Swaybar Debate...which way is correct above or below???

[Oz Sport Fury]

Hi Guys,

I've got a 69 and a 71 both sedans.

First pics are of the 69 swaybar that's never been out in the 20+ yrs I've owned it.

Second pics are the 71 that we've just replaced the non existent sway bar bushes in.

Question is which one is installed properly?

Above or below the radius arms, (brake reaction rods)


Separate issue.
Also has any had issues with a sway bar rubbing on the oil filter with a 440 engine?? Mines doing it a lot and has fairly new engine mounts??

 

[Davea Lux]

Those are strut rods, not reaction rods. Bushings are badly worn on the '69 and the sway bar is incorrectly mounted, always mounts to the top. Check the support link bushings also they usually all go about the same time. Photo from '69 FSM is attached below, click on mail not the icon.

Dave

 

[Oz Sport Fury]

Thanks very much

 

[68PK21 440.6bbl]

Separate issue.
Also has any had issues with a sway bar rubbing on the oil filter with a 440 engine?? Mines doing it a lot and has fairly new engine mounts??

I had a 1968 Dodge Monaco that the swaybar was rubbing on the oil filter of a 383 2bbl motor.

Long story.... you don't want to hear the results found.

.

 

[Davea Lux]

I suspect the rubbing on the filter is related to the improper mounting, may have pushed the whole sway bar back and up some.

Dave

 

[Oz Sport Fury]

I had a 1968 Dodge Monaco that the swaybar was rubbing on the oil filter of a 383 2bbl motor.

Long story.... you don't want to hear the results found.

.

Did you lose an engine from it?

 

[Big_John]

What might work to keep the bar from rubbing through the filter is use the shorter oil filter. Wix #51068 (cross the # if needed). This is the filter they started using in the 70's on small block A bodies to clear the torsion bar. Often, that is the filter that is spec'd for everything Mopar in the 60's/70's. It's about 4 5/16" high versus the Wix 51515 which is 5 3/16" high. I can't tell from the pic which filter is on the engine now.

 

[Mr C]

Did you lose an engine from it?

From my experience probably a rotten stub frame or stub frame through the floor. When suspension (correctly installed) components start rubbing the wrong things it's due to things becoming misaligned from either worn parts (bushings...what have you) or too much flex from compromised metal (rust). I saw this a lot growing up in Canada's rust belt.

 

[68PK21 440.6bbl]

Did you lose an engine from it?

Nope not me, the drunk alcoholic I got the car from for free ($50 to my flatbed friend) ran it till the swaybar wore through the filter and all the oil pissed out and he kept driving till the engine seized.


.

 

[John Kirby]

Another issue I've had. My issue was the sway bar mount on the driver side had elongated the hole in the frame mount so the bar would move up/down. Welded a couple washers in to shrink the hole back to the correct size. Ultimately swapped out the frame when doing the restoration.

 

[fury fan]

Those are strut rods, not reaction rods. Bushings are badly worn on the '69 and the sway bar is incorrectly mounted, always mounts to the top. Check the support link bushings also they usually all go about the same time. Photo from '69 FSM is attached below, click on mail not the icon.

Dave

I agree, the bushings at the strutrod in both cars look shot.

 

[Scott 440 TNT]

Where can I find new sway bar mounting bars and bushings.

 

[Davea Lux]

Where can I find new sway bar mounting bars and bushings.

If you mean the stabilizer links, Moog makes a kit, they have the bushings as well. Bushings are part #K7061or K7064
www.moog-suspension-parts.com

Dave

 

[david hill]

Here is the correct installation. Note the sway bar orientation. O'Reilly Auto Parts does sell the parts too. I do agree sagging motor mounts can be problematic.