S14 front swaybar not fitting S13?

[Def]

I've heard of a few people running S14 front sway bars on S13s. I picked one up and it just won't bolt up nicely for anything.

It seems like the bar to chassis mounts on the S13 are both about half an inch too far apart for things to work nicely. As it is, the bar is pushed over to one side, and the bushing/mount is all bent up on the other side. So obviously it won't work.

What's the deal? Can't even see triming the bushings and making any real difference. I bored out the inside of the bushings to just over the bar diameter(27mm), so that's not a problem.

[KA240SX808]

http://www.240sxforums.com/forums/wheels-tires-suspension/118121-oem-sway-bar-interchangeability.html

[djsilver]

I have an S14 front swaybar on my S13 but it wasn't plug and play. I bought a set of EnergySuspension universal swaybar bushings for a 27mm swaybar and slotted the holes to get them to fit. After it was installed, the holes for the endlinks were about an inch too far aft and didn't line up with the holes in the lower control arms. I used a big-*ss press to flatten the ends of the sway bar and drilled new holes. I started the project because the OEM S14 bar is hollow and weighs about 1/4 as much as the ADDCO and Godspeed bars I had. I wouldn't do it again.

http://www.energysuspension.com/universal-products/sway-bar-bushings.html

[Def]

Yea, the S14 bar weighs about 7 lbs, and the stock S13 bar weighs about 11.5 lbs, which is the main reason I'd like to use it. The bushings are not a problem other than the mounting locations of the bar being too narrow. Not worried about the longer arm length, as I am putting on adjustable LCA that move the sway bar mounting point back a bit, and I will be making brackets to line things up with rod ends.

Might just scrap it though, as I'd have to take off quite a bit
on the bushings to get them even close to working.

[Def]

http://www.240sxforums.com/forums/wh...geability.html

The bars are almost identical, the S14 bar has more gradual bends than the S13 one due to being hollow. Which is why I'm running into this problem.

I might take a bit off the brackets and bushings and see where that gets me. If I can get another 1/4-3/8" on each side I might be good.

[mmdb]

Just curious, but I guess you're putting a front sway bar for more rate up front? Progress sway bars are really nice. They come with spherical endlinks and they're adjustable.

[Def]

More like getting a hollow bar and saving 4.5 lbs of weight way up front. That will almostly completely offset the aluminum front bumper support I plan to build.

Progress bars are solid and heavy. I'd just stick with the stocker over looking for more rate(car doesn't need more roll stiffness).

[KA240SX808]

Tanabe's are Pretty Light:

http://zilvia.net/f/tech-talk/72524-tanabe-sway-bars.html#post654476

[a_ahmed]

Tanabe+progress heim endlinks = complete win.

I will eventually get the rear... but about the front... it was featherweight light... yet ridiculously thick compared to the stock s13 one.

[SoSideways]

I could use more roll stiffness up front.

What's your setup up front Def?

[Def]

500 lb/in ERS, Koni 8611's. Was a stock 25mm S13 sway bar with a hole drilled about 0.9" further inward on the lever arm of the sway, so about 12-15% higher rate than a stock bar. Felt plenty stiff up front.

[SoSideways]

I see...

I have about the same spring rate up front, just different dampers (I have Stance GR+ coilovers).

I was looking to go Tanabe sways front and rear in the near future, but might just start with the front.

Thanks for the heads up Def.