I have a 1957 Olds 98 hardtop that I am restoring. It was badly beat up, but it was at least complete. I noticed underneath on the suspension that the sway bar connecting link hole is not centered over the corresponding hole in the lower A Frame. It looks like it may have been bent back somehow. Both sides are the same. I checked with a friend that has a 57 Olds and his is the same. Was this a mistake by Oldsmobile? Shouldn't the link be vertical between the two holes in the sway bar and the A Frame hole?
Chris Nelson
chrisnelson44@comcast.net

 

The '57 Olds shop manual images appear to agree with your observations. I'm wondering if this is because the suspension geometry changes under dynamic situations when the sway bar does its job.

 

Thanks Ozzie. I had not looked in the manual yet, but I sure will now. There is probably a good reason that it is not centered over the holes. My logic says that is not right, but what do I know. I didn't design it.