Heavy Duty Stabilizer Bar

[Terry64HT]

I’ve always been unhappy with the way my 64 wallowed around turns, so I finally got to changing the stabilizer bars. Most of the Bird suppliers offer “heavy duty” stabilizer bar kits and I ordered one from Pat Wilson. I use him for a lot of my parts because he is the only full line supplier that goes to Carlisle and will bring parts for pickup. I can’t speak for the west coast suppliers, but almost no dealers go to shows in the east anymore. It’s all internet catalogs.
The new bar comes complete with all the hardware needed, and as the photos show is noticeably heavier. It weighs over 15 pounds compared to the barely 5 of the original. The frame bushings are, of course, much bigger and have grease fittings on the brackets. The hole through the bushing itself needed to be cleaned out so grease could get to the bar. I don’t think greasing is a big deal on cars like ours, but I suppose the brackets are used on a lot higher performance kits. The link kits are also shorter and there are ¼” spacers for the brackets.
I did the swap with the car on jack stands and it would have been a lot easier with more room to work. The bars can be removed and replaced without touching any other parts of the suspension. Off came the old link kits and frame brackets and I mounted the new bar loosely using just the brackets with no bushings in them. I installed the new link kits so that the bar would center itself and then undid each bracket, installed the bushing and re-bolted to the frame. I don’t know if getting the bar centered is a big deal, but it wasn’t much extra work. Everything fit perfectly and, except for the tight work space was a piece of cake.
There is a noticeable difference in the handling of the car. Turns are much smoother and flatter, and when you take a highway ramp at speed, you don’t feel like you are on the edge of control.
Not a cheap job, but I think well worth it.
Terry
64HT

 

[HeadacheGuy]

Interesting.....I may have to put that one on my bucket list for the car. These do tend to sway a little too much on corners and that is one stout looking bar you have pictured.

 

[Terry64HT]

Having gotten more than a week of use with the heavier bar, I am even more pleased with it. The car not only corners much better, but feels solider during ordinary driving, and it no longer bounces on rougher roads.
Terry
64HT

 

[Gary Tayman]

I've just finished up a major suspension rebuild. It began with new wire wheels that wouldn't balance. The final verdict was that the wheels got bent by the idiots who mounted the tires, but in the process a LOT has been done to the car -- steering box, wheel alignment, all new shocks, new rear axle, etc., etc.

After this expensive episode, the car rides and handles FAR better than before, and I'm pleased. However I've been told that the front stabilizer bar makes just as big a difference. I've heard a LOT of people singing the praises, and NOTHING negative. So I don't know just when, but I'm sure the day will come when I put one on.

There is also a REAR stabilizer bar available, but I've been told not to bother with the rear one -- just the front.

 

[Terry64HT]

Gary, I agree. The front is a bolt-on replacement while the rear requires welding brackets to the frame. Hardly worth it when the money could be put towards the type of work that you had done.
Terry
64HT