Scootin159

So... on my last autox run last weekend, I bottomed out at one point, and bent the mounting brackets for my front sway bar. I'd obviously like to drive the car at the fest in two weeks, and am curious as to what opinions you guys have on fixing it.

The mounting bracket is supposed to be vertical (similar to stock), with a support brace at a 45* angle connecting to the cross member. As you'll see in the pictures...it's not quite any more.

My plan is to attach a chain to both sides of the actual sway bar in the slight gap between the mount & the "arm" which connects to the control arm. I'll then attach the chain to something solid, and reverse SLOWLY. Hopefully bending it back into place.

My backup plan is to fully remove the sway bar, and use a sledge to 'flatten' the bracket.

Am I absurd to try and fix this via such brutal means (will the now stressed metal be strong enough)? What side effects would there be to driving it as-is (is the bar now "softer" or "stiffer" or "unpredictable")?

(pics in next post)

Scootin159

Driver's side (passenger side looks identical...nearly identical bend)

xsboost90

its not made of much- disconnect the two mounts on the side thats bent, bend the center braket back, then reattach...

xsboost90

second thought- large pry bar.

Scootin159

just for fun..

Scootin159

tried that...

1) not strong enough...err.. bar's not long enough
2) nothing good to pry off of (don't want to bend the alternator mount fixing the sway bar)
3) need a lift...ground's too close to really do anything.

If all else fails, I may try visiting my friendly mechanic & borrowing his lift to see what I can do...

ausgeflippt951

You should be able to bend it back no problem with some brute force. The steel will be able to take it; just be careful. Plastic deformation will occur without failure (i.e. breaking) as long as you are not too rough...

hehe good luck!

xsboost90

can you hook the pry bar on the front frame bolt that holds the braket on and push from there? If all else fails, pull the mounts, put them on the work bench and smack em w/ a hammer till staight.

Yabo

Yeah, just pull them off and flatten them out on a vice would be my vote.

JayP

Nice.

Scootin159

Glad to hear the general consensus is to "beat it into place". I was just nervous that even if I got it straight, it would be a failure waiting to happen.

Z-man

Can you see if you can replace the bent part with a new one? It is already stressed due to the bend, and will likely bend again when you bottom out with it (again). I suspect bending it back will stress it more and it will lose some of it's effectiveness...

-Z-man.

marksportcts

I am quite surprised that the Kokeln hollow sway bars use sheet metal brackets as opposed to the solid metal blocks of the Weltmeister or Tarrett. Looks like I'll just stick to my Weltmeister considering the costs of the Tarrett.

cie_lab

racing sounds fun.

Here's a tip:

1.) Turn car over
2.) Bend with 10' pry bar

Techno Duck

I would take it off, secure it in a vise and try to find a pipe or something that slips over it and bend it back.

All this talk of plastic deformation brings me back to my material science class... jeez i am happy to be done with that class!

Car is looking great also.. gotta love the 8v's for auto-x!