dohc v6 Posted November 3, 2004 Report Posted November 3, 2004 ok so i got the sway bar for 135. now do i have to take the springs out in the back to get the bar in. Quote
GnatGoSplat Posted November 3, 2004 Report Posted November 3, 2004 Nope. I seem to remember pulling a strut, but I don't know if it was necessary. Quote
Guest TurboSedan Posted November 3, 2004 Report Posted November 3, 2004 what year is your car? i had to unbolt one of the rear struts from the knuckle to get it into place, but that was it. Quote
HokemBokem Posted November 3, 2004 Report Posted November 3, 2004 Is a sway bar supposed to improve handling? Quote
GnatGoSplat Posted November 3, 2004 Report Posted November 3, 2004 Yes, it's supposed to reduce body roll in cornering. Quote
HokemBokem Posted November 3, 2004 Report Posted November 3, 2004 Yes, it's supposed to reduce body roll in cornering. Its wierd sometimes when I take a corner fast it feels like my tires are caving in or something???? Quote
GnatGoSplat Posted November 3, 2004 Report Posted November 3, 2004 Its wierd sometimes when I take a corner fast it feels like my tires are caving in or something???? They probably are. That's the appeal of going to larger wheels and smaller sidewalls, the sidewalls will be a lot stiffer. It's not just all about looks! Quote
DiscoStudd Posted November 3, 2004 Report Posted November 3, 2004 Yes, it's supposed to reduce body roll in cornering. Its wierd sometimes when I take a corner fast it feels like my tires are caving in or something???? FWIW, the Regal Custom didn't have a swaybar installed. You can install a stock W-Body swaybar, but you need to get some threaded inserts to put in the holes on the frame where the swaybar brackets are supposed to mount to. I bought a used swaybar for my Regal, but haven't installed it yet (still have to go to the dealer to get the threaded inserts.) In the works (maybe next spring- I decided to buy a 3rd car and have to pay off my credit card first) are KYB struts, Suspension Techinques front springs, the rear swaybar, and some Cutty 5-spoke 16's. I hope this improves the handling of my Regal greatly. It's like night and day between my GP and Regal. The GP has slightly stiffer springs, a stock swaybar, and 16's. I notice no "body lean" in the GP, and with the quicker ratio steering gear, it corners waaaaaaaaay better than the Regal Custom does. Just remember, your Regal Custom was designed to be a "Grandpa Car" and rides and handles as such. Luckily, you can nab parts from other W-Bodies to make it handle better ... Quote
HokemBokem Posted November 3, 2004 Report Posted November 3, 2004 Yes, it's supposed to reduce body roll in cornering. Its wierd sometimes when I take a corner fast it feels like my tires are caving in or something???? FWIW, the Regal Custom didn't have a swaybar installed. You can install a stock W-Body swaybar, but you need to get some threaded inserts to put in the holes on the frame where the swaybar brackets are supposed to mount to. I bought a used swaybar for my Regal, but haven't installed it yet (still have to go to the dealer to get the threaded inserts.) In the works (maybe next spring- I decided to buy a 3rd car and have to pay off my credit card first) are KYB struts, Suspension Techinques front springs, the rear swaybar, and some Cutty 5-spoke 16's. I hope this improves the handling of my Regal greatly. It's like night and day between my GP and Regal. The GP has slightly stiffer springs, a stock swaybar, and 16's. I notice no "body lean" in the GP, and with the quicker ratio steering gear, it corners waaaaaaaaay better than the Regal Custom does. Just remember, your Regal Custom was designed to be a "Grandpa Car" and rides and handles as such. Luckily, you can nab parts from other W-Bodies to make it handle better ... Allright good. But is that normal that the tires feel so wierd under heavy cornering? Once I pay off my mom for the brake job and tires I will start saving for a sway bar. How much do these usually go for? Quote
DiscoStudd Posted November 3, 2004 Report Posted November 3, 2004 Allright good. But is that normal that the tires feel so wierd under heavy cornering? Once I pay off my mom for the brake job and tires I will start saving for a sway bar. How much do these usually go for?Yep, totally normal with the Regal Custom. Like I said earlier, it's set up more for a comfy ride than for cornering prowess. Not only that, but you have 70 Series 15" tires on it, and those are also not so hot for cornering. If you like the look of your 15 wheels, then get a set of 16" Gran Sport wheels, since they are very similar. I picked up my "stock" swaybar from Davis for $20 shipped. It's a bit rusty and I need to clean it up before I install it, but shit you can't beat that price! Here's a pic of it: I'd say try getting one from the boneyard, but you would need to break the strut nuckle bolts loose and that's best left for air tools. Unless maybe you bring a huge breaker bar and a BFH (big fuckin' hammer) to brake the nuts loose and drive out the bolts, Ida know. If you want a great deal, ask Davis if he has any more for sale. I think he said he had 2 when I bought mine from him... Quote
