I need to find a random swaybar, 24 Hrs of Lemons content: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Feb. 10, 2011 9:17 p.m. Sonic Dork

We are piecing together our Lemons car for this year, a 91 Civic Wagon 4WD.

The car didn't have a rear sway bar from the factory, and they make such a nice difference in how Hondas handle, especially for the price, so I'm trying to get one to fit.

A regular EF Civic Si or DA integra bar won't fit due to the rear differential and subframe, so I need one from some other car. What better place to find a random part to put on another car than this board!

Here is what I need. Fairly straight bar, about 40-41" across, with a lever arm around 9", with basically 90 degree bends from the bar body to the arms. It is a very simple shape, but I just need that long of a lever arm to get the bar back far enough to clear the rear diff/subframe. I'm not too concerned about the diameter, as beggars can't be choosers, so anything 14mm-22mm would be great.

If anyone has a bar in their garage on on their car that might work, I would really appreciate if you took a quick measurement so we can find something that will work.

Here is a pic of the rear suspension. I've changed the lower control arms to aftermarket aluminum EG units which have a provision to attach an endlink.

Thanks!

Hotlinked for your pleasure, here is the car before work started:
Feb. 10, 2011 9:20 p.m. JThw8 SuperDork

When you stop by saturday remind me and we'll hunt down all the swaybar rejects from the Wartburg project.
Feb. 10, 2011 9:28 p.m. patgizz SuperDork

sounds like a job for an mn12 tbird/cougar unit. think i have one in the garage to measure, but those dimensions sound damn close
Feb. 10, 2011 9:33 p.m. Zomby woof Dork

Random:

–adjective 1. proceeding, made, or occurring without definite aim, reason, or pattern: the random selection of numbers.

2.Statistics . of or characterizing a process of selection in which each item of a set has an equal probability of being chosen.

3.Building Trades .

a.(of building materials) lacking uniformity of dimensions: random shingles.

b.(of ashlar) laid without continuous courses

c.constructed or applied without regularity: random bond.
Feb. 10, 2011 9:38 p.m. Sonic Dork

OK Zomby, pick a different word for me, though as I can't edit titles, it won't do any good!

Jim, we will, I know the DC Integra one I left there doesn't have long enough lever arms.

Pat, I would appreciate the measurement, thanks!
Feb. 10, 2011 10:18 p.m. 93EXCivic SuperDork

Do you have access to a welder? Straight hydraulic tubing and a lever arm (steel plate with multiple holes drilled to allow adjustment). Mount in pipe saddles.

Edit: If you can find it check out the Nov 08 issue of Race Tech
Feb. 11, 2011 8:44 p.m. Sonic Dork

I do have a welder. Does Hydrolic tubing have the springiness needed? THe spring steel in sway bars is pretty amazing.

I'll make brackets myself to hang off of the rear frame rails, using the OEM D brackets from the donor vehicle.
Feb. 12, 2011 6:27 a.m. tuna55 Dork

I have a random swaybar sitting in my attic. I can measure it if you want, or you could just modify it. For a Lemons racer, call it $5 + Shipping if you want it.
Feb. 14, 2011 11:32 p.m. 93EXCivic SuperDork

Sonic wrote:

I do have a welder. Does Hydrolic tubing have the springiness needed? THe spring steel in sway bars is pretty amazing.

I'll make brackets myself to hang off of the rear frame rails, using the OEM D brackets from the donor vehicle.

The person who wrote the article for Race Tech seemed to think it would. PM sent.
Feb. 15, 2011 9:11 a.m. ansonivan HalfDork

Just checked the front bar an an early 1990's Volvo 740 wagon.

32" between the mounts, 41" center to center on the link holes 8.5" lever arm and roughly 16mm diameter.

The lever arms angle out from the main bar so I don't know if that will work.
Feb. 15, 2011 9:20 a.m. mndsm SuperDork

I can go home and look at the stocker off my ms3 too.... it's a pretty serious bar stock, it might actually be overkill for your application, but I will certainly look. I know at least one Lemons CRX ended up with a mazda3 sway a few years ago, and the ms3 and the mz3 are interchangeable on that side of the car.