What do you think of the ADDCO anti-sway bar for the Fiero?

Nobody can tell me if the ADDCO sway bar are a good choice? Which make is better (performance) / best quality ?

I have purchased one but have not yet installed it. From what I can see it is a quality item and worth the cash. I know that there are a number of members who are using them so hopefully they can tell you more.

Nolan

Here's a link to a used Fiero Store rear bar for a good price on E-Bay

Not mine by the way.

Nolan

[This message has been edited by Sourmug (edited 08-11-2007).]

Thanks for the link.

I cannot say what an Addco anti-swaybar might be capable of on a Fiero because I've never tried one on mine. I did purchase a couple of their bars many years ago for a Toyota. Both were junk, and I'll never buy another Addco. There's a reason Addco is about the least expensive bar avaialble ... and you get what you pay for.

Why its junk? can you explain ( broke, loose their spring capacity, too soft, dont behave like advertise,other problems etc) ? Thats what I'm searching for...explanation, some thought from user. So I can make a good choice.

I know we have the HHP (in the Mall), but too expensive for the use I will do...only road cruising no track.

Other make?

Does Herb Adam still sell sway bar? opinion on theirs?

[This message has been edited by perry rhodan (edited 08-11-2007).]

I have an ADDCO swap bar on my 87GT and it made a big difference in handling and improved traction. I also noticed an improvement in the way the Fiero handles the bumps in that there was a noticeable improvement in "bump steer" as well. The car also hadles better on wet roads. I rate this product 4 stars and will use it on my new 3800SC swap. I am sold on this product.
If you don't want to spend $150 for a new bar, a Pontiac Grand Prix front sway bar reportedly fits but you will probably need to add the Links and the bushings that are available from Energy Suspension and Prothane. THts my opinion based on actual experience.

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87GT 3.4 Turbo- 0-60 5.2 seconds
2006 3800SC Series III swap in progress
Engine Controls, PCM goodies,
re-programming & odd electronics stuff
" I'M ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "

I have an Addco rear sway bar on my '87 SE. Before that, the sway bar was on an '86 coupe. All in all, I've had the sway bar since 1997. It still works perfectly. And after 10 years, it still doesn't have any rust. IMO, the Fiero isn't complete without it.

quote Originally posted by Dennis LaGrua: , a Pontiac Grand Prix front sway bar reportedly fits but you will probably need to add the Links and the bushings that are available from Energy Suspension and Prothane.

Dennis, do you know which year will work? I've looked in the Fierosails parts interchange manual but since the rear sway bar its a non-existent item on pre-88 Fiero they dont list it.


I also see that Fiero Warehouse sell a front/rear kit too (dont know the brand/make)

[This message has been edited by perry rhodan (edited 08-11-2007).]

quote Originally posted by perry rhodan:Why its junk? can you explain ( broke, loose their spring capacity, too soft, dont behave like advertise,other problems etc) ? Thats what I'm searching for...explanation, some thought from user. So I can make a good choice.

Poor engineering and material quality. Again, I REPEAT that my experience with Addco bars was on a Toyota, and NOT a Fiero. The Addco bars did little to improve cornering ... they were supplied with cheap hardware that broke ... and their design was extremely poor because one of the mounting brackets eventually pulled a hole through my chassis (no backing plates to spread out the load). If folks are having good luck nowadays with their bars, that's great. Me? I did not. Your post asked for opinions, and what I said above is mine.

I added the front sway bar from an '84 to the back of my '85GT. It improved the handling alot, but, after using it for a while I found it had just a bit too much oversteer for my taste. I then simply (the job is actually a b*tch) swapped my front bushings and endlinks for the urethane units from Energysuspension and that stiffened up the front bar so the car went back to more neutral. I think if I were to go to a bar, I'd get the good set of front and back that are designed for each other. You can find them on the Mall.

I don't think that stiffening the front by itself is necessarily what you want to do. IMHO

Arn

quote Originally posted by WAWUZAT: Poor engineering and material quality. Again, I REPEAT that my experience with Addco bars was on a Toyota, and NOT a Fiero. The Addco bars did little to improve cornering ... they were supplied with cheap hardware that broke ... and their design was extremely poor because one of the mounting brackets eventually pulled a hole through my chassis (no backing plates to spread out the load). If folks are having good luck nowadays with their bars, that's great. Me? I did not. Your post asked for opinions, and what I said above is mine.

