Aftermarket swaybar

[SVOVET]

I've just changed up the front suspension for the svo and had a fox style GT swaybar lying around. I realized that it was about 2" shorter in width and about 2" deeper to the ground. Does anyone have any recommendations for a factory fit aftermarket style? Will the sn95 GT swaybar fit? How about an 87-88 TC front swaybar (aren't these bigger too)? Any comments or a point in the correct direction would be appreciated.

[indiana dave]

Hmm... Interesting... I was going to get one next trip to the junk yard... I've been told by others on this site to put one on my SVO. Assumed they'd be a direct swap.
Anyone else have any problems?

[SVOeric]

Hmm... Interesting... I was going to get one next trip to the junk yard... I've been told by others on this site to put one on my SVO. Assumed they'd be a direct swap.
Anyone else have any problems?

Are you sure someone told you to grab a front sway bar ???
I think they were saying rear---

[indiana dave]

Sorry, I was told to get a GT rear swaybar, and a turbocoupe front... Got mixed up there.

[SVOVET]

Went to the JY

Food for thought. Everyone has come to the agreement that the fox style V8 swaybar doesn't fit. I went and took some measurements on an sn95 GT swaybar. It is about 1 1/4" diameter and about 45" across (svo = 1.12" diameter and 46.5" across), whereas the Fox GT swaybar was 1 5/16" dia and 43.5" total width. The sn95 was almost wide enough but the frame rails on the foxbody cars aren't wide enough to put it together. I called a few friends (local and out of state [including Paul Becker]) and all confirmed that I should scout out the 83-88 Tbirds. I went to the local u-pull-it today and located a few. The V6 Tbirds had a relatively small front swaybar whereas the v8's were larger. I happened to find a T-bird Sport model w/ V8 out there that had a 1 5/16" swaybar, which I'm going back to pick up). I also found that the swaybar mounts on the T-birds, sn95 mustang and possibly the Lincoln Mark VII's are all the same. So if anyone needs to replace their bent mounts you know where to find them.

[GAboySVO]

I have an 85 Turbo Coupe front sway bar on my 86 SVO. It fits with no problems and is 1 5/16 diameter. It works well for my setup. So those who said the TC bars will fit are right.

[86-TC/SVO]

The swaybar brackets are still avalable from Ford. I just bought mine in Dec. 02' for $10.03 each(I get a little discount). The part is #E6SZ-5486-A. If anyone cares.

[BigBlue]

SVOVET, My original front swaybar on my SVO is not 1.12", the factory specs and literature says 1.12", and the poly bushings I bought for it were 1.12", but the bushings don't fit. I believe the front sway bar on our SVO's is 30.5mm. I can measure it if anyone needs me too.

[SVOeric]

If it's not 1.12, then its not factory..

1.12 is what they came with..
which is roughly 28 mm

https://www.svoca.com/FAQ

[BigBlue]

All of the factory literature that I have also says that the front swaybar is 1.12", I just thought it was a typo, like my Ford Specifications book lists the SVO with drum brakes. I'll measure my front bar tonight, maybe somebody put a Turbo coupe bar on my car, that would explain the massive understeer!

later,

[SVO P51]

We went through this on the poly bushing thread not very long ago. My Swaybar measures aprox 1.187, I say aproximately since it isn't perfectly round, and there is a few thousands variation depending on where you measure it. The poly bushings that Paul sells are also 30mm (1.181) in size.

[BigBlue]

My front swaybar measures 1.20", or 30.5mm.
As SVO P51 mentioned, it varies a little on where you measure it.

So I guess mine is not factory... I need to go look for the elusive 1.12" bar.

Maybe the SVO FAQ needs to be changed/updated? Were there different size bars for different years?

[GAboySVO]

Bigblue,

I have a 1 5/16 TC sway bar on the front of my SVO with Yellow Konis in back set at mid-adjustment and I'm hard pressed to get it to understeer. It seems to me as close to nuetral as you can get with a solid rear axel 4-link suspension.

There are several sites you can find to explain what mods to make to get the handling you want.

[BigBlue]

GAboySVO, Do you have stock springs? What rear sway bar? What kind of tires?

My car is quite neutral on my street tires (Shaved Yokohama AVSi), but is an understeering pig on the R-compounds. I've got it a little better with tire pressures and front end links and shock settings, but the car still understeers badly at less than 40 mph.

I have Koni yellows in back, and Koni's in front re-valved to the 5.0 autocross spec. I'm in a class where I can't change rear roll bar or any springs.

[GAboySVO]

Bigblue,

I do have Eibach lower springs, but I don't know which ones exactly as they were on the car when I got it. It does ride a little rough on CA rough highways. The front Konis are set at about 2/3 tight. I believe the rear sway bar is stock, but I haven't measured it. I can do that this weekend and let you know.

The tires are all-weather Goodyears 225/50-16s mounted on 1999 V-6 Mustang 5-spokes that are 7.5" wide. The tires are shaved, but with ~30,000 miles on them, they are not long for replacement. I would guess that the tread depth is about 1/8".

I guess the big difference between us is the Springs and lower center of gravity.

here's reference sheet that might help.

http://rogerkrausracing.com/overundr.html