[zonker]

OK, I'm looking into making my car corner neutral to slight oversteer, so I'm researching what sway bars diameters are out there and what will work best for my intended purpose (and keep weight down).

Now I heard the SN95 sway bars are lighter because they're hollow... is that correct?

I also know that increasing the front bar diameter will make things flatter in the corners but it will also add to the tendency to understeer. I noticed for example, the '93 Cobra uses smaller front sway bar diameters (28.5 mm) than the '87-'93 mustang GT (30mm) in order to reduce understeer.

So... I think a hollow 94-98 SN95 V6 front bar (27mm) and a 94-98 SN95 V8 rear bar (24mm) might be the hot ticket on stock springs.

Good idea or should I get more aggressive with the bars/springs? These bars are going on a daily driver convert. so if you think i should try a different combo, let me know.

BTW, here's what I found out so far on bar sizes...

84-86 Mustang 5.0
28.5mm front
20mm rear

87-88 T-Bird Turbo
?? front
21mm rear

87-93 Mustang 5.0 (xcpt Cobra)
33mm front
19 or 21mm rear

94-98 Mustang 5.0 / 4.6 (xcpt Cobra)
30mm front
24mm rear

1999 Mustang 4.6 (xcpt Cobra)
28mm front
23mm rear

2000 Mustang 4.6 (xcpt Cobra)
27mm front
24mm rear

1993 Mustang Cobra
28.5mm front
31mm rear

94-95 Mustang Cobra
25mm front
27mm rear

96-98 Mustang Cobra
29mm front
27mm rear

94-97 Mustang 3.8
27mm front
21mm rear

98-99 Mustang 3.8
27mm front
no rear

00-01 Mustang 3.8
25.4mm front
no rear

More info (as per maximum motorsports website)

Front Bars:
1979 4Cyl 1"
1979 V8 27mm (1-1/16")
1980-93 4Cyl with base suspension 15/16"
1980-82 GT 1"
1983-84 GT 1-1/8"
1984-86 SVO 1-1/4"
1979-84 with TRX package 1-1/8"
1985-86 4Cyl with HD suspension 1-1/8"
1985-93 5.0 1-5/16" (33mm)
1993 Cobra 1-1/8"
1993 Cobra R 1-5/16" (33mm)
1994-95 Cobra 25mm
1994-98 GT 30mm
1996-98 Cobra 29mm
1994-99 V6 27mm (1-1/16")
1999 GT 28mm
2000-04 GT 27mm (1-1/16")
1999-01 Cobra 28mm
2000-04 V6 1"
2000 Cobra R 28mm
2001 Bullitt 28mm
2003-04 Cobra 29mm
2003-04 Mach 1 28mm

[Cgross609]

Well the hollow bars on the SN95 would make quite the difference to lighten up the front end. I read on here somewhere that the hollow bars are about a 30 lb difference.

[zonker]

the hollow bars are lighter but i think a 30 lb weight reduction is false... they weill be lighter but i'l bet the whole sway bar itself doesn't weigh 30 lbs.

for example, a 1 1/8" dia. solid steel bar in a 10 ft length weighs 33.8 lbs.
a 1 1/4" tube with 1/8" thick walls weighs 15.0 lbs, so i could see if one was going from a 1 1/8" solid to a 1 1/4" tube, the tubular bar be 15 lbs or so lighter.

but since i'm adding a bar in the back where there was none, i'm probably adding 12 lbs there, so after I'm done I've maybe lost 3 lbs total but improved front/rear weight distribution by -15/+12 lbs

[Cgross609]

Sick... Our little 4bangers dont have rear sway bars? Would they bolt right up to our rear ends or is it a fab job that needs to be done?? i wanna do this now lol.

[Cgross609]

Wheres OHC these days?

[TaterTodd]

Originally Posted by Cgross609 Sick... Our little 4bangers dont have rear sway bars? Would they bolt right up to our rear ends or is it a fab job that needs to be done?? i wanna do this now lol.

I bolted in a 1989 GT rear sway bar to my little 4 banger ... no mods, bolted right in ... two bolts per side and I think I paid like $5 at a salvage yard ... The upper and lower control arms are the same, hell if you look on the frame there is the holes to bolt in the bracket for the extra shock like the GT's. I also bolted the brackets on. Salvage yard didn't charge me for those, they had no idea as to what they were!!

[zonker]

tater: tell the congregation about how the car felt in the corners after adding a rear sway bar...

[TaterTodd]

How it felt ... ummmm ..... night and day ....... Before you have that feeling of the ass end being loose, well bolt in a sway bar and the ass end stays behind you and does just what it's called ANTI-SWAY. Every hot rod I've owned if it didn't come with it I found one and installed it. You'd be crazy not to put one on your car!!!!

[Cobraman1024]

Here is a link from Maximum Motorsports that shows a chart with "best available" information on Mustang sway bar sizes.
Front Swaybar Bushings : Maximum Motorsports, the Latemodel Mustang Performance Suspension Leader!

I know that the size listed above is wrong for the 94-97 Cobra because I have already installed the front sway bar from my '96 Mystic Cobra (larger) onto my '95 Cobra (which has a noticeably smaller front sway bar).

[zonker]

Originally Posted by Cobraman1024 I know that the size listed above is wrong for the 94-97 Cobra because I have already installed the front sway bar from my '96 Mystic Cobra (larger) onto my '95 Cobra (which has a noticeably smaller front sway bar).

thanks cobraman, i made the changes per your confirmation and added the maximum motorsports info as well.

[venom]

Thanks for the info. Im about to swap a set of GT convertable sway bars in to my coupe. What do you thank??

[TaterTodd]

As far as I know there weren't any differences between the vert's and the regular GT sway bars ... but any how you'll definately like the difference in handling especially as highway speeds ...

[PYROTECH_J]

i got excited i know where a rear bar is i can get. but then i remembered i got a hotchkis lower arms i gotta check that out and see if it will bolt up.right still . cause i have no idea

[zonker]

went to the pick your part today... bought a 27mm SN95 front bar (mucho light!), and two rear bars, a 3/4" (19mm) and a 21mm one. The 19mm came from a 1988 Mustang GT hatch, and the 21mm from a 1987 T-Bird Turbo. Both looked like they were never removed from the car so that leads me to believe there was more than just a 21mm bar on the back of 87-93 5.0's.

[EscortSportage]

I wanna try 93 bars
If not. Newer sn95 stuff

[EscortSportage]

Originally Posted by PYROTECH_J i got excited i know where a rear bar is i can get. but then i remembered i got a hotchkis lower arms i gotta check that out and see if it will bolt up.right still . cause i have no idea

Well if u bought lcas with the tab for a bar ur alright if not. Get out the welder