Confused about anti sway bars...

Posted By: cloneguy

Confused about anti sway bars... - 01/07/11 12:19 AM

This kind of thing usually happens to me just about the time I think I'm getting pretty close to knowing everything about something.

Aside from 340 Cuda's, 340 Challenger's, T/A's and AAR's, what 1970 & 1971 E bodies came stock with rear sway bars?

Were they optional on any others?

Posted By: Commando66

Re: Confused about anti sway bars... - 01/07/11 06:39 AM

Also available on 1976 Police A-bodies.

Posted By: autoxcuda

Re: Confused about anti sway bars... - 01/07/11 07:41 AM

Quote:

This kind of thing usually happens to me just about the time I think I'm getting pretty close to knowing everything about something.

Aside from 340 Cuda's, 340 Challenger's, T/A's and AAR's, what 1970 & 1971 E bodies came stock with rear sway bars?

Were they optional on any others?

71 R/T and 'Cuda N code 383 E-body std
70 U code 440-4bbl with 8.75 rear std.
71 V code 440-6 with 8.75 rear std.

Not sure what N code Challenger and Barracuda's got rear sway bars. Mabye the extra heavy duty suspension came with swaybars on some 2 barrel cars??? I think that extra heavy duty suspension option was cancelled at some point in 70 or 71.

Posted By: 1_WILD_RT

Re: Confused about anti sway bars... - 01/07/11 12:59 PM

Quote:

Quote:

This kind of thing usually happens to me just about the time I think I'm getting pretty close to knowing everything about something.

Aside from 340 Cuda's, 340 Challenger's, T/A's and AAR's, what 1970 & 1971 E bodies came stock with rear sway bars?

Were they optional on any others?

71 R/T and 'Cuda N code 383 E-body std
70 U code 440-4bbl with 8.75 rear std.
71 V code 440-6 with 8.75 rear std.

Not sure what N code Challenger and Barracuda's got rear sway bars. Mabye the extra heavy duty suspension came with swaybars on some 2 barrel cars??? I think that extra heavy duty suspension option was cancelled at some point in 70 or 71.

70 U code 440-4bbl with 8.75 rear std.

I've owned three U code challengers, only one had a rear swaybar... One built without was a very late built (JS29U0B440289) with a SPD 723...

Posted By: old340dog

Re: Confused about anti sway bars... - 01/08/11 01:20 PM

Has anyone put a aftermarket rear sway bar on a duster340 or dart sport340? Just wondering if they are worth the money, time and effort to put one in. Is there any major improvements to handling?

Posted By: autoxcuda

Re: Confused about anti sway bars... - 01/08/11 05:05 PM

Quote:

Has anyone put a aftermarket rear sway bar on a duster340 or dart sport340? Just wondering if they are worth the money, time and effort to put one in. Is there any major improvements to handling?

Yes, about three. Two different ones to the same car in fact. Two on the 68 Cuda and one on my 68 Dart vert with stock suspension. Yes, you will get a seat of the pants difference you can feel. Yes it's worth it.

This is really should be brought up in a seperate topic though.

Posted By: VCODE

Re: Confused about anti sway bars... - 01/08/11 05:22 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

This kind of thing usually happens to me just about the time I think I'm getting pretty close to knowing everything about something.

Aside from 340 Cuda's, 340 Challenger's, T/A's and AAR's, what 1970 & 1971 E bodies came stock with rear sway bars?

Were they optional on any others?

71 R/T and 'Cuda N code 383 E-body std
70 U code 440-4bbl with 8.75 rear std.
71 V code 440-6 with 8.75 rear std.

Not sure what N code Challenger and Barracuda's got rear sway bars. Mabye the extra heavy duty suspension came with swaybars on some 2 barrel cars??? I think that extra heavy duty suspension option was cancelled at some point in 70 or 71.

70 U code 440-4bbl with 8.75 rear std.

I've owned three U code challengers, only one had a rear swaybar... One built without was a very late built (JS29U0B440289) with a SPD 723...

I have a 70 440-4 RT/SE 8-3/4 rear SPD nov69 NO rear sway bar and not coded on the Broadcast sheet

Bob

Posted By: autoxcuda

Re: Confused about anti sway bars... - 01/08/11 05:25 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

This kind of thing usually happens to me just about the time I think I'm getting pretty close to knowing everything about something.

Aside from 340 Cuda's, 340 Challenger's, T/A's and AAR's, what 1970 & 1971 E bodies came stock with rear sway bars?

Were they optional on any others?

71 R/T and 'Cuda N code 383 E-body std
70 U code 440-4bbl with 8.75 rear std.
71 V code 440-6 with 8.75 rear std.

Not sure what N code Challenger and Barracuda's got rear sway bars. Mabye the extra heavy duty suspension came with swaybars on some 2 barrel cars??? I think that extra heavy duty suspension option was cancelled at some point in 70 or 71.

70 U code 440-4bbl with 8.75 rear std.

I've owned three U code challengers, only one had a rear swaybar... One built without was a very late built (JS29U0B440289) with a SPD 723...

I have a 70 RR/SE SPD nov69 NO rear sway bar and not coded on the Broadcast sheet
Bob

Do any 70 V code get rear sway bars??? I'm not 100%all 71 V-code 8.75's got rear sways???

Posted By: gregn96cuda

Re: Confused about anti sway bars... - 01/08/11 06:05 PM

I had a 1972 Charger SE, 400 magnum, 727, 8 3/4" rear, 15X7" rallyes, with front & rear sway bars. The suspention & wheels are now making my '71 Satellite handle very well for a 40 year old car.

Posted By: Mattax

Re: OP - Rear sway bars on 70-71 E-bodies - 01/09/11 02:35 PM

The Rapid Transit System advertisement (1970) lists a 3/4" rear sway bar as standard on the 'Cuda.
reprinted in North, Barracuda/Challenger A Source Book, Vol. 2

As a side note, Car and Driver's test car was an early AAR that came without rear sway bar but extra stiff rear leafs to try to make up for it. Handling on the track was a handful - a lot of work for the drivers. It would seem those cars really are best with the rear sway bar package.

With the A-bodys, road racers have often found a rear sway bar unneccessary to dangerous. On a street car, there will be less body roll - which most people equate to better handling. But on the street, the tires are rarely at the limit of maximum grip. However as speed increases, or traction conditions get worse (rain) the limits of tire grip are reached. Under these conditions, the stiffer rear roll rate makes it more likely the rear tire's grip will give up before the front tire's grip. Then the rear goes past the front as you watch!

So my advice is that no matter what the car, and use the best factory package as a starting point or goal. Then make any increases to the front roll stiffness (t-bars, anti-sway bar) before increasing the rear roll rates (leafs, rear sway bar).

Posted By: Rick_Ehrenberg

Re: Confused about anti sway bars... - 01/09/11 02:45 PM

Two cars I have owned for decades, with factory rear bars:

> 71 Cuda 383
> 72 RR 400

Rick

Posted By: cuda-sweden

Re: Confused about anti sway bars... - 01/09/11 02:55 PM

my 70 cuda,i think dec built has no rear bar.ive reed a bulletin somewhere(maybe the hamtramck site)that they(rear bars)where introduced "by the first of the year".