Front Sway Bar...?

[Oystercopy]

Hey guys...

About 5 years ago, I put a rear sway bar (Hotchkis) on the Challenger. Helped a lot with cornering.

Now I'm considering putting a Front Sway Bar on it, and wondering a couple of things:

1) Were the holes there to install a front bar on EVERY car? I've not been under there in a good while, and I've never installed one of these before. I understand greasing up the bushings is paramount with these things.

2) Is there really a difference between brands? I'd like to use another Hotchkis, since it would be nice if they matched, but they are about $450-$500 for that kit, and I've noticed that the Addco and the QA1 kits are about half that price?

Any help appreciated!
OC

 

[Katfish]

You need to check whether your control arms have the tabs for the sway bar on them.

 

[Oystercopy]

How do you know that? Does anyone have a picture, by chance?

I couldn't find any pictures online of what it should look like, but it says that i have to weld brackets onto my control arms if they're not there? And that the geometry of where to put them is a very important step (whatever that means!...LOL)

 

[Katfish]

Check pics here, will be easy to spot

https://ebay.io/m/XSyXWE

 

[Surfcuda]

The original Sway Bar set up works really well and are easily sourced. I added the tabs to the lowers without removing the lowers. Picked up a set of tabs and welded a back plate to them. Drilled a center pilot hole in the back plate of tab. Held it in correct place on the lower and used it to drill a pilot hole into the lower. Then drilled out both for high grade bolts and lock nuts to attach them. The upper lip on the lower interlocks with the tabs preventing them from moving. Attached are a few photos for a better understanding of my Desert Rat engineering. I know I could have had them welded on too.

 

[Xcudame]

Firm Feel also makes really nice front sway bars. If you have to weld in sway bar tabs, I'd weld in lower control arm stiffening plates as well!! Peter is a serious Mopar guy and I can't plug his stuff enough!

Lower Control Arm Reinforcement Plate/Pr – Bergman Auto Craft

bergmanautocraft.com

 

[Oystercopy]

Thanks for all that guys. I thought this was going to be a bolt on thing, but I guess not. I don't weld, so if it requires any of that, I'm going to have to hold off for a while, as I don't have any way to do that right now.
OC

 

[Surfcuda]

I had the back plates welded onto to tabs by a welding/muffler shop. Then bolted the tabs on with high grade bolts. Everything on the original sway bar setup bolts on without any other welding. For street application it has worked great for me. Good luck

 

[Katfish]

I had the back plates welded onto to tabs by a welding/muffler shop. Then bolted the tabs on with high grade bolts. Everything on the original sway bar setup bolts on without any other welding. For street application it has worked great for me. Good luck

You notice any rotation of that bracket, lot of force there?
Maybe a longer back tab and 2 smaller bolts would eliminate that possibility?

 

[Surfcuda]

You notice any rotation of that bracket, lot of force there?
Maybe a longer back tab and 2 smaller bolts would eliminate that possibility?

The tabs have a notch at the top that lock into the lower arm. The lip at the top of the lower fits in that notch snugly and aligns the tab for proper placement. This fitment prevents the tab from rotating or moving after being bolted on. High grade bolts can handle more than the car weighs and would have to snap before the tabs moved. Very solid for street use.