After market rear sway bar

[kmead]

Yes that was only on the first two years. There are very few of these cars in the US (not many sold to start with).

I much prefer that style anti roll bar. Supposedly this arrangement of a torque tube gave good hanlding as many magazines commented on the change to the later version rather negatively.

Never rode in one myself.

[thechadzone]

So I've read that the Addco rear sway bar only fits the later years of the 124. What makes it that way, and can they be adapted to the earlier year cars? It's good to see an Aussie source for the rear bar, even though it's on the other side of the planet from those of us in the US. Any other bars easily available stateside?

[kmead]

They don't fit the torque tube cars but should fit any after that time.

If they don't fit it is likely due to the diameter of the lower trailing arms (and possibly the ability of the smaller metal tube to take the load) being too small for the included hardware in the Addco kit.

I would have thought it would have worked on both the B and C versions of the cars..

[maytag]

wow, a torque tube encased driveshaft. that was only on the first two years, correct?

Note the obvious lack of the shorter trailing arm as well. This image must be from a very early car?

[Curly]

Here's a shot of the standard torque tube setup on my '68 AC coupe which is used as a tarmac rally car, the sway bar is standard. I prefer its handling to that of my SPYDUH which has the later upper and lower link rear end.





For what it's worth - I've tried thicker front bars on this car and always come back to the standard front bar. Heavier springs all around and Koni (front), Bilstein (rear) shocks keep the body-roll down and wheels on the ground (most of the time ).

Unless you are trying to induce understeer, I'd also opt for a rearbar on a car with the later rear end setup, before thickening up the front bar.

[mostlytwowheeled]

I've yet to install the sway bar but with all the info I've gotten here it will be soon coming this spring. THANKS guys!

[normanmanske]

so say a 73 with a 79 read end the addco sway bar would work ?

[kmead]

Yes,

[normanmanske]

sweet thang you glade i didnt wait a 140 the other day still waiting for the bar but still nice to know

[Turbofiat124]

I have heard and I am no authority, that a 1" swap on the front sway bar is better than adding a rear sway bar.

I added a 1" Addco bar on the front and a rear bar on the back.

The 1" bar on my Spider created a very harsh ride. It also felt like it was going to rip the chassis apart.
It had urethane bushings. I put the stock bar back on the car but left the rear bar.

I would not recommend a 1" front bar on a Spider.

This maybe based on my driving style but I've always thought rear bars made cars handle much better. I put one on my Yugo, 68 Ford and just recently a top heavy 98 Chevy conversion van and it handles much so better.

If you can't find any descent photos of how the rear bar mounts, I'll take some of my car.

[narfire]

The 1" bar on my Spider created a very harsh ride. It also felt like it was going to rip the chassis apart.It had urethane bushings. I put the stock bar back on the car but left the rear bar. I would not recommend a 1" front bar on a Spider.

I put a 1" on last year (standard rubber bushings though) and swapped out the shocks for Koni's. I absolutly love it and would recomend this change to anyone. Car feels smoother in the corners and I don't feel the roll any more while in the twisties.(205/50 15 tires) No rear sway bar though.For now I really like the way it handles with just the 1" and Koni's. (put some drilled front rotors on as well with braided brake lines )
http://performance.importrp.com/koni/ko ... 01055.aspx
Chris

[Razooli]

The 1" bar on my Spider created a very harsh ride. It also felt like it was going to rip the chassis apart.It had urethane bushings. I put the stock bar back on the car but left the rear bar. I would not recommend a 1" front bar on a Spider.

I put a 1" on last year (standard rubber bushings though) and swapped out the shocks for Koni's. I absolutly love it and would recomend this change to anyone. Car feels smoother in the corners and I don't feel the roll any more while in the twisties.(205/50 15 tires)

I have the 1" front bar and a rear bar (all urethane bushings) with 195/50/15s and stock shocks. I couldn't be happier. Rode with just the rear bar for a while and after the new front bar, I noticed a very positive difference in handling. Car corners flat, feels very solid and I didn't notice any more harshness in the ride. I check them often as some folks have had the stock bolts break on the front, but aside from one of the front bushings slipping sideways a little, no chassis damage is being done.
Photos of my rear bar installation are in a set on Flickr at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12662916@N ... 311713280/

[opus10583]

I have heard and I am no authority, that a 1" swap on the front sway bar is better than adding a rear sway bar.

Hi,

I can't see how, the Spider's handling fault is initial, transitional and terminal understeer.

Stronger front bar or reduced rear bar - increased understeer; reduced front or stronger rear bar - decreased understeer.

Unless the thicker front bar actually has a reduced rate vs. the stock piece it will increase the car's tendency to "push".

Unfortunately, the common rear bar isn't very confidence inspiring... and on my early '78 apparently requires re-routing the rear brake lines - and I am DONE getting hosed via the brakes.

Ciao,
Mark