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I noticed on my 98 TA some creaking over speed bumps and dips in the front. I looked at it and noticed the ends of the front sway bar have a seam around the hole where the link attached. It appears the seam has cracked around the top of the bar on both ends. Is this a common thing to occur? I'm assuming that's the cause of the creak.
Probably not the cause of the creak, which will be coming from bushings being either worn out, or if they are urethane, needing grease. In fact the creaking shouldn't be from the sway bar at all if you have the factory bushings. More likely is bad control arm bushings.
I don't know what you're seeing at the end link hole, but it's not a seam. Sway bars are forged, not cast. Forging doesn't leave seams. It may be some sort of tooling mark from the punch press used to put that hole there.
Probably not the cause of the creak, which will be coming from bushings being either worn out, or if they are urethane, needing grease. In fact the creaking shouldn't be from the sway bar at all if you have the factory bushings. More likely is bad control arm bushings.
I don't know what you're seeing at the end link hole, but it's not a seam. Sway bars are forged, not cast. Forging doesn't leave seams. It may be some sort of tooling mark from the punch press used to put that hole there.
Nah there's a hairline crack all around the circumference of the hole that wraps around to the top of the bar. So, if there is no seam, it's definitely a crack. I still have the stock links and bushing too.
I didn't take a pic but found one online. Mine looks exactly like this, except the crack isn't as wide and it's not nearly as rusty. The bar is still black.
I didn't take a pic but found one online. Mine looks exactly like this, except the crack isn't as wide and it's not nearly as rusty. The bar is still black.
Wow! I've never seen one do that before. I've seen some just flat break in two, but not like that. I'd think it would cause more of a rattle than a squeak, but who knows?
Wow! I've never seen one do that before. I've seen some just flat break in two, but not like that. I'd think it would cause more of a rattle than a squeak, but who knows?
Yeah it's weird and it's like that on both sides. So I need a new sway bar and some bushings. Any recommendations?
That would depend on how you drive or plan to drive the car....gotta know that before a recommendation would do much good as far as a specific bar goes. Generally, I've had very good luck with Addco bars if you're looking for better performance.
That would depend on how you drive or plan to drive the car....gotta know that before a recommendation would do much good as far as a specific bar goes. Generally, I've had very good luck with Addco bars if you're looking for better performance.
It would be nice to upgrade. The links need to be changed anyway. I would like some better performance for handling, and of course, something stronger that won't break! I'll check those out...
It would be nice to upgrade. The links need to be changed anyway. I would like some better performance for handling, and of course, something stronger that won't break! I'll check those out...
An aftermarket bar will be a good bit stiffer for the same bar diameter than an OEM bar. So you can keep the stock size and still benefit.
Breakage like you have isn't caused by the bar being "weak", it's caused by improper heat treat.
I'd find a Z28 sway bar from the boneyard with new poly links if you wanna save some cash. An SS/WS6 will stiffen it up more, but may cost a bit more than a Z28 bar (mine on my V6 was free.....)
Your creaking over bumps could be anything from the sway bar links/cracks, T top rattle, control arm bushings, or just worn shitty stock shocks/mounts. I would take care of the sway bar first since its the most obvious thing.
Last edited by FiredUpZ28; 04-27-2010 at 09:31 PM.
Reason: typo
Thanks for the input guys. I'm still trying to find a WS6 bar but so far can only find the base V8 bar at a local junkyard for $45. I'll either go with that, or get lucky and find a WS6 bar. Either way I'll go with poly bushings and it should be good to go, maybe even creak free!
Just rip that **** out. Your rear tires will hook up better without it anyway, and you won't think you're going to die every time you go over speed bumps.
Just rip that **** out. Your rear tires will hook up better without it anyway, and you won't think you're going to die every time you go over speed bumps.
Uh right...so with a swaybar in the rear and none in the front, the car will oversteer more than it already does, which will make me feel like I am going to die WAY more than a creak over a speed bump! Sheesh!
I'm not just pulling this out of my ***, I've done this myself on my previous f-body... as well as many others. It wouldn't cause you to over-steer unless your alignment is fucked up. Guys with T-tops actually go without a front sway, because when you make enough power it can cause them to tweak and fly off. Also no front sway = more traction to the rear.
the stock sway bars on our vehicles are hollowed out pieces of junk. I replaced mine 18 years ago with a sold 25mm BMR unit, have had no problems since then.
04-26-2010, 08:39 AM
Cracked sway bar 