HokemBokem Posted November 3, 2004 Report Posted November 3, 2004 Is it hard to install? Do I need any special tools and where does it go? Quote
DiscoStudd Posted November 3, 2004 Report Posted November 3, 2004 Is it hard to install? Do I need any special tools and where does it go?I'll snap a pic of my GP's swaybar for ya tomorrow morning. Gotta leave for work right now, no time to do it today. The end brackets bolt up to your strut nuckle bolts and the inner brackets bolt up to the frame rails. There are holes already drilled in the frame rails, but you need to get some threaded inserts to drop into the holes so you can properly bolt up the brackets... Quote
HokemBokem Posted November 3, 2004 Report Posted November 3, 2004 Is it hard to install? Do I need any special tools and where does it go?I'll snap a pic of my GP's swaybar for ya tomorrow morning. Gotta leave for work right now, no time to do it today. The end brackets bolt up to your strut nuckle bolts and the inner brackets bolt up to the frame rails. There are holes already drilled in the frame rails, but you need to get some threaded inserts to drop into the holes so you can properly bolt up the brackets... Allright well ill be waiting for that pic tommorow. Would this be a noticable improvement? Quote
digitaloutsider Posted November 3, 2004 Report Posted November 3, 2004 A definite noticable improvement, but I'd definitely try and at least get an FE3 bar. The FE1 one is pretty pussy. Quote
maybe2fast Posted November 3, 2004 Report Posted November 3, 2004 your regal has a sway bar in the front we are talking about the rear bar, your regal did not come with a rear sway bar. It will definitely help your handling, you will be surprised Quote
HokemBokem Posted November 3, 2004 Report Posted November 3, 2004 Sorry for hijacking this thread but what does the sway bar acually do? Pull the back struts toward each other or what? Quote
maybe2fast Posted November 3, 2004 Report Posted November 3, 2004 it keeps the strut ass. from swaying, it keeps the chassis stiffer Quote
GnatGoSplat Posted November 3, 2004 Report Posted November 3, 2004 Not exactly. It connects both sides of the suspension together. In a tight turn, for example, the outside wheel gets pushed up into the wheel well. The sway bar will try to even this out by pushing down on the outside wheel while pulling up on the inside wheel. Quote
HokemBokem Posted November 3, 2004 Report Posted November 3, 2004 Not exactly. It connects both sides of the suspension together. In a tight turn, for example, the outside wheel gets pushed up into the wheel well. The sway bar will try to even this out by pushing down on the outside wheel while pulling up on the inside wheel. Oh yea I see what your saying. I really want to get one of these now. And arnt all sway bars different? How do I know which ones will fit? Quote
GnatGoSplat Posted November 3, 2004 Report Posted November 3, 2004 I think the first-gen W-body factory sway bars are all the same. The big Addco bar is the same part # for all first-gen W's. Quote
HokemBokem Posted November 3, 2004 Report Posted November 3, 2004 Its wierd sometimes when I take a corner fast it feels like my tires are caving in or something???? They probably are. That's the appeal of going to larger wheels and smaller sidewalls, the sidewalls will be a lot stiffer. It's not just all about looks! Yea one of my sidewalls is kinda caved in but the others are fine. There is also some what I think wear marks on the sidewalls of all my tires??? Quote
HokemBokem Posted November 3, 2004 Report Posted November 3, 2004 I think the first-gen W-body factory sway bars are all the same. The big Addco bar is the same part # for all first-gen W's. So I just go to the dealership with that number or what? Also do you know the price of one of these? Quote
GnatGoSplat Posted November 3, 2004 Report Posted November 3, 2004 The Addco bar? You don't get 'em from the dealer, you get them from any place that sells Addco parts. I don't know where, but long time ago I bought mine from carparts.com back before JC Whitney bought them out. Quote
maybe2fast Posted November 3, 2004 Report Posted November 3, 2004 it will be hella expensive at the dealer! make a thread for a FE3 swaybar with hangers Quote
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