Rear Sway Bar

[jatguit]

I think there's a general misconception that the factory offered up different sized rear sway bars. I have only come across ones that are 7/8 in size. If you got the F41 package, that included the rear sway bar. Otherwise non F41 cars got the smaller 1" front sway bar, no rear bar and no jounce bars. So unless I see otherwise, there's only one size rear sway bar at 7/8" that came from the factory.

I have seen a small rear bar on a 79 monte in a junk yard close to me recently and it was noticably smaller. At the time I looked back and forth at the one on the Monte and then one on an 86 cutlass with F41 and I grabbed the one on the cutlass as it was bigger. I wish I had measured the one on the Monte cause i remmeber thinking how oddly small it was. I did measure the one on the cutlass (with verniers .87 in) and didn't bother with the monte as how it looked visually smaller, and I think I at least did a basic measure it up to your finger type of thing. The Monte is now gone.

I know it may not be 100% proof but I saw it with my own eyes and uh fingers.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

The V6 cars came with a smaller rear bar when ordered with the F41 or FE2 packages, that I have checked and confirmed on junkyard cars.

 

[Tony_SS]

The V6 cars came with a smaller rear bar when ordered with the F41 or FE2 packages, that I have checked and confirmed on junkyard cars.

I would guess that to be true in V6 cars with those options, maybe a 3/4" instead of the 7/8" sway.

 

[3XBrownCutty]

i got the swaybar today, and installed it already, it is a 7/8 bar.

i looked on my stock v6 cutlass, and the front swaybar is 1''. is that possoble from the factory? maybe my car has some sort of option? my option code sticker is gone, so i don't know what it has.

 

[Tony_SS]

i got the swaybar today, and installed it already, it is a 7/8 bar.

i looked on my stock v6 cutlass, and the front swaybar is 1''. is that possoble from the factory? maybe my car has some sort of option? my option code sticker is gone, so i don't know what it has.

Yes it is. My Malibu is a factory 305 car, but it did not come with the F41 package, it just came with a 1" front sway bar. I added the jounce bars and rear 7/8" bar.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Go back to the yard and pull the front bar too, along with all the hardware and bushings. It will make a difference, and tame a possible oversteer situation at the limit. Just curious, but is your car a 307 V8 or a 231 V6?

 

[78MC-BBC]

ive seen different rear sway bar designs on the g-body but all were 7/8" in size. my 78 orginally had a straight 7/8" rear bar along with all of the F41 parts, then ive seen alot of ss montes that also had F41 with 7/8" rear bar but had a curve in the middle of the bar under the rear end pumpkin.

then again the only thing left stock on my monte are the F41 bars, went to the 1.42" front sway bar and 1.375" rear bar both after market

 

[3XBrownCutty]

my car is a 231 v6 car.

i didn't end up getting the bar from the car, there were steel wheels w/tires under the rearend, so even if i got all the bolts off, i wouldn't be able to get it out because they couldnt lift the car up, it was right at the edge of the woods, and there was a big drop off next to the car.

one of the owners said hey, do you want one that is already off? so i said yeah sure. he has a few regals with 350s in them, so he knows what parts are out there. i could get the front bar off the 4 door regal, but i never looked at it. were there differen't stiffnesses of the front and rear bars? why should i have a pair from one car if my front bar is 1''? just wondering.

also what are jounce bars and what do they do?

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Because you have the small front bar which does not match the rear bar. Rear bar cars came with 1.25in fronts, not the 1 in front you have. It makes a big difference, and was the first mod I did to my Cutlass when I got it.

 

[Tony_SS]

x2. The front 1" bar needs to be upgraded. Especially if you're running the rear 7/8. Get the appropriate front to match.