I recently ordered a Hotchkis sway bar kit for a 1984 Trans Am (Front 1 7/ 16 in. Diameter, Rear 1 in. DiameterFront 1 7/ 16 in. Diameter, Rear 1 in. Diameter). The front sway bar is obviously larger in diameter, but I noticed the endlink holes did not match up with the original. Once I installed the front sway bar, I experienced problems with it rubbing against the strut. I called Hotchkis and they confirmed the sway bar I received is the correct one . They did this by having me measure it and to end and I also sent them a PIC.

Has anyone come across this problem?

 

i think you have the bolt in backwards, though it will not change anything

I had this problem with my old addco bar, it was a total POS. I have the hotchkis one now, with the same shocks, (koni yellows) and i have no issues. I thought they fit very well.

 

I had a shop install my hotchkis sway bar whenthey did the springs and now I Have a problem keeping it (the sway bar) centered. It likes to slip in the bushings toward the drivers side which makes it rub against the drivers side wheel at full lock when I turn to the right. I also get an annoying clicking sound that I (and the shop) haven't been able to identify.

However, to answer your question, it bolted right in with no issues.

 

Im going to try flipping them around (center curve up vs down - Hotchkis logo facing down) to see if that helps. I just thought the size difference was weird. The originals measure 45" end to end. The hotchkis bar measures 47" 1/4.

Were your Hotchkis bars longer than the stock bars?

Wow they rub against your wheel...Maybe I'll just get a set of spohn bars instead.

 

i haven't had my stock bar in years, so i dont know.

 

Give them a shot. I don't recall them being longer, just definitely thicker. I'm almost positive it's more a problem of getting them properly centered than any anything and with the springs having lowered the car I probably compounded the problem a little. when I get moved up to Salt Lake and find a professional shop I trust more than the 2-bit backwards joints here in Clovis I'll make sure I post my findings.

 

Hum, note the inward lean of the stock end link with an OE 36mm bar in the following pic, compared to the above pic (a longer bar would certainly contribute to the problem exhibited in the first pic--and might contribute to the centering problem as well):

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...part-36mm1.jpg

JamesC

 

I don't have my stock bar anymore so I can't check it. It would be up to the original poster to check. It is possible that Hotchkis made their sway-bars wrong, or perhaps the later model 90-92's were straiter like the hotchkis bars are? I will be fairly unhappy if I have to switch because they were made wrong.

 

Bullzz provides a measurement, a 2 1/4" difference between OE and the Hotchkis. An inch + per side would certainly make the end links stand straight up as they appear to be in the first pic. The OE's are all the same.

JamesC

 

Thanks for posting the PIC.

I don't think the problem is caused by not having the sway bar properly centered. I don't have much room on either side and the sway bar is hitting both struts. The part that has me stumped is that Hotchkis support pulled a set of 82-92 F body bars from their warehouse and measured them. Our measurements matched. According to them, I have the correct bars. I may have them ship me another set just to be 100% sure. If it doesn't work out with hotchkis; what bars would you guys recommend?

 

Ozz's centering problem. I like the OE hollow 36 mm front/solid 24 rear.

JamesC

 

Here are some final pics of a size comparison between Hotchkis - stock wimpy - and WS6 (WS6 cracked otherwise I would use it) from my donor 89 formula. The Hotckis did not fit on 89 formula either. I am having them send me another set despite the fact they are claiming it is the correct size.

 

I am very curious to see how the second one fits. If it fits better, then maybe they're sending the wrong one. If it doesn't, then it would seem we've identified a manufacturing deficiency.

 

I will keep you guys posted...and thanks for the feedback.

 

Wow now looking at the aftermarket one vs the OEM ones you can see there is no way they would have matched up .

I honestly think they:
1-have a bad batch
2-marked the wrong swaybars with your part #

 

I'm looking for sway bar bushings for a 36mm front bar from a trans-am, and PST just said they only supply up tp 34mm......who sells the 36's or do I go with stock rubbers ???

 

http://www.top-downsolutions.com/pro...products_id=43

http://www.spohn.net/?action=shop&pcid=1064

JamesC

 

thanks....didnt think of Spohn for some reason.....

 

i have the hotchkis and it is not close to the strut. but the pic you posted the endlink was upside down....if its the bolt rubbing then your ok but the bar rubbing something is messed up!

 

Its the bar thats rubbing, not the bolt. Also, that is how the original stock endlinks were bolted in and how they are illustrated in the Haynes manual. I'll probably just flip them since it made more sense to me the other way around but I figured I'd put them back the way they were in originally and according to the illustration in Haynes (I don't think it matters).

Hotchkis support has informed me they began manufacturing their sway bars in house about 5 years ago. Since the F body bars are an old line, they may have mis-calibrated the machines at some point. They are very interested in resolving this issue (or at least finding out if there is a manufacturing defect for the F bodies) and have asked me to post a request for anyone with an F body near their area to visit them. They would like to measure up their current F body front sway bar on a third gen.

You can contact them at:

Drew O.
Sr. Sales/Customer Service
Hotchkis Sport Suspension
12035 Burke St. # 13
Santa Fe Springs, Ca. 90670
Tel: 562.907.7757 Ext. 226
Fax: 562.907.7765
Toll Free: 877.4NO-ROLL Ext. 226

 

Alright, just got my car back from the shop...

The new sway bar from Hotchkis, due to the geometry of the front end at full lock to the right, rubs against the strut on the passenger side. They got a little creative with a grinder however I don't know if that was wise or necessary. If one of you guys near them can get them accurate measurements, maybe we can all get new sway bars?

 

Can you post pics of your newly installed sway bar?

 

I"m in the middle of moving to Utah right now and will be without reliable computer service for at least the next two weeks while we look for a house. Once we get settled, I should be able to take some pictures.

 

here is a pic of my hotchkis front sway and its not even close to my front struts. ive had the sways for about 2 years now. http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x...rocpics003.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x...rocpics002.jpg
those are 2 pics and the wheel is straight but you can see that the strut is not even level with my sway so there is no way of it hitting....my struts are sensa tracks...i know crap but havent changed them yet my car hasnt been driven in probably 7 years so there is no hurry till its ready to drive......

 

Did the hotchkis sway bar line up with your stock sway bar (endlink holes) or was it a bit longer?

 

 

Yeah they seem longer, I guess wait till the second ones come in.

Yeah if they are longer your end links will point outwards, also you ned to preload the front end before you tighten the end links.