I have a 65 coupe with a 302 , what is the biggest sway bar that i can use on the front without using a rear sway bar?

 

Considering that Shelby used a one inch diameter front sway bar only, and a 1 1/8 is also available - either. If you want a rear sway bar, go for it.
Jim

 

Thanks I really appericate the help.

 

Yeah, 1" up front and 3/4" out back.

 

Keep an eye out when going to a 1" or larger sway bar. I got one from Mustangs Plus that wasn't as tightly bent as it should have been. Ended up rubbing against the strut rods. I had to go back and remove it.

 

What size sway bar to use in the front/rear has more to do with how the suspension performs and what you want the car to do. If you already have balanced suspension and put a big sway bar up front and nothing out back, you'll get uncontrolable oversteer. Too much sway bar in the rear and not enough in the front generates understeer. For example, I had a bolt break that was holding the rear sway bar to the right leaf, so my sway bar became ineffective in the rear. With a 1 1/8" up front and none(non-functioning) in the rear, if I gave it basically any amount of throttle above the absolute minimum while turning,the back end would come out and the car would get nearly uncontrolable. I'm running 1 1/8" up front and 3/4" in the rear and it works well for me. You need to figure out what you need, rather than just slapping a sway bar on, otherwise you may end up flying off the road

 

Depends on your application, for a good handling street car a 1" bar is a really good choice. As James W said watch for clearance issues. When I bought mine I found the best price at www.TexasMustang.com I believe I paid about $90.00 for it, it came with all the bushings, and was a perfect fit.

 

You are kidding me.... I paid more than that, and ordered it from California!

and to add insult to injury, Texas Mustang Parts is 7 miles from my house!

 

not only did I get it for cheep, but when I ordered it they were backordered, and when they filled the order 2 weeks later they made a mistake and sent me 2 of them for the price of 1. Lucky for them I am an honest guy and let them know about their mistake. I just checked and it looks like the price went up $9.00 for a total of $99.00

 

I use a 1 1/4" hollow light weight sway bar from Cobra Automotive in Wallingford Connecticut. It was pricy and I had to grind an arc in the lip of the frame rails for added clearance, but this bar made a hugh difference over the stock 13/16" GT bar when combined with the Global West 150lb rear springs, urethane bushings, and heavy duty shackles. I find no need for a rear sway bar.
I also did the "Shelby Drop," installed 600lb front springs and a quick steer kit with the rollerized idler arm. The brakes were upgraded to power slot rotors, EBC red stuff pads and SSBC calipers. Shocks are the poor man's Konis, KGB Gas-A-just*.

Seems to some people that I broke the bank, so for now the Minister of Finance has shut down operations. She started screaming something about the Kid's teeth and braces or such, so I figured it was time to go covert and start using cash. His teeth are fine.



http://www.cobraautomotive.com/index.htm


* Made in Siberia.