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The sway bars are responsible for reducing body roll in turns. It is basically a torsion bar that runs across the car, it twists as the car leans, resisting the motion and keeping the car relatively level. Sway bars are also known as "stabilizer bars", "anti-roll bars", or "anti-sway bars".

Choosing the right size sway bar is a compromise. Putting a larger sway bar in the front will increase tendency to understeer. Putting a larger sway bar in the rear will reduce understeer. Sway bars that are too small will allow the car's body to lean in turns. Too large of a sway bar, and the independent action of the wheels will be somewhat restricted. Since our cars are front-wheel drive which has a natural tendency to understeer, upgrades to the rear sway bar will be more beneficial than upgrades to the front sway bar.

Front Sway Bar
Most first-gen W-body cars with 2.8L, 3.1L, 3100, or 2.3L Quad4 engines will have a 28mm (FE1) or 30mm (FE2, FE3) front sway bar. In 1991+, GM used a 34mm front sway bar in cars equipped with the 3.4L DOHC V6. The 91+ Grand Prix with FE3 also got the largest 34mm front sway bar. Cutlass Supremes without the 3.4L but with FE3 still used the 30mm sway bar up to 1997.

Option 1: GM 34mm sway bar Part #26024362. If your car has the 3.4L DOHC V6, 3800 V6, or is a 1991-96 Grand Prix with FE3, then you already have the largest front sway bar available from GM. If you have a 1988-90 car or your car has FE1 suspension, then chances are you have a 28mm or 30mm front sway bar. The bar is available from most salvage yards, or you can buy one from a GM Parts Dealer for about $93. The 34mm sway bar also requires TWO (2) new inner bushings, part #10233859. The bushings will cost about $9.15/each. Your existing outer bushings and bushing clamps will fit. Before you buy a new sway bar, make sure you don't already have the largest sway bar by measuring the one on your car. I only have application data for 88-96 Grand Prix and 88-97 Cutlass Supreme, so other W-body cars might have used different combinations.

All first-gen W-body (except 95-99 Monte Carlo and Lumina)
Option 1: Addco Part #474. Replace your puny 12mm (or 14mm with 3.4L DOHC) sway bar with this beefy 7/8" sway bar from Addco. For comparison with the stock sway bar, this translates to slightly over 22mm. The bar is available with either urethane or rubber bushings and new bushing clamps. It is designed to replace the stock bar on all first-gen W-body 88-97 with the rear monoleaf, so this bar can not be used on 95-99 Monte Carlo and Lumina.

"Addco Swaybar meets 2.5" custom exhaust" - picture courtesy of Kevin Heider

Here is what the rear 7/8" Addco sway bar looks like sitting underneath a custom bent 2.5" exhaust system. There is not a lot of space between the two. The Addco swaybar is listed at http://www.cyberauto.com under Chevy Lumina. It is part #474-U, $142.20. The Addco bar includes red polyurethane bushings.

1995-99 Monte Carlo and Lumina
Option 1: Addco Part #639. This is a beefy 7/8" sway bar from Addco. It will only fit 95-99 Monte Carlo and Lumina. Retail price is $203.15. The bar is available with either urethane or rubber bushings and new bushing clamps. Most 95-96 Monte Carlos with the F41 performance suspension already have a 22mm rear sway bar which is approximately 7/8", so it is pointless to upgrade the rear sway bar on these cars.