doing the front only).
Author:  Firm [ Thu Mar 22, 2012 4:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 4th Gen v6 Front Swaybar
Yeah, that makes sense.....Course this car spends most of it's time crawling along the 401 at 40km/h, so I am not overly concerned with understeer.
Author:  6speedIROC [ Mon Mar 26, 2012 1:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 4th Gen v6 Front Swaybar
The bars are 'hollow'...as if they were made from a tube.
Most of the torsional strength in a round shape is in the outer fibers (near outer surface), so the hollow bars offer much higher stiffness vs solid ones for the same weight.

FYI My IROC has 36mm hollow factory on the front, so they must have gone with much less stiffness on the 4th gen stuff.
Author:  ktuga [ Mon Mar 26, 2012 4:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 4th Gen v6 Front Swaybar
6speedIROC wrote:
The bars are 'hollow'...as if they were made from a tube.
Most of the torsional strength in a round shape is in the outer fibers (near outer surface), so the hollow bars offer much higher stiffness vs solid ones for the same weight.


u r right, but the hollow ones flex way more bc of the less amount of cross section area.
Author:  !!!TED!!! [ Tue Mar 27, 2012 11:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 4th Gen v6 Front Swaybar
Interesting thread.

*strokes chin* :lol:

*goes back to creeping*
Author:  Firm [ Mon May 28, 2012 8:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 4th Gen v6 Front Swaybar
So, I haven't done anything with this yet...My stock is still holding up, so this has really been back-burnered.

Anyway, I found a good price on a brand new UMI Performance 35mm solid bar.....Is this too much for my stock daily v6?? I am on board for improving the handling, but I don't want it bouncing around like a go-kart.
Author:  flame [ Mon May 28, 2012 9:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 4th Gen v6 Front Swaybar
My front bar has been leaning on my garage wall for 2 years...............leave it till it breaks and even then I doubt you will notice any difference
Author:  transamtom [ Mon May 28, 2012 9:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 4th Gen v6 Front Swaybar
I did WS6 swaybars 32/21 on my V6 and it handles like its on rails with the 275/40/17 and 285/35/18 Sumihomo 2 tires.
Author:  Firm [ Tue May 29, 2012 12:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 4th Gen v6 Front Swaybar
flame wrote:
My front bar has been leaning on my garage wall for 2 years...............leave it till it breaks and even then I doubt you will notice any difference


Probably true, I just don't want it to break while driving and then bang around and wreck something else under the car.

So, is a 35mm solid too much?? I'd just be doing the front, not the rear.
Author:  flame [ Tue May 29, 2012 12:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 4th Gen v6 Front Swaybar
Firm wrote:
Probably true, I just don't want it to break while driving and then bang around and wreck something else under the car.


Even if the bar breaks it can't go anywhere. The end will still be attatched by the link and the bar in the bushings that are bolted to the body.
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