I respect your opinion . I just wanted explanation about your insatisfaction for the ADDCO. Important to me to be able to evaluate the "risk" VS price if I go with this sway bar.

Some people will have complained about it just because the paint was peeling off their bar kit...and that not a good reason for me in this case.

Thanks for the details. Very appreciated.

Arns85gt : That what I'm planing to do. Put a matching set of antisway bar. It looks like each different brand set (not HHP) offer all the same in relative dimension (I dont know about the stiffness of the material between each make) generally goes for 1 inchs in the front and 7/8 inchs in the rear.

[This message has been edited by perry rhodan (edited 08-12-2007).]

I installed the Adco bar about 16 or 17 years ago, along with urethane end links and bushings for the front and rear. The Adco bar is zinc coated so it doesn't rust. No quality issues. I also have installed a front bar on the rear of another car - it works just as well.

Since that install I began Solo2 competitions, and the bars work fine. I can leave it quite neutral or dial up the rear Koni's to give it more oversteer. With alignment you have a lot of control as well.

I can easily steer with the throttle, or use drop-throttle for oversteer on really tight corners - perhaps not the fastest way through the course, but certainly the most fun.

daveg

I have the front and rear Addco sway bars on my car and I am very happy with them.
I drive through the mountains a lot and push my car very hard.

I installed a pair on my 88 notchie a couple of months ago and there are a few notes. The bars are no longer zinc chromated, they are black power coated which you will scrape and scratch off when you install it. My advice is to leave the wrap the bar is shipped in on when installing in the frame, then remove it before you put the brackets on.

My car is lowered and has the factory 15" wheels. You may have to adjust the end links length a tad to clear the upper A arm. At full lock they rub on my lip mount wheel weights. Instalation is helped out if you pop off the tie rods from the steering arms.

The rear brackets are larger then the original 88's and will need a new hole drilled. On the 2.5L 5-speed I disconnected the two lower links from the passenger side and fed the bar through. I adjusted the length of the end link for more clearance near the CV boot.

I installed the bars and took it to a track day at Texas World Speedway with the old tires on. The car had very little body roll. My tires did not have a huge amount of grip but the car felt more balanced.

As for choices in after market bars, I don't think you have much to choose from but the addco bars work and I would buy them again if nothing better comes on the market.

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yellow 88 GT, not stock
white 88 notchie, 4 banger

Concerning using the Grand Prix front sway bar on the rear of the Fiero, all the Grand Prix sway bars should be the same from 98-02. Those are the years that reportedly fit. Brian my partner on the swaps has one of these in his shop and we will be trying the install this week or next. Could end up being an inexpensive quality solution for a rear sway bar.
As for the ADDCO sway bar the P/N is #387 ( 85-87) and Summit has them for around $150. There is an 88 P/N but I don't have the number.
While there are good aftermarket parts, we tend to prefer using OEM parts wherever possible. It's like comparing aftermarket axles vs. OEM. Archie claimed that the OEM's were the best years ago and we'd have to agree with him.

quote Originally posted by perry rhodan: Dennis, do you know which year will work? I've looked in the Fierosails parts interchange manual but since the rear sway bar its a non-existent item on pre-88 Fiero they dont list it. I also see that Fiero Warehouse sell a front/rear kit too (dont know the brand/make)

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87GT 3.4 Turbo- 0-60 5.2 seconds
2006 3800SC Series III swap in progress
Engine Controls, PCM goodies,
re-programming & odd electronics stuff
" I'M ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "

Not trying to steal the thread, but there is another option. It depends on how you intend to use your car. Click on the link in my signature for details.

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Paul

Pontiac prestiege.... Pontiac performance...... Pontiac POWER!
HHP Is back in business! Now selling Adjustable Sway bars: https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum4/HTML/036556.html
For a full history of the Fiero SS: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/789315

Thats ok Paul. I was aware of your sway bar but here's what I said a little bit earlier on this:

quote Originally posted by Perry Rhodan: ...I know we have the HHP (in the Mall), but too expensive for the use I will do...only road cruising no track....

