Chassis advice needed.....

[Vegas69]

I'm getting ready to insall a rear sway bar on my car. My plan was to have a plate and tab welded to the frame. Now I'm thinking of sandwiching the frame rail with two steel plates with three 3/8 bolts. With the tab on one side or both. The main reason is a cleaner install on my freshly coated frame rails and something I can do here myself. It seems plenty strong and over kill to me, but I'm no engineer.

[JKnight]

Fays2 uses shoulder bolts to mount the watts link crossmember to the frame rails, which might be a way to go with the setup you propose. The bolts have a 1/2" shoulder and 3/8" threaded section. Accordingly, the hole drilled on the outside of the frame rail is 1/2" and the inside is 3/8".

The shoulder portion of the bolts is just long enough to where it bottoms out on the inside part of the frame rail, which keeps you from squishing the frame with bolt torque. Jim at Fays2 might be willing to sell you the bolts if you contact him.

[Bryce]

JKnight,

Great advice. That is exactly what I would do. The shoulder bolt idea is the strongest you can do without welding a bushing into the frame. And Yes it would be strong enough. What is the max rate on your sway bar?

Another idea is similiar to the way TCP mounts their upper shock mount for mustangs. Basically a ubolt that sticks through the horizontal part of the frame rail. Now you have what looks like two studs sticking down and attach whatever plate you need on to the bottom of the frame.

[Vegas69]

Good idea Jeff. The sway bar kit came with two sleeves for exactly that but I can't mount it traditionally. I'll call Jim and see if he'll sell me 6 shoulder bolts and have a some brackets cut.

[Bryce]

McMaster.com is a good source for shoulder bolts.

[JKnight]

I wish I had measured the shoulder length and overall length of the bolts before installing them. Then I could see if Mcmaster had them available.

Edit: It looks like they have a good selection in 1/4" length increments though so I'm sure you could measure the frame rail width and go that route. It might be a good idea to check this anyway in case the frame rail is a different width where you are mounting your sway bar links than where the Fays watt's link crossmember goes. I've never checked or noticed whether width varies along it's length or not....

[67ragtp]

Todd,

Thought you might like to see how DSE mounts there quad link sway bar to the frame rails, perhaps this can help. A few drilled holes all bolt on with nutserts.
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u188/ragtp/Picture-1.jpg
Rich

[Vegas69]

Thanks Rich....As much money as I've spent with DSE I should just call and adapt their brackets if they would sell them to me.


Naah....here's what I've come up with.

Outside of frame: 1/4 plate with three 1/2 holes and a 1/2 tab for my heim joint.

Inside frame: 1/8 plate with three 3/8 holes

Shoulder bolt: Button head, 1/2 shank, 3/8 threads, and 2 inches in length.(Frame is 1.720) plus .250 plate gives me 1.970. So I'll have about .030 preload on frame. What do you guys think?

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa251/Payback1969/Shoulderbolts.gif
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa251/Payback1969/SwayBarBrackets_0001.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa251/Payback1969/SwayBarBrackets_0002.jpg

[JKnight]

Maybe I'm missing it but did you factor in the 1/8" plate thickness into your