Rear swaybars

[MISFITmalibu63]

So, i got to looking at my rear swaybar today, and thought it wasn't as big as the one on dad's bu. grabbed my calipers, and sure enough, its about 1/16" smaller. what were the different sizes of the factory swaybars? i already have the 36mm up front, and want to put on the largest (stock if possible) rear swaybar.

lets get some pic's and measurements up here, include the aftermarket as well. once i get home from work, i'll re-measure and post pics.

-Mike

 

[LS6 Tommy]

IIRC, the Malibus only had one part number for the rear stabilizer bars. Other G bodies may have been different. I don't have time right now, but I'll look up the specs later.

Tommy

 

[melloelky]

mine's off an 87 monte ss it's 7/8's of an inch.i'm sure it's going do more harm than good on my elcamino but it came with a bunch of other parts i took off that car.i'm thinking of going smaller(over steer) if one all.

 

[t5montecarlo]

I had previously posted the 1978-1981 rear swaybar dimensions listed in the parts book.
http://maliburacing.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=111819&p=853666&#p853666

I can look at the 1982 and later book, later. I can also look at the 1982-1992 F body book, later.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I had previously posted the 1978-1981 rear swaybar dimensions listed in the parts book.
http://maliburacing.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=111819&p=853666&#p853666

I can look at the 1982 and later book, later. I can also look at the 1982-1992 F body book, later.

Thanks, T5. You saved me the effort!

Tommy

 

[t5montecarlo]

Rear:
1978-1980 Monte Carlo V6:....16 mm
1978-1980 Monte Carlo V8:....19 mm
1981 Monte Carlo F41:...........22 mm
1978-1981 Malibu F41:...........22 mm
1982-1983 G F41:.................22 mm
1984 G F41:.........................22 mm
1985-1988 Monte Carlo F41:...22 mm

Are 1982-1992 F body rear sway bars the same width? If so, I can summarize those specs.

 

[Doober]

That would be a cool factory upgrade I remember reading about 1LE bushings as an upgrade to stock on the MonteSS forum, being somewhere between stock and poly.

Something else I remember reading is (granted this definitely isn't the case here) if you go too big on the rear bar, the suspension will want to make the car understeer (push through the corner), just something to keep in mind... now that I know how understeer feels (drive a Fiero spirited-like around a corner ) it's not very confidence-inspring.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Something else I remember reading is (granted this definitely isn't the case here) if you go too big on the rear bar, the suspension will want to make the car understeer (push through the corner), just something to keep in mind...

Doober, with all due respect, that's backwards. Stablilizer bars affect the opposite end of the car they're mounted to. A bigger rear bar will decrease understeer & a bigger front bar will decrease oversteer. That's why Global West Negative Roll suspension kits don't have a rear stabilizer bar. The front grip is increased so much the car would be rediculously loose with a rear bar.

Too big of a rear bar causes the inside rear tire to lift. This can cause "snap oversteer" where the rear end suddenly lets loose without much warning under hard cornering.

Tommy

 

[Doober]

Crap. Well I guess something new learned every day, eh? I know the '84-'87 Fieros don't handle as well partially from their 'borrowed' rear suspension from the Citation (I believe, one of those little FWD cars), '88 was better, but since they're mid-engine and from what I understand Pontiac was under-budgeted for designing a great handling car (hence the borrowed parts) and also they're prone to that snap oversteer with the engine in the rear, especially if you're used to a front engine car. It still handles great though, mine has an aftermarket rear and I believe an aftermarket front sway bar (along with a couple other small things), and I'm not sure how much all that contributes but it feels like there's no body roll whatsoever unless I push it really, really hard, like into understeer hard.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Yeah, the Fiero was originally supposed to get it's own suspension, but as was typical in the 80's with the bean counters running GM, it never through. They basically started shutting that project down right after they rolled off the production line in 84...

Tommy