1 1/8" sway bar hitting strut rods.

[monkeystash]

I can't install my sway bar links as the sway bar is hitting the strut rods. The end link spacers are 1 5/8". I'm thinking longer ones would help. The car is on the ground in the pictures, but without an engine. Anyone have this problem or have any advice? Thanks.

 

[Midlife]

A couple of thoughts. (1) End links need to be shorter if the wheels have been dropped. (2) There are big block and small block sway bars, and you might have the wrong application. Laurie_S ran into that problem a few years ago, IIRC...

 

[Shaun]

Is the other side the same? Could be the bar isn't centered in the frame mounts.

Are you using the stock LCA inner mount hole (looks like a 65-66 LCA) or a eccentric? If the eccentric is set all the way in (narrowing track width) that could also be part of the issue.

 

[monkeystash]

Is the other side the same? Could be the bar isn't centered in the frame mounts.

Are you using the stock LCA inner mount hole (looks like a 65-66 LCA) or a eccentric? If the eccentric is set all the way in (narrowing track width) that could also be part of the issue.

Other side is worse, this is the good side. I did re-center it after I took the pics. Stock LCA mounting holes, no eccentric.

 

[Shaun]

Must be the bar then. I've never had that with our strut rods and I doubt its the TCP LCA.

I'm running a 1-1/8" bar on my 66 with our coilover and the LCA fairly inboard using an eccentric (so I can shorten the UCA and run a 245 Hoosier up front).

 

[monkeystash]

Shaun, are your end link spacers 1 5/8"?

 

[Sluggo]

Looks like you need longer spacers in the end links.

I think the weight of the engine would only worsen it.

Maybe it's a 67 bar?

 

[monkeystash]

Looks like you need longer spacers in the end links.

I think the weight of the engine would only worsen it.

Maybe it's a 67 bar?

Longer end link spacers would work, as they would keep the bars more parallel. However, having a 4" end link spacer just doesn't seem right. I'm 99% sure it's a 65-66 bar.

I'd like to weigh down the front somehow to get a better idea how it fits at ride height. This thing with new springs and no engine sits up like a 4x4.

My set up would probably work better with a 1" bar anyway; maybe this a sign.

 

[Shaun]

Maybe it's a 67 bar?

67-70 cars are 1" wider each side than a 65-66 so this would be my guess also.

I don't see how longer end links or putting the car at ride height is the fix. What happens when you jack the car up then? It'll still hit, that isn't right.

 

[Shaun]

I just measured a 67-70 sway bar. Its 39-1/2" from center of end link hole to center of end link hole.

 

[monkeystash]

I just measured a 67-70 sway bar. Its 39-1/2" from center of end link hole to center of end link hole.

Thanks Shaun. Just measured mine, and it's 38".

I think I'll just replace the bar anyway. I just don't see another way around it.

What pisses me off is that I traded a new 1" bar for this one to some dude on VMF a couple years back, grrrrrrr.

 

[BobV]

I wouldn't go too crazy about this until you get it at ride height. You might even pull the springs back out, and play with the ride height to see how the clearance changes.

FWIW, even a 1" bar is really close to the strut rods. Seems like there way be a variance in some of the sway bars' designs...

You can see where the strut rod barely rubbed the sway bar:

And a few more pics for reference. Unfortunately, I can't find any pics from exactly the right angle...

 

[Anonymous]

I agree, my 1" bar is very, very close to the strut rods. My end links have an 1 3/8" spacer.

 

[B67FSTB]

I did have the same problem and used strut rods of a 68.( I have a 67 )
You can make room by mounting the inner sway bar brackets a bit further to the rear.

Otherwise I think you have the wrong sway bar for your car.

BTW is your front end already aligned ????