As some of you know, I've been talking with the swaybar engineer at Addco over the past couple of months. From what I understand, Addco acquired the rights and products from Saner, a now-defunct swaybar company that had originally - about 10 years ago - produced aftermarket swaybars for our cars that many people say greatly improved the handling. I spoke with Addco about fabricating bars for our group, and they are very interested. The group buy proposal that I received from the company's sales manager is: At least 10 people, the price would be $425 for the front/rear set At least 20 people, the price would be $361.24 for the front/rear set (Front or rear can also be purchased individually) The specs of this new set would be very similar to the Saner-styled bars: 25mm front and 22mm rear. However, the design flaw of the original Saner bars that many owners highlighted - specifically the poor angle and lock bolt for the drop link - would be corrected. We wouldn't have this problem with the new bars. Saner does not use materials commonly used for high performance swaybar production (i.e. 4130, 5160, and 9263 steel). Instead, they use milled 1045. My relaying of the rationale why wouldn't do it justice. Instead, the reasons for this choice are cited in the attached PDF, and further information can be learned by talking with Addco's engineer directly. In addition to the 3-hole adjustable bars, the price of the set includes hind joints and polyurethane midsection bushings and brackets. I would love to buy a set, which means that we only need an additional 9 people to qualify for the first level group buy. If you are interested, please respond to this thread (so that we can maintain headcount) and contact Addco directly to put your name on the list. The contact details are: John, Sales Manager (800) 338-7015 Ernie, Lead Engineer (same number) Please note that I HAVE NOT USED THESE BARS YET, and thus cannot personally vouch for any performance or quality element of the bar. Instead, I cite as my reasons to want to buy this bar and arrange a group buy a) owners' performance experiences with the original Saner bars, b) my conversations with Addco, and the fact that it is a reputable, large company, and c) the good price point. Let me know your thoughts and if you're in. Matt Image Unavailable, Please Login
I suspect that it is, as I discussed a "drop in" replacement with Ernie. Still, to learn the specifics, feel free to call and talk with Ernie.
I think that's a question to throw out to the group, whether there is any difference in swaybar design through the years of production. To date, I don't recall reading any mention of it.
Not meaning to start a argument, but curious why anyone would put larger sway bars on a 'street' 308, and what other suspension&tire/wheel changes you plan to make? Is there a specific handling characteristic (other than purely to reduce roll-angle) you're looking to correct i.e. under/oversteer? For sure on a hard-core track/race car less body roll goes part-and-parcel with stiffer suspension, wider wheels and sticky tires, big brakes etc etc. Personally I'm quite satisfied with the amount of body roll on my '85. For Auto-xing I stiffened up the QA1 shocks a bit (8 out of 12 vs 4 out of 12 for street), but both on the auto-x and also at Road America during some spiritted lapping at the FCA event a few years ago everything (Bridgestone AS tires on stock rims, QA1 shocks/300lb springs, new susp bushings, quick-ratio steering rack, etc) worked in harmony and the body roll didn't seem excessive behind the wheel. salud! [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYUJ5ZviEXM[/ame]
hi Kurt (and Matt), i am interested in these bars. now i see your post and it got me thinking. is the ride quality suffered by upgrading to these bars? i have stock konis (relatively new), with a rebuilt suspension all around). and runninig 16 inch superperformance wheels on my 78 euro GTS. i dont like all the body roll, and QA1 shocks may lower my car too much for where i live. would these bars help body roll??, and not give too stiff a ride over stock?? i always felt i should run these bigger bars because i upgraded my wheels from 14 to 16 inch. anyone can chime in and enlighten me.
Giovanni - QA1's are easily adjustable for ride height (threaded support for the spring) so it's up to you how low or high you want. I've got the QA1s on my GTS QV set pretty much stock, maybe 1/2" lower max. Sway bars shouldn't affect the ride at all, as long as you're going straight and any road imperfections affect both sides at the same time i.e. a speed bump. I've never driven or ridden in a 308 with larger sway bars so can't comment on how the overall ride&handling changes from stock, but for sure with larger bars you'll get less body roll, all else being equal, if that's all that you're after.
thanks for the reply Kurt. i didnt know that about the QA1s and the adjustable ride height - hmmmmm. i gots to do some more thinking. i like my softer ride with the konis, but my lil 308 with the stock sway bars sure displays some nice body roll in the twisties.
So far I count: Me (1) puckf16 (2) for a total of 3 right now. jim400i, are you in for a set? Still quite a ways from the minimum of 10 we need for the minimum buy. Don't forget, if you guys have questions about these bars, you can call Addco's engineer Ernie at 800-338-7015. He's not a Ferrari expert, but he is a swaybar expert.
Hi Matt, Appreciate the effort and offer but I'm not in at this time. Might jump in later. Best...Jim
The fact that you can keep up with 430s in a car 30 years older, with 1/2 the horsepower and tire-contact area is pretty amazing, and cool! I'd bet it has at least a little bit to do with the driver At the FCA event at Road America a few years ago I was likewise hounding Ferrari's 20 years+ newer than mine, in the corners at least. Reminded me so much of driving the Nurburgring in low-powered cars, and coming up behind someone on a superbike who "thought" they were going fast. They'd squirt ahead after each corner, then brake very early, hang their knee way off, and crawl through the turn at about a 10 degree lean angle with me knashing my teeth right behind them. I'll be really interested to hear your feedback on the overall ride and handling after SB installation. cheers Kurt
I have auto-xed many cars, tracked my old hp 914 and even had the 308 on the track a few times, so, i have played with bars a fair amount. Bigger bars have a very small effect on ride comfort springs and shocks are the major detrminant for ride quality. If you change nothing else, what you can expect is a "quicker" handling car because the lateral load transfer happens much more quickly, the car assumes a balanced state more quickly. The car will go where you point it more quickly. Curvy roads will put a big smile on your face. Now, if you upgrade the shocks, springs and most importantly TIRES..... hth, chris
They can also change the relative front/rear grip if sized correctly. My '86 CRX Si came stock with a very thin rear sway bar (located inside the "axle tube"); I installed a "supplimental" one (actually much larger than the stock one) on top of the tube. The much greater resistance to roll at the back end virtually eliminates understeer. http://s180.beta.photobucket.com/user/kedelbach/media/CRX%20and%20RC%20Stuff/2011%20Winter%20CRX%20work/CRXaddco3.jpg.html?sort=3&o=1
