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1969 front sway bar hits frame ??

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motobro

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
1969 camaro and my front swaybar contacts the frame on both sides as it wraps around to bolt to end links.
The sway bar is 7/8 " , I recently purchased new moog end links with bushings.
The old endlinks installed by the previous owner were shorter and pulled the swaybar down away from the frame. I was told that the correct link is longer than the previous owners install. So I purchased the moog.
Theres a flat spot on the frame that the swaybar runs parallel with before attaching to the end link, its at that point the swaybar makes contact with the frame on both sides. Since I am not the original owner of the car, I don't know if this is even the correct swaybar.
Has anyone else noticed this, anyone got any pictures ????
Thanks
 
#2 ·
Re: 1969 front sway bar hits frame ?????

The more horizontal the end of the sway bar is the more effective it will work. The problem is not all sway bars are identical and suspensions get modified and changed from stock and even replacements parts change over the years. That means a little give and take is in order.

Look at this diagram, notice when they lowered teh car they changed to shorter endlinks to bring things back to parallel.

Image


You want to first select an endlink that will get your bar level again... Wait thought, if everything is parallel and the endlink is hitting something along the way you'll end up snapping one or both in half so as much as you want parallel the next concideration is clearence so don't be afraid to run slightly longer or shorter endlinks to insure there is no contact issues.

If you look at Energy Suspension endlinks you'll see you can get them in many different lengths...
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
Re: 1969 front sway bar hits frame ?????

so in looking at the pics, you can see the sway bar is fairly parralel to the ground.
The flat looking spot above the swaybar to the right of the top of the shock is the area that is making contact with the swaybar. Since its already level with the ground it makes me think that its the wrong swaybar.
The car has not been lowered, it has stock height springs, I just replaced all the ball joints and bushings, wheel bearings along with repainting the upper and lower controll arms.
 
#6 ·
Re: 1969 front sway bar hits frame ?????

If you don't mind an uneducated opinion, I'd say its a bar from another car.

Why not cut the tube that acts as a spacer (over the bolt between the blue bits in the pics)? Then buy new grade 8 bolts from NAPA?

They usually give me hardware from the drawers cuz its a pain to add it up. Then I feel happy and buy more stuff from them. I think they planned it...
 
#7 ·
Re: 1969 front sway bar hits frame ?????

As I already suggested, a different length end link (either new or modify the ones you have as Kev is saying) and be done with it. Here's a picture of the 1 1/16th" solid bar on my car. I'm using a bit longer end link to clear the nut on the right when turning. This is with a 2" drop spring...

Image
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
Re: 1969 front sway bar hits frame ?????

Hey Dennis,
Great looking Camaro by the way !!!
In your photo the sway bar seems to be clearing the flat piece of steel on the frame.
I know I can cut the endlink to fit, but I can't help but think that my swaybar is not the correct one for the car. Not wide enough
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
Re: 1969 front sway bar hits frame ?????

I will be out near Kasabians in Dublin today, they have a few 69's out there that I want to check out. I will see what the sway bars and links look like on those cars.
Thanks for all the help.
I will let you know what I find out.
The handling of my car is very stiff in the front, I can't help but think that the sway bar is making the suspension bind up if it hits on the frame.
 
#10 ·
I have the Hotchkis bar on my car - it had plenty of clearance on the passenger side, but very little on the driver's side. It wasn't hitting the bumpstop on the frame, but very close, so I didn't worry about it.

This past winter I replaced my subframe because it was tweaked, and now have equal and adequate clearance on both sides.

I don't think it would be too tough to remove that bar and tweak it slightly using a shop press so that it clears.

One other thought comes to mind - I don't believe 67 Camaros had that bumpstop on the frame there - weren't they on the back side of the LCA or something like that? Thinking it could possibly be a bar designed for the earlier subframe, but probably not.

PS Your bumpstop bumpers are missing.
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
A trip to my two local overpriced hot rod car dealerships allowed me to view 8 different camaros 67-69. None of them had the sway bar touching the the flat frame stop. The had approx 3/8 of an inch clearance on each side. Also it looks like the holes on the end of the bar are more forward that mine. My holes on the swaybar are set back towards the rear of the car from the holes on the lower controll arm approx. 1 1/4 inches.
So I am pretty sure I have a swaybar on my car that is not supposed to be on there, probably from a vega or something.
I went and got some 5" bolts and used them as endlinks to get the bar away from the frame, not really the way I want it to stay but good enough for now. I will wait for a used one to pop up somewhere or maybe I will go for a 1" Hellwig #5705 , looks I can get one with hardware for $124.99 plus shipping. Made in the USA !!!!
 
#12 ·
You need a different bar for sure. 67's and 68's don't have a front bumpstop so don't have that frame pad and more clearance in that area. The Solid Helwig is a good choice, they use heat treated Chrome Molly on their solid bars. Most hollow bars are 1 1/16" and cold bent seamless tube. The end links need to be a little short on a lowered Camaro to help keep the bar ends close to level. You don't want to go too short or it will bind the bar. Around 1 3/4" spacer tube length is minimum, 2" is better.
 
#14 ·
It's possible to snake it out and a new one in w/o disconnecting the LCA. Go to the Hotchkis website and look at their install instructions for theit 1st gen bar - it'll kinda walk you through the necessary twists/bends/contortions.

Edit - Here ya go http://www.hotchkis.net/_uploaded_files/2207F.pdf
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
Today I replaced the front swaybar with a Hellwig 1" bar.
The old swaybar was not the same shape, like i said before pretty sure its not the correct one.
Now when i push on the front fender i get a smooth up and down motion,
with the old swaybar it would barely move.
A test drive has confirmed a much more supple ride !!!
Another camaro problem solved !!!
 
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motobro
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