problems with ADDCO rear swaybar on NA

[theonlypheonix]

Has anyone else had problems with the rear ADDCO swaybar on our NA models???

The attach photo's documents the problem I've had with the swabar bracket. The bracket broke in the bend while autocrossing at Grattan in July. By comparison to the OEM part, the ADDCO bracket is very weak. The OEM braket is 1 1/2" wide and ADDCO is 1", OEM brkt edges are heavily reinforced and ADDCO is not, OEM mounting hole is clear of the bracket bend and ADDCO drills the mouinting hole right into the bend. With a bracket 1" wide and a hole 1/2" dia. this leaves only 1/2" of steel to hold the weight transfer of a 3100 lbs car ,no wonder it BREAKS when using a 1" swaybar!!!

The history behind this kit is that 3SX Performance has worked with ADDCO in developing it. ADDCO does not have a car and 3SX has been fitting it on one of their cars and telling ADDCO how to implement the design. I have been told that ADDCO has not done any testing and 3SX has only driven their car a short time on the street, no track time!!! No surprise there is a problem in
actual application.

Well with all that said...........I'm in communication with Addco customer service and they are willing to get me the parts I need
to implement this properly. They have further indicated that this is the smallest bracket they use in their kits next to the kit for a Neon, but that this was the information given to them by 3SX.
ADDCO expresses that they would like to resovle this for their
customers so that it does occour again and that no one gets hurt
(you would think dealers should have the same concern, NOT).

Because of the larger bar and therefore larger bushing, I do not see this application as a bolt on. There just isn't enough space between the slot and mounting bolt hole! I believe the solution is implementing a wider (1-1/2") bracket with a longer tab on the bottom which would allow for drilling a hole in the frame member
to run another bolt through. ADDCO tells me that this is how their other kits are normally implemented.

Let me know of any other problems so I can get this imformation back to ADDCO so that we have a usable swaybar and not just a $200 go fast bumper sticker.

;) :thumbs:

[natalia]

I spoke to Eric at 3SX recently, he said they have new swaybar brackets for the addco bars. These are much beefier and should never break.

[theonlypheonix]

The weak brackets were not the only problem with the original ADDCO swaybar setup on the NA's. The geometry of the bar is also off. I would really investigate this one before buying and make sure 3SX will take the bar back if you are not completely satisfied !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PPE was working on another bar from an alternative source, I don't know where he stands at this time??

If you decide to go ahead and get this bar make sure when installing that the bar is installed with the car weight on all for wheels( this is the proper unloaded condition). In this position the end links should connect right up to the swaybar ends without any problem and the bar should mount to the chassis mounting points and line exactly up with the mounting holes without any need to preload the bar. If this is not the case, THE PROBLEMS WERE NOT FIXED!! Look up my solution on the 3SI.org web site. This bar can be made to work very nicely but ALL the problems need to be adressed which includes the geometry issues.

As a side note, I spoke with Saner Engineering and they are working on a 15/16" rear swaybar for me. The 7/8" Addco bar is nice for street use but I feel I want more bar for autoX.

LOL.