Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Duratec Performance SWAY BARS

Just a quick question, at the present time I am concentrating on my suspension. I have Eibach springs and am waiting for Konis from the Tire Rack(end of this month), well anyways the next step I am going to take is a sway bar. Should I go with SP Motorsports or SCA

You might want to go with BATS 22mm Sway Bar.

Just because of price ($108) and ease of installation.
And it also comes with urethane bushings.

I haven't installed yet, but I will this upcoming weekend if it doesn't rain.

The SP motorsports and BAT bars are the same. BAT ships the bars and bushings to SP in bulk, then SP reships them. They had a rough time getting them developed. I ordered mine back in August last year! Finally got an e-mail saying they were ready,but only had a dozen or so in first batch. Had them go ahead and ship it. It's kind of tough install. A real struggle getting the bar thru the small area in front of gas tank. I have heard the on some models it may even be necessary to take the tank loose. I was able to muscle it thru on my 98 evo 0. I saw in the SCA on-line description that some welding of special bracket is req'd. Haven't really put the bar to tough test yet, everything seems OK so far. Good luck!

Actually, I don't think SP does get them from BAT. I know that Joe was not to happy with there delaying them and he told me he had another company make them for him. I would go with the SP sway bar. You don't need to get brackets and weld them on like the SCA bar. I have the 22mm bar from SP motorsports and love it.

I have the SCA 21mm bar and dig it. The only problem with it is the poly bushings, which are loud and squeaky unless they are lubed frequently. As randyj noted, it can be hard to install - the 'window' between the tank and the rear subframe is really tight for a large diameter bar. I managed to get mine it there without loosening the tank.

There has been a lot of discussion regarding the SCA clunk. I had what I thought was the clunk, but it turned out to be a severely worn poly bushing that wouldn't hold the bar properly anymore. After replacing that bushing, the clunk went away. I have seen no need to attempt SCA's weld-on clunk fix.

Overall I would recommend the SCA bar. Now if I could just get some bushings with zirc fittings....

-Kurt

I have just the very same clunk you speak of. I thought I had a frickin' ghost in the backseat. I guess this would be a good time to do this mod.

Ok i just got my SCA rear sway bar in (21mm)from being powder coated black, sorry but i couldnt handle the baby blue. Im hoping to install this weekend. I have the 98 EO SVT and wondering if im gonna have any problems w/ the bushings i got from them. I have the added bracket to weld on as well. Any Comments?

BLK98.5SVT and Speed Demons,

Let me clarify on my clunk.

I thought that the clunk I heard from my SCA 21mm bar was the clunk everyone else was talking about - that the brackets were deforming away from the crossmember. I was wrong.

It turns out that the real problem was with the poly bushings. I had tried to add flutes to the bushing ID to hold grease, but this had caused excessive wear and wallowing on the ID surface. The end result was the sway bar moving fore/aft within the bushing ID, making a clunk. I replaced the bushings with new poly ones and the clunk went away. Hooray...no welding necessary.

I would suggest that you clunk-haters get underneath your car and try moving the bar fore/aft. If it moves, take note of what's moving relative to what. I was able to move the bar noticeably in the bushing, hence it was a bushing problem.

-Kurt

South County's Bushings?

Maybe I misunderstood what Joe at SP told me about the sway bars, but I do know that the bushings are the same type as BAT. They are very quiet. I definately recommend the SP bar! Wish SP had on-line ordering, sometimes takes forever to get phone call thru!