Is the sway bar upgrade any good?

[Motorhead350]

I'd like to get one of these someday because I'd like the car to handle better. It might be called an anti-sway bar. Is this product worth it? What other suspension upgrades can I do without changing the shocks or springs? I already have control arms.

Thanks.

[fastblackmerc]

Install the Addco front and rear sway bars along with upgraded upper and lower rear control arms from Metco and your MM will handle like it's on rails, like mine does.

[Motorhead350]

Do those sway bar bolt right in or do I need to get some kind of "custom fitting"?

[prchrman]

Do those sway bar bolt right in or do I need to get some kind of "custom fitting"?

bolt in. expect some bumpyness in the ride compared to stock.

[fastblackmerc]

bolt in. expect some bumpyness in the ride compared to stock.

+1

Easy swap.

The ride does suffer a bit since the bushings are harder.

Use a synthetic grease on the bars and bushing when installing or get these:

Greaseable Sway Bar Bushings - Energy Suspensions
Front – 9.5165 or 9.5172
Rear – 9.5161

[Zack]

+1

Easy swap.

The ride does suffer a bit since the bushings are harder.

Use a synthetic grease on the bars and bushing when installing or get these:

Greaseable Sway Bar Bushings - Energy Suspensions
Front – 9.5165 or 9.5172
Rear – 9.5161


How did you get the rear brackets to bolt on without modding/welding??

[03blackmerc]

i wanted to do this upgrade but the $$$$$ is holding me back.

[fastblackmerc]

How did you get the rear brackets to bolt on without modding/welding??

You can't, but you use the new bushings, drill, tap and install the zerk fitting in the OEM brackets.

[Zack]

You can't, but you use the new bushings, drill, tap and install the zerk fitting in the OEM brackets.

Yeah when I was going down that road, I wasnt quite sure that would be the best option. I welded some flat steel to the OE Bracket location and used the ES brackets.

[2,4shofast]

I honestly was not impressed by the Addco sway bar upgrade. It did make a difference but not as well as many of my other vehicles that I have do a similar diameter upgrade on. They are not too expensive however so that is a good selling point IMO.

[crouse]

I've got both front & rear Addco's.

Check out my Auto-X videos. Very little body roll.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwMp3BHb5Jk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwMp3BHb5Jk

[ctrlraven]

Both with control arms really makes the car handle a lot better. I've driven a few MM that just had control arms and could feel the sloppiness compared to mine and others.

[fastblackmerc]

Yeah when I was going down that road, I wasnt quite sure that would be the best option. I welded some flat steel to the OE Bracket location and used the ES brackets.

I don't have access to welding equipment so I had to improvise. As long as I can get the grease into the bushings I'm OK.

[fastblackmerc]

Both with control arms really makes the car handle a lot better. I've driven a few MM that just had control arms and could feel the sloppiness compared to mine and others.

I did Addco frt & rear sway bars, Metco upper & lowers and Metco Watts link. Could really tell the difference with the sway bars & rear control arms, not so much with the Watts link.

[ctrlraven]

I'm not going to bother with the Watts link, I don't throw it into turns/curves/off-ramps too much.

[Loco1234]

+1 I got front & rear addco sway's , Zack & Mac (pinion improving) control arms & Metco watts link...

It does handle great...

[Mr. Man]

The simple answer Dom is Yes. We did the Addco F/R sway bars, Sparta CA's and Watt's links and new rear shocks(OEM). The car corners much flatter now. Probably go with Sparta CA's up front when they're ready for purchase. Been considering a 50lb front spring upgrade as well.

[musclemerc]

I re-did mine like this and they work great. It was well worth the effort.


Yeah when I was going down that road, I wasnt quite sure that would be the best option. I welded some flat steel to the OE Bracket location and used the ES brackets.

[dohc324ci]

Sc, then suspension, then brakes then.......

[Ms. Denmark]

I'm not going to bother with the Watts link, I don't throw it into turns/curves/off-ramps too much.
That's where I do my best driving.:D

[ctrlraven]

That's where I do my best driving.:D
That's why I said "too much" it does happen. Out around where I live the roads are wide open so it's nothing to take the outside lane, hit the apex and smoothly power out of the turn providing there isn't any tractors coming the other way. lol

[burt ragio]

I don't have access to welding equipment so I had to improvise. As long as I can get the grease into the bushings I'm OK.
What are you & Zack talking about brackets welding ect ? I installed addco front & rear with no welding or special bracket. Are you talking about the watts link ?

[burt ragio]

I honestly was not impressed by the Addco sway bar upgrade. It did make a difference but not as well as many of my other vehicles that I have do a similar diameter upgrade on. They are not too expensive however so that is a good selling point IMO.

I too noticed only a small improvement in upgrading the two addco sway bars. I was thinking of shorter end links on rear sway bar. Opinions welcome. The Z/M control arms upper/lower made the bigest dif.

[GAMike]

I did the front and rear on my black Marauder, and found that I lost some of the progressive breakaway feel in the rear of the car....

It would break loose suddenly in sweeper corners. That car was N/A.... With this car I plan on doing Watts Link and Control Arms 1st. to see if that gets me where I want to be handling wise.... after that if I do the sways it will be in conjunction with shock/strut upgrades.

[fastblackmerc]

What are you & Zack talking about brackets welding ect ? I installed addco front & rear with no welding or special bracket. Are you talking about the watts link ?

We are talking about installing the greaseable bushing on the rear sway bar. Install them on the front is a simple swap. The rear takes some work since the bushing bracket is different.

[ctrlraven]

So the front bushings are a direct swap? If so got p/n?

[fastblackmerc]

So the front bushings are a direct swap? If so got p/n?

See post #5 above.

These are just the center bushings, not the end links.

[crouse]

So would the Watts link help me in the Auto-X? If so, why? Thanks, Curt

[Mr. Man]

The Watts links keeps the axle centered. The OEM's are stamped like the CA's. Upgraded Watt's links like those from Sparta don't flex or at a minimum don't as much as the OEM's thus handling is improved.
I would imagine you would notice the difference more in an AutoX than on the highway. I noticed a difference with all the suspension mods we did. I believe the car handles better because all the new parts are working in concert with each other.

[fastblackmerc]

The Watts links keeps the axle centered. The OEM's are stamped like the CA's. Upgraded Watt's links like those from Sparta or Metco don't flex or at a minimum not as much as the OEM's thus handling is improved.

Fixed it for you.

[ctrlraven]

See post #5 above.

These are just the center bushings, not the end links.
Thanks!

So they would just fit right in with no problem and have a grease nipple fitting? Not worried about end links since they are easy to grease.
Have a pic by chance?

[fastblackmerc]

Thanks!

So they would just fit right in with no problem and have a grease nipple fitting? Not worried about end links since they are easy to grease.
Have a pic by chance?

The bushing have some grooves cut in them around where the bushing goes thru. You can see the grooves in the picture on the website below.

http://www.energysuspension.com/universal-products/sway-bar-bushings.html

[RF Overlord]

Installed the Addco rear sway bar with stock bushings using marine grease 6 years ago and haven't touched it since. No noises.

I think the Z&M control arms made the biggest difference.

[fastblackmerc]

Installed the Addco rear sway bar with stock bushings using marine grease 6 years ago and haven't touched it since. No noises.

I think the Z&M control arms made the biggest difference.

I grease my Metco's and the Addco's 2x's a year whether or not they need it.

[rayjay]

I had Moog front sway bar links installed this spring when I had my left upper ball joint replaced. They are much heavier than OEM and greaseable. A bit pricey though.

[fastblackmerc]

I had Moog front sway bar links installed this spring when I had my left upper ball joint replaced. They are much heavier than OEM and greaseable. A bit pricey though.

Saw them for around $50.00 each.

[rayjay]

Saw them for around $50.00 each.

Thats cheap compared to what I paid. I'll show you the invoice at MV8.

[musclemerc]

Yes, the fronts go in easy but the rears need to be fabricated to work. The rear bushin straps are permanently connected to the axle. To use the ES brackets & bushins in the rear either do what FBM did and modify the stock strap or go all out like Zack and myself and weld up some mounting brackets to accomodate the ES brackets.


What are you & Zack talking about brackets welding ect ? I installed addco front & rear with no welding or special bracket. Are you talking about the watts link ?

[boatmangc]

I just put the F/R Addcos on and used this:http://www.wolfwire.com/tefgel/frameset.htm
I use this stuff on boats regularly and it really has staying power. It only comes off with mineral spirits.
I'll let you know how it works out. If it doesn't work out I will use Maxima EP from Flamingo Oil.
And to answer the question Dom, I bought my car with the Metco C/As upper and lower already installed. When I added the Addcos I noticed a nice change, hardly any body roll, rides a little stiffer but thats the trade off when you are chasing grip.
I would say definitely worth the $300 or so bucks.