But a hell of a swaybar kit I have to admit.

[This message has been edited by perry rhodan (edited 08-12-2007).]

I looked through your thread to see if it was mentioned, but I must have missed it.

Sorry about that.

quote Originally posted by R Runner: Not trying to steal the thread, but there is another option. It depends on how you intend to use your car. Click on the link in my signature for details.

Nice looking sway bay and it's probably far more adjustable and versatile but it's priced at $320. Your BAR might be worth it for critical sIalom or road racing performance but for street /strip I highly doubt it. We can get a GTP sway bar for $25 and with $30 of Energy suspension parts have a rear sway bar for $55. Your swap bar might be better but for my application I doubt that at 6 times the price, it would provide anything more. Am I wrong about this?

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87GT 3.4 Turbo- 0-60 5.2 seconds
2006 3800SC Series III swap in progress
Engine Controls, PCM goodies,
re-programming & odd electronics stuff
" I'M ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "

[This message has been edited by Dennis LaGrua (edited 08-13-2007).]

overall - sway bar is a simple simple item.
and, every Fiero should have a rear bar.

then, the ratio of "anti sway" from front to back is preference. most will say even front/back, or more "anti sway" up front.

tire sizes, engine power, weight balance, driver style all determine front/rear ratio. but - a rear sway bar on a Fiero is a happy thing.

Fiero warehouse sell the ADDCO swaybar kit.


Also I saw that the 84-87 aftermarket rear swaybar often come with two flavor of end link (Addco particulary):

Straight end link with 4 urethane bushing each.

Straight en link with 2 urethane bushing and an Heim joint

Which is better?

[This message has been edited by perry rhodan (edited 08-15-2007).]

depends on how much "anti-sway" you want.
the Heim joint does not "load-up", so it is much quicker to start holding the car flat.
if you are going to keep the front bar stock, you want to start off with the same setup in the rear, to find your needs. many people prefer the rear to be less active that the front. and, some like the rear to be WAY more active than the front.

What I'm looking for is to keep the car as neutral as its when stock, but with further reduction of body roll and bump steer (I will also put urethane craddle bushing to help on this side).

I think the combination of 1'' front and 7/8'' rear will give me what I want.

But does the Heim joint that come with these kit have a tendecy to wear more rapidly (since its seem lacking greasing point or zerk) and make noise easily when it happen?

I prefer the Heim joint model, but dont want to pay for a failure prone solution...I will sacrifice some performance for more reliability.

the car is NOT neutral stock. which is why a rear bar is such an improvement.
the bar size is only 1 aspect of how the bar will work. the length of the "arms", the mounting style & the links also determine its effect.
your concern on the endlinks wearing is a valid one. when I started building my car - I planned 10 years. so, early - everything was built to last. but, these days - not so much. I got 3 years left of my 10 year plan. I no longer go top dollar for the best - just whatever will get me going again. also, I am sure you can buy replacement joints. replacement poly is $10 at any autozone/pep boys.
but, yes - you plan sounds like a good one. and, the links are replaceable - get what ya like - and change link type later if you no longer like - the hard part is done.

Replacing the heim joints that have a grease fitting is a piece of cake. Try lookin under "Rod End Bearings" at www.aircraftspruce.com I'm not promoting this particular shop, but they are one example where you can get this type of stuff. I believe that it is a 3/8" - 24 thread, but you can figure that out when you get the one that comes with the bar. I definately support the greasable type aftering racing and driving with an Addco front and rear bar for years. They tend to get real stiff quickly.

Paul

This is just me, but on a street car I much prefer a poly end link set up than a heim joint. I want a street car to have a little bit of give and take in there so that it's not quite so firm. The more firm you make it, the more it jars the ride. On a race car it's one thing that you can accept, on a street car it gets kind of old pretty fast.

