has anyone used one of the aftermarket rear sway bars that do not require boxed control arms that are available on ebay for around $125 ??

are they any good ??

will it really help the handling???

 

Years ago I bought a 68 Cutlass that the guy had simply bolted a sway bar on to the un boxed control arms ( they came with the holes in them) and by the time I got around to actually looking, the control arms had cracks and "splits" raidiating from the bolt holes. They are just too weak IMHO. I can't say anything about the handling as that car was a rust bucket with 'nary a whole busing to be found so it handled poorly anyway.

 

Would they help, sure.

I'd need to see the link you're talking about but there are inserts that are very close to what was done on a factory boxed arm that can be welded into an unboxed arm so you can bolt a sway bar without crushing the arm. Maybe someone is putting that together in a package with a sway bar now??

edit:

$29.95 at chevelle.com



Here's a link to how to box a set of control arms

http://www.leverfamilysite.com/Boxin...ntrol_Arms.htm

 

i little off topic but did you by any chance get that 68 out of Chicago? that looks exactly like a car i sold there about 5 years ago with 14,000 miles and the top pulled off.

 

nope,, its a california car ...

here is the sway bar link from ebay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/64-77-GM-Bod...item5adf371a0d

 

A factory sway bar (less than $100) and welding in the inserts I show above are slightly more money and a much better alternative. You can get the inserts welded in for $20 if the control arms are off the car. That set up you linked is a poor bolt on design that appears like they bolt it to the side of the control arm

 

That Tamraz bar is a repackaged Addco kit. IMO, Addco stuff is junk. There's no way that flat plate and/or the control arm is not going to flex, plus it looks like dog turd hanging down under the suspension. Just spend a little more to do it the right way. You'll be happier and it'll work better.

 

Where do you find "factory" sway bars for '68 oldsmobiles?
I'd like one for my 68 98....

 

Actually, factory rear sway bars are still available for Cutlass models from GM Parts.
As for your 98, here's one option:
http://www.realoldspower.com/phpBB2/...=rear+sway+bar

Sorry, the pics disappeared from that post long ago. I saved them somewhere and will post them if I can find them

 

I checked a couple of weeks ago and the A-Body sway bar (Part Number 394926) is no longer available from GMpartsdirect. It may still be available from your local GM dealer

 

Bummer.
It was a nice option to use the GM piece. Oh well, lots of aftermarket options for A-body cars still.