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front sway bar

Toasty

Toasty

New member
OK so I'm gonna have to replace the sway bar on my wife's car (GS) It looks like i can get a good price on the GMPP front swaybar kit, but on one vendor's site, they do not reccomend using the front GMPP (34mm) bar without the GMPP rear bar.. i dont want to get the rear too. only replacing the front cuz it broke..... would it be a bad idea to replace only the front with the larger?
 


I don't think it'll hurt anything. It's just that to get the full effect of the upgrade the rear bar is needed. Stiffening the rear makes the most difference on these cars.
 
I just installed the front GMPP sway bar, and left the rear stock. To be honest, there wasn't really much difference in handling.... but it didn't seem to hurt anything either.
 
from what Mike @ wbody store says, by only installing the front, the car will tend to want to push/plow through corners more (understeer) under spirited driving...
 
Gah! called the dealer, and not only do they not have any on hand (out of stock) --but apparently the oe stock bar is on nation wide backorder!
 
Usually you want them to match by who ever makes them to keep the car balanced. But the GMPP one is not that BIG of a bar over stock so doubtful you will notice a big difference over a stock replacement unless you know how to drive your car through corners with handling in your mind.

Gee...wonder why the fronts are back ordered for the W-Body's. Could it be the hundreds of cars that have cracked or split ends that are still out on the road today? Naaaa...GM makes great parts, this would never happen. LOL

~F~
 


GR8racingfool said:
Usually you want them to match by who ever makes them to keep the car balanced. But the GMPP one is not that BIG of a bar over stock so doubtful you will notice a big difference over a stock replacement unless you know how to drive your car through corners with handling in your mind.

Gee...wonder why the fronts are back ordered for the W-Body's. Could it be the hundreds of cars that have cracked or split ends that are still out on the road today? Naaaa...GM makes great parts, this would never happen. LOL

~F~
Click to expand...


i think i'll get one from Ed... hopefully it wont take too long to get here. i dont want to drive the car with it busted.

hopefully its not too hard to change. i can do the work, methinks, but the little paranoid voice in my head says i might have problems


will i be able to get to both bolts on each of the frame/cradle bushings without lowering the cradle??
 
^Oh ya, no problem.

You may have to remove one front wheel to get it out. Pick your side some say remove it out the right, some say the left. Mine have always came out the nicest through the left wheel well on my car.

Basic hand tools can get the job done no problem. Tops, one hour with running into snags, like working in the tight spaces if your a big guy. I put mine on jack stands too when I remove or replace them, other don't.

~F~
 
^?

WTH would you want to, or need to remove brake parts to get a sway bay out. Mine come close to that when I snake them out, but the bar never contacts the brake parts as to where they need to be removed. Some people like to do things the hard way, and most the time, the only way they know how.

~F~
 
GR8racingfool said:
WTH would you want to, or need to remove brake parts to get a sway bay out. Mine come close to that when I snake them out, but the bar never contacts the brake parts as to where they need to be removed.
Click to expand...

Like I said, it's what I heard. If I were to do it today, I would try it with that in mind. If I found it in the way, I'd take it off.
 


plus the Impala front brake components are different then the GP. You said your came close, how close? Impala uses a larger rotor and different caliper bracket.
 
Impala's are not THAT different than a Grand Prix. Things are close, but not so different where this would need to be done.

I have 12" brake rotors, and F-Body calipers...pretty sure thats bigger or the same size as the stock Impala brakes. If anything, getting the bar out, it will come in contact with the strut more than the brakes, not that the strut keeps it from coming out, the bend in the bar hits the strut as your taking it out, as you wiggle it out. Nothing too complicated for anyone to do this type of service.

~F~
 
When I swapped my front bar a couple years ago, I did mine on the right side. Unbolting the tie rod end helped for clearance issues.
 
hey-- related question--

am i going to be able to remove the old/install the new with the frame bushings already on? they look a bit hard to remove without burning them off. (the replacement i got from Ed Morad (IN ONE DAY) has good frame bushings still on it, want to keep em on it)

?
 
Frame bushings?

You mean like the two bushings in the middle of the sway bar that have the clamp over them that bolts to the sub-frame? These are called the mid point bushings.

Yes, they can remove and reinstall easily, they have a cut in the side of the bushing on one side, and just "clip on" so to say.

~F~
 
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Yea I noticed when I was replacing front end links and mid way bushings that both ends were split and cracked ,I ended up just welding them up but I suppose they should be replaced,pure GM Junk.
 
Thanks for the info and posts gang. I need to replace the sway bar and links... any DIY info would be appreciated!
 
I just replaced my sway bar links and also seen the ends were cracked? I welded the entire seam shut on both sides. I thought that the bar had gotten water in it and froze up and busted?
 
this is a 5 year old thread lol check dates fella. or post your own thread on the topic.


last post was 08-05-08

the factory sway is hollow, they always rust out at the end links and crack.








 
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