DR

Too funny, yeah, if you can bend one of Addco's sway bars with even a 30 ton press...and it keeps the bent shape...I would bet you they will replace it. :-)

Addco is the only sway bar manufacturer I am aware of that does all of the their sway bar bending "cold forged" out of spring steel to make sure the metal does not loose the original native "spring" specs. Most other companies heat the bars to bend then and then have to do various forms of heat treating to try and get the "spring" specs of the steel back.

Their process that they pretty much pioneered back in the 60s is an "old school" process using big (ok HUGE) custom cold forging machines that haven't been duplicated since the 60-70s, some are even older. But the process is tried and true and the only one that guarantees not to negate the original native properties of the steel used. The only heat the bars ever see if just the very end at the flat spot for mounting. FYI, one single heat and forge process makes the flat spots and holes at the same time.

If you ever get to see one of their "machines in" person and even better in actual use... you would be laughing hard at the suggestion of trying to bend one of their sway bars with conventional methods.

ROG100

DR,
That is how badly I wanted your bar on my car - we were willing (and still are) to try anything to get it to fit. The product is exceptional and still will be once these issues are sorted as you plan to do.
Roger

DR

Outside to outside of the flat area of the mounting eyes.

Chuck Z

My front bar is ~44 15/16"

Not yet installed.

SeanR

Good news, got Chuck all squared away.

Put in new Bilstiens, Eibachs, new DR sway on the front. Front sway-bar still might be a little wide. Anything but semi stock wheels/tires may rub inside of tire at least on one side. (Will re-adjust once suspension settles and find out.)
As far as we can tell, getting a little little rub on pass side bend of sway-bar, none on left. Wheels are C III 57 offset, 8 inch wide, 235 tires. The issue is not the measurement form the end of the bar to the other, it is the bulge from the flat pressing of the ends. The bar seems too thick at the bends, the furthest part on the bar. That is where it rubs. I am a bit worried about mounting them with my Kinesis.

So, for the rear,

Went with a modified version of the rear bar from the previous run that had been cut down to fit since the latest version did not seem to fix the issues that others had. The issue with both versions, the bend on the passenger side, for the fuel lines is a bit larger than necessary, and does not give the side to side movement that would allow proper orientation for the bar. Make the bend 1 inch or less on the passenger side would give a huge amount of adjustability, and not affect anything else. Right now, even with the modified bar on chucks car, the bar is hitting, the fuel tank protective covering for the vent lines.

Made a hybrid between DR's Drop links and the OTT ones on ( had to piece them together since the kit was missing reverse threaded nuts and washers etc) and think we have a really good set up.

Sourced the sway shaft clamps locally (missing in the kit too), got everything centered up and everything works great. I don't think the shaft clamps are a real need on the rear, but they MUST be done on the front, there is too available movement on the front bar, on a side to side basis.

I think these things are the ****, and if a few areas are addressed, it will be a quick and easy install for anyone who wants to do them. The performance is fantastic. and I still want a set of these on my car. Looks like I have a new version of the rear to modify, and if the fronts are all figured out on measurements and hardware, I will be ordering one soon.

Bottom line, this is one awesome set up, a few tweeks and it will be a fantastic bolt on improvement for our cars. From driving Chucks car tonight, it is the dream handling that a 928 should have.

Chuck Schreiber

Ok,

Ended up driving the car about 20 miles home from Sean's house last night, then took my daughter to dance this morning and took the car out for some "spirited" driving afterward!

I did end up deciding to bite the bullet and as Sean mentioned, I ended up doing the Eibach/Bilsteins.

I have to say, the car is NICE AND TIGHT!!!

This is a totally different car for sure!! Most folks rag on the Bilstein/Eibach combination saying that it rattles their teeth out??? In my opinion, you are connected to the road now. I absolutley LOVE IT!!!


As for the bars.

I would imagine that most of the "flat as a pancake" feel when you now throw it around a corner is attributed to the front/rear DR bars.
Sean pretty much gave the scoop on how they fit, but I'm keeping an eye on them.

The Rear Bar
I didn NOT end up using the rear bar after seeing how it fit on Roger's car, although it will probably be ok. I ended up using (as Sean Said) the old DR bar I originally bought several year ago. It was shortened in length by 1 adjustment hole and after installing and having some settling time on the suspension, it looks like I need to make 1 little mod. The bar just contacts the plastic cover that goes over the vent line/fuel line. I'll just trim a few mm of the top front of the cover (toward front of car) and I should be good to go.

The Front Bar
After driving the car and letting it settle, it looks like I need to move the bar slightly to the driver side of the car. I made sure I turned the car at lock while I was out and only got black marks on the pass side of the bar. I should be able to even it out and get about 3/4 inch of clearance on both sides.
On my car, the bar rubbed the tire only and did not grind the wheel like on Roger's car.

Again, the quaility of the bars are first rate. Hopefully Addco can get them bent properly so Dave can get these out to the majority of the 928ers here on this list.

I promise, when all the bugs are worked out of this and they become plug and play, you won't be dissapointed with this upgrade to your car!!!

ROG100

DR,
Really glad to see you back and contributing to the forum in fine fettle and congratulations on another awesome SITM. The thread is daily reading for me and I only wish I could have been there. Still one of the best 928 GTS’s of all time.

Back to the sway bars. Your sway bars are the only show in town worth having and the best by a mile. You posted back in October 2010 that you were having the issue resolved via Addco the manufacturer.

Your professional response to the issue was well received by all and you agreeing to have my sway bar picked up and rectified was above and beyond as always.

Moving on 17 months I am still keen to get my modified sway bar back and fitted to my car. I paid good money for the best sway bar and would really like to resolve the issue one way or the other please. Tried calling and sent emails but NO response. Understandable because of your health issues of course.

PLEASE can I have my sway bar back modified or not? If you cannot resolve the issue I will gladly pay to have my own sway bar shipped back to me. I can arrange collection if that helps.

On another note – we found that the rear sway bar had cut into the rear fuel hose on my GTS just like the original set of sway bars. We chopped of the ends to hopefully rectify any further damage. You may want to issue a recall or update to all users of the last batch of sway bars to be safe and have owners check them.

Best regards,
Roger

soupcan

Thanks Roger for bringing this up, forgot I even had one. I have had my rear sway bar for 5 years, no issues to report.
If you look on the wall above the Murfmobile you will see where it's been since I bought it

To damn busy to install it, good time to dust it off and sell it.

terry gt

Have both front and rear bars installed on my GT . The rear bar I cut the last hole off , the bar was too long and would have caused problems with the tank/hoses . the front bar was a little to wide 44.5" so I rebent it a little to 44" ( I have a 150 ton 10 foot brake press ) . Talked to Addco tec guys first to see it cold bending would be a issue first . The car handles nice and flat now . Rear bar requires lowering the rear end , front needs the sway bar mounts renforced .

jheis

Had the same fitment problems with an Addco bar on my TR3 30 years ago. Good to see nothing has changed.

James

ROG100

If DR would send mine back I could have it modified like you did Terry.

ROG100

Hi DR are you out there?

Brad W

Roger,
If and when you get your bar back, we can tweak the radius on the last bend and should be able to get you back in the good.
Just let me know when you get it and I'll have it ready In a few hours
Brad

ROG100

DR,
I would be happy to pay the return shipping if that is an issue.
Roger

ROG100

Anybody there????