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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 113
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 113 |
I failed my subframe with the SCA 21mm bar (which incidentally has the same stiffness as BAT's 22m bar, but that's another discussion).
First the 'tab' end of the bracket (not the bolt/weldnut end) began to bend. So I had that welded up with Aussie backing plates so I could use 2 bolt brackets. Then the welds failed. I was just rounding a mild corner when I heard a loud creak and then a thunk as the bar separated from the subframe.
Bottom line, the stock subframe was highly optimized for the stock bar. Any other bar will eventually lead to failure.
-Kurt
50% of all people are below average.
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,616
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,616 |
Originally posted by Munson:
Bottom line, the stock subframe was highly optimized for the stock bar. Any other bar will eventually lead to failure.
I think a lot depends on vehicle age, and where its driven. My tabs tore out with the stock SVT bar at the 67,000 mile mark...but MI uses a ton of salt on their roads..
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,469
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,469 |
I have been thinking about a smaller change...
Upgradeing SVT 18mm rear bar to early SE 19mm rear bar. Along with the poly bushings to remove some squirm I "think" it may dial out a bit of understeer and be more "bracket friendly" as it is afterall a stock part. What do you guys think?? In all honasty, I think the car is not far from where I want it balance wise at this point so I do not need a big change.
1999 Amazon Green SVT Contour (#554/2760)
"People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use."
-Soren Kierkegaard (as posted by Jato)
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 217
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 217 |
Dan,
I don't know how the 19mm bar will fair either. Things look pretty flimsy to me back there. I definitely have some piece of mind running with a rear subframe with boxed-in sway bar mounting points. There was a posting within the last 2-3 weeks about a broken subframe mounting point and from the pictures, it looked like he was running with the stock bar. Probably all it takes is some rust and a nice pothole to put things on the path to destruction.
In the case of swaybars, it definitely feels like a case where bigger is better. I felt a big difference going from the stock bar to the "22mm" BAT bar and a fairly big difference going from the BAT bar to the Aussie bar. It seem like one of those cases where you don't know how good it can be unless you do it.
George Hodge
New: Volvo S60R
Old:2000 SVT Silver Frost 1188/2150
DMD, 75mm Pro-M, HPP rear strut tower bar
Aussie 24mm sway bar (with boxed in subframe)
BAT European Handling Kit, Brullen Y-pipe
Performance Ford spherical bearing end links
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,867
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,867 |
Originally posted by Dan Nixon:
I have been thinking about a smaller change...
Upgradeing SVT 18mm rear bar to early SE 19mm rear bar. Along with the poly bushings to remove some squirm I "think" it may dial out a bit of understeer and be more "bracket friendly" as it is afterall a stock part. What do you guys think?? In all honasty, I think the car is not far from where I want it balance wise at this point so I do not need a big change.
Dan, all the rear bars, from the early SE to the last SVT, are the same. 18 point something.
BAT has never had a 22mm bar. They just called it that. It was actually, what, 20.8 or something? No surprise, then, that SCA's 21mm bar was "just as stiff." BAT doesn't even call it a 22 anymore, after some CEG'ers called them on it.
As for me, the only bar upgrades I'm planning are the bushings and end link grommets, to maximize what I have.
Function before fashion.
'96 Contour SE
"Toss the Contour into a corner, and it's as easy to catch as a softball thrown by a preschooler." -Edmunds, 1998
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,469
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,469 |
Originally posted by RogerB:
Dan, all the rear bars, from the early SE to the last SVT, are the same. 18 point something.
Roger, are you sure..I've seen 19mm listed for the early SE and 18.xx for the SVT/late SE. Would not surprise me that they were the same though. Same part number??
ghodge, if I lived close to Terry to box my subframe I'd probably go for it..I have an 'aussiebar" that I have been reluctant to install for this reason. Maybe someday I'll make the drive.
Thanks guys..
1999 Amazon Green SVT Contour (#554/2760)
"People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use."
-Soren Kierkegaard (as posted by Jato)
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,353
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,353 |
Originally posted by Dan Nixon:
Originally posted by RogerB:
Dan, all the rear bars, from the early SE to the last SVT, are the same. 18 point something.
Roger, are you sure..I've seen 19mm listed for the early SE and 18.xx for the SVT/late SE. Would not surprise me that they were the same though. Same part number??
ghodge, if I lived close to Terry to box my subframe I'd probably go for it..I have an 'aussiebar" that I have been reluctant to install for this reason. Maybe someday I'll make the drive.
Thanks guys..
It's the SE front sway bar that is 1mm larger not the rear.
1999 Blk/Tan CSVT #654 - SOLD
2003 Suzuki SV650s
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,469
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,469 |
OK Just to clarify..
My understanding was
-early SE we 20mm F & 19mm R
-SVT was 19mm F & 18mm R (some say 18xx R)
The front SVT bar smaller to reduce understeer.
Sounds like the rear SVT & SE bar may infact be same --any body that can confirm?
1999 Amazon Green SVT Contour (#554/2760)
"People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use."
-Soren Kierkegaard (as posted by Jato)
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 62
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 62 |
So has anyone had a failure after they have welded the sub-frame and run the aussie bar?  O3
Parts theory: "Run them til you bust them, and then upgrade"
2000 Svt
Black/Tan
H&R Springs
B&M Short Throw
Intake w/K&N
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