John Stricker

quote Originally posted by perry rhodan: Fiero warehouse sell the ADDCO swaybar kit. Also I saw that the 84-87 aftermarket rear swaybar often come with two flavor of end link (Addco particulary): Straight end link with 4 urethane bushing each. Straight en link with 2 urethane bushing and an Heim joint Which is better?

cant you just wrap the heim joint in something and keep it greased? seems even a old trojan would work....

I saw that Intrax too make swaybar for the Fiero. Better than the other brand? (Addco or Fierostore custom by Sway-A-Way)

I originally had the stock sway bar set-up on my 3800SC 87GT (no rear bar) with RCC bump steer kit on the rear with lowering springs and coil overs on the rear. I really liked the RCC set-up and it eliminated the bump steer. Best $120 you can spend on suspension for me. Then, I did some checking around and found that there were two approaches to sway bars on the fiero. The Herb Adams different approach and most everyone else's same thoughts. Herb Adams, which I might add, is backwards to what everyone else has said to me. Herb said larger bar on the rear and smaller on the front. Everyone else advice says larger on the front and smaller on the rear.

I decided to go with the HA approach. Took me a while to find the rear bar as the HA kits are no longer available or sold by Summit. I installed a 1 inch Addco on the front and Herb's 1.25 inch on the rear. The results were more amazing cornering ability under hard accelleration and tight corners. I did have to relearn how the car handled with this set-up. It seemed to let the rear end out more and first if you were not watching out what you were doing in the corners with the throttle steering. I've since sold that car and regret it. It handled better than my stock 88GT in that configureation.

I'm currently working on an 88 GT t-top with lowering springs, coil overs and poly and will be comparing the two experiences. The 88 has a smaller bar in the rear and the front is bigger. I plan to put the Addco upgrade bars on it after I get the stock stuff learned.

I have had a matched set of anti-sway bars on my 85GT.
They are:- zinc chromate plated, with all urethane bushings, and Heim joints on the rear (complete with grease fittings). They are manufactured a few thousandsth over 1" front and a few thousandsth over 7/8" rear by International Research Motorsports Inc. in Maryland

I was very pleasantly surprised in how they affected the body roll, it has virtually no roll in the body with no sensible affect on the ride quality.The car no longer exhibits push/understear and my parking lot testing leads me to beleive that not only is there less bump steer but also there is less tendency for dropped throttle overstear

I have had these installed for over eight years. I use synthetic grease on the heim joints and they have no dissernable wear. note I keep them clean to prevent dirt/grit entering the ball joint. The coating on the bars looks like a satin gold colour and is as shiny as when new.

quote Originally posted by Dennis LaGrua: Concerning using the Grand Prix front sway bar on the rear of the Fiero, all the Grand Prix sway bars should be the same from 98-02. Those are the years that reportedly fit. Brian my partner on the swaps has one of these in his shop and we will be trying the install this week or next. Could end up being an inexpensive quality solution for a rear sway bar.

I know this is an old thread, but if you see this Dennis, how did the Grand Prix sway bar work out?

Is this what the front sway bar from the Grand Prix looks like?

I have Addcos fore and aft on my 85 GT. Used links and bushings (poly) supplied by Fierostore. Lots of other suspension mods. No complaints with the quality of the bars or components. Everything fits, and the handling is about what I expected. No complaints.

quote Originally posted by Patrick: I know this is an old thread, but if you see this Dennis, how did the Grand Prix sway bar work out? Is this what the front sway bar from the Grand Prix looks like?

I was not convinced that the fit of the GTP sway bar would be as good and just purchased another Addco. Therefore I am not certain how well the GTP bar will work. It might be worth risking a few bucks but I just took the easy way out. We know the Addco bar works and the GTP might. I just didn;'t have the time to fiddle but adapting the GTP bar looked pretty easy to do. .

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87GT - with 3800SC Series III engine, 4T65eHD
87GT - 3.4L Turbocharged engine, modified TH125H
" I'M ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "

are the addco sway bars the ones that the Fiero store sells? i was thinking of getting them for my car.
Ant

Dennis, thanks for your response. Disappointed to hear though that you didn't get a chance to actually try out the Grand Prix sway bar. Maybe someone else has tried it and could comment?

again bringing this back from the dead...how did the grand prix sway bar work out for you?