Originally posted by RogerB:
Originally posted by JEDsContour:
Originally posted by Rob___:
Hey guys,

How bout the 19mm sway bar? Is it worth upgrading my 18mm SE sway bar to the BAT 19mm? Is it worth it, will I notice a difference?

Will the frame/mounts still need re-inforcing?


Rob


You should be OK with the 19mm bar. That's the largest bar that Ford put on the Contour.

I have a brand new 19mm rear sway bar and rubber bushings I bought from BAT (Ford OEM part). I also have heavy duty brackets and 19mm polyurethane bushings that I bought from Performance Fords for use with the stock subframe.

19mm rear sway bar, polyurethane bushings, and heavy duty brackets are really the best you can do without reinforcing the subframe. You will notice a difference in handling.

My Plans changed and I am not going to use these parts - if you want them, I can make you a good deal.




There is no actual difference in dimension between an SE rear bar and an SVT rear bar. They are variously called either an 18mm bar, or a 19mm, but if you measure them exactly, they are somewhere between 18 and 19. Some people and spec sheets round up, some round down.

My own plan, if I ever complete it, is to leave the rear as is with poly bushings, and swap my 20mm front for the SVT's 19mm front, maybe with fresh rubber bushings. I have the bar and everything--just waiting for a "convenient" time.

Also, excuse my ignorance, but I'm not sure how you could be stranded miles from home by a broken swaybar bracket, considering that the swaybar is non-essential to the basic operation of the vehicle. Did both brackets break, and drop the bar to a weird angle? If so, that's a different story, and maybe reinforcing the brackets ahead of time is more important. I don't know. I've never heard of anyone being stranded by a swaybar, but I've never heard a lot of things.


I have a true 19mm bar, not an 18mm bar. Its actually for the European Mondeo. It is the largest bar Ford put on the Contour/Mondeo.

I agree that most people would call the SVT rear bar an 18mm bar.

I don't care one way or another about selling parts, I bought this for my 96 LX, but I have other plans now.

You could drive for months on broken sway bar brackets - the car would just handle funny and make occasional banging noises

99 Tropic Green SVT, Tan Leather, 20K miles, "Nice Twin" (factory stock). 99 Tropic Green SVT, Tan Leather, 28K miles, "Evil Twin" (Turbo AER 3L and more in progress) 96 Red LX, Opal Grey Leather 2.5L, ATX, 22K miles