72cuttys

Finally got my 71 running good enough to take it out on the road. The amount of body roll this thing has is ridiculous. I feel like it could flip if taking a corner at a decent speed. Has new shocks and struts all around. Springs are factory I think. No sway bar in the rear.

What can I do to cut down on this body roll?

70cutty

Change the springs, add the rear sway bar to start with.

cutlassjoe

A friend of mine has a 71' with really tall springs. I mean the car sits higher than normal. When you see him go around a corner that thing really leans bad. I've told him to get some shorter springs at least to stock level. He loves how it looks and doesn't mind the roll...I lowered mine 1 1/2"'s and it made a nice difference. Added some better shocks bigger front & rear sway bars and it handles good for a big girl.

boese1978

Control arm bushings too.

NHolds

Bigger sway bar up front, rear sway bar for starters

Where did you install struts on a 71?

If you want to go further, tubular control arms, coil over shocks... mine handles like a corvette.

drop top olds

Make sure your front sway bar end links are attached to your control arms. Also check front sway bar bushings. A rear sway bar will help tremendously, but you need to box your rear control arms.

brddg

The tall spindle conversion and going to a larger wheel/ shorter profile tire made a phenomenal difference on my EC.

MDchanic

What's the oldest car you've driven before this one?

- Eric

72cuttys

1989 Mustang GT. But it had all aftermarket suspension.

I think my factory springs are pretty worn. It sits this low on factory springs.
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MDchanic

I think that pretty much explains your reaction.



The rear of that car is sitting a little low, but the front looks just about right.

- Eric

Seff

An often-overlooked factor in the body roll feeling is that we only have(well, use) lap belts, making the g-forces much more affecting on our upper body as we go 'round a corner.

That being said, a new bushings all around, 1-1/4" front sway bar, rear bar, better shocks plus new springs, taller ball joints and tubular front control arms - in that order. Mine does roundabouts at 25 MPH like that.

bccan

X2 w/ NHolds & Seff - 1 1/4" front sway bar & new links, boxed rear lower control arms & stock rear bar for starters. That's the budget route that will make a big difference right away for calming sway.

After that you will have to address worn components & renew or upgrade from there but this is where appreciable money and/or labor will come into play. Bushings, steering components, shocks, springs, steering box are likely all in need of attention.

Fun71

I was gonna ask the same question.

I agree with everyone else on springs, sway bars, and bushings. I installed stiffer springs on mine (already had rear sway bar, boxed lower control arms, polygraphite bushings) and it handles a whole lot better than it did with 40 year old worn out springs (duh!)

Moog 5536 up front and 5409 in back.

jag1886

I replaced all the bushings, springs, boxed rear lower arms, added KYB shocks, changed to an 1 1/4 front bar" 1" rear sway bars and changed the steering gear to 12.7 ratio in my 65. My car will about make you sick now going up the mountain roads, it handles well.

72cuttys

Is the UMI front sway bar a good deal at 190$? I will be removing the rear soon to install posi and gears so MAW do control arms while its out so ill hold off till I got the money to order a whole kit complete with rear sway bar.

QMaster

Polyurethane bushings for the front sway bar make a large difference

70cutty

I don't know about the sway bar, I got Hotchkis on my car. However, I did buy UMI rear control arms and they seem to be really good quality and perfect fit. I don't see how can a sway bar be any different.

Seff

The UMI front control arms are very solidly built as well.

z11375ss

You're not sticking your oar out the window properly.

72cuttys

Sorry guys, front shocks - not struts :P First car ive ever owned with shocks so im not used to having SHOCKS in the front!

The Hotchkis bar is 240$, and the UMI seems to have a good reviews for the price so Ill probably just go that route.

Koda

Um, not to continue to ride you, but a strut has a shock in it.