Originally Posted By jcc
"I keep coming back to the component in discussion, it's a 3/4" tube of steel with 18" or so levers on it. The loads are not that of an upper control arm, strut rod, tie rod, etc. "

Never paid much attention to an e body OEM rear sway bar, what are the load paths, ie are the brackets always/mostly under compression (the ideal for epoxy?) on the glue joint? And there are really no direct impact loads, all loads transmit thru the somewhat flexible 18"? lever arm and resisted by the length and diameter of the sway bar, against the opposite flexible leaf spring. These are not IMO, excessive loads, but enough to eventually cause failure, I think not, if done correctly. Push the envelope. And in case of a sudden failure, if at maximum load, ie 10/10ths cornering, with a stock dia bar, the result will be a surprise, and a change towards understeer handling, and a great story to share on moparts. grin

PS technically it is a bar of steel not a tube?


Sway bars in general typically have a few bushings in them. The bar mounts are a bushing of sort which will distort before transferring any load between sides. The end links, typically, on both ends have bushing/rubber as well. Loading will be in tension on one side and compression on the other during roll. In heave the bar is just along for the ride and rotates about the bar bushings.

This car really will not see 10/10 cornering at a high rate of speed, if I am pushing it, it'll be at an Autocross. Cones don't hurt too bad.


And yes, these bars are tubing, typical OEM is bar.


Originally Posted By Supercuda
Moral of this story is

When your only tool is a hammer (welder) then all your problems are nails (things that need welding).

Or

Old dogs cannot learn new tricks.

Or

"Cause that's the way we always dunnit".

But ultimately what it boils down to is this

"I dunno how a swaybar works, so I don't know how the forces are applied and therefore cannot comment cogently".



This does sum it up quite well. Change is scary and sway bars are wizardry.

I thought it was interesting that whomever did this Hot Rod article used epoxy for their front chassis stiffening components as well as the subframe connectors and most of the torque boxes.

http://www.hotrod.com/articles/dont-drop-hemi-4-chassis-mods/

1972 Barracuda - 5.7L Hemi, T56 Magnum 6spd - https://www.facebook.com/GoodysGotaHemi
2020 RAM 1500
[img]https://i.imgur.com/v9yezP9.jpg[/img]