Bouncy Ride after sway bar upgrade

[74bigblock]

Last week I upgraded from the stock rear sway bar to the VBP middle sized sway bar & urethane bushings (did the front too... front is great!). It handles great, but rides like crap! When I go over rough or wavy pavement, the rear end bounces up and down and would toss me out of the car were it not for my seat belt! I have new Bilstein shocks, so I know those are fine.

-Could over tightening the sway bar links result in this poor ride quality?
-Do you think it might just be too thick of a bar for my set up?

Thanks

 

[kiwi vet]

Hey 74BigBlock
Would try to back off some tension first to see if this has an effect, and also loosen off the chassis clamps with the car on the ground, bounce a few times and tighten up on the ground to set at correct tension at ride height. In my experiance (all 20miles/20 minutes of it) sway bars should only have an effect when turning (swaying). If you have either of these wound up real tight with the car suspended (wheels/suspension drooped), it could be acting like another spring medium instead? hence the suggestion. Also VBP would be a good place to talk to if this isnt the solution, from what Ive seen and read this supplier is very customer focused.
Anyone else want to chime in about now?
Good Luck!

 

[patsnitrovette]

what did you go with,i have the vb&p 3/4 bar and the #360 rear glass spring with bilstien shocks,its alot better but it still bounces some.i love the way it handles but on bad roads it does get annoying.my front bar is 1 1/8 with #460 coils with 1 1/2 coils removed.

 

[vmrod]

I installed my rear sway bar not long ago. Some washers were included with it. These were spacers to be installed between the chassis and the chassis-mounts. It sounds like your sway bar is too tight in there and is acting like a spring. Try some washers if it is too tight. (Just 1 is enough.)

 

[74bigblock]

Hey 74BigBlock
Would try to back off some tension first to see if this has an effect, and also loosen off the chassis clamps with the car on the ground, bounce a few times and tighten up on the ground to set at correct tension at ride height. In my experiance (all 20miles/20 minutes of it) sway bars should only have an effect when turning (swaying). If you have either of these wound up real tight with the car suspended (wheels/suspension drooped), it could be acting like another spring medium instead? hence the suggestion. Also VBP would be a good place to talk to if this isnt the solution, from what Ive seen and read this supplier is very customer focused.
Anyone else want to chime in about now?
Good Luck!

Kiwi... I thought of that, but we installed the bar with the car on the ground... and used the lube in the chasis clamps provided by VBP.

Thanks
Dave

 

[74bigblock]

what did you go with,i have the vb&p 3/4 bar and the #360 rear glass spring with bilstien shocks,its alot better but it still bounces some.i love the way it handles but on bad roads it does get annoying.my front bar is 1 1/8 with #460 coils with 1 1/2 coils removed.

I think it's the 3/4 bar... don't remember off hand. The spring is an older unit (not a TRW... which is what VBP sells), that was on the car when I purchased. No clue what # rating it has.

 

[74bigblock]

I installed my rear sway bar not long ago. Some washers were included with it. These were spacers to be installed between the chassis and the chassis-mounts. It sounds like your sway bar is too tight in there and is acting like a spring. Try some washers if it is too tight. (Just 1 is enough.)

This may be the case... I will have to look and see if we used them or not... I don't remember. I'll also call VBP and see what they have to say.

 

[vmrod]

If you disconnect the sway bar to the trailing arms, you should be able to move the sway bar up and down with your hand. If the chassis mounts are clamping them down in place (causing them not to move freely), then you need those spacers.

30 minutes or less, and you could identify the problem.

 

[74bigblock]

If you disconnect the sway bar to the trailing arms, you should be able to move the sway bar up and down with your hand. If the chassis mounts are clamping them down in place (causing them not to move freely), then you need those spacers.

30 minutes or less, and you could identify the problem.

I have a suspicious feeling that the sway bar to T-arm links are too tight, restricting movement. My buddy cranked them down quite a bit with the air driver.... the bushings are very compressed. If memory serves, we bolted the chasis clamps on first, and had no problem moving the bar up and down. Guess it won't hurt to check it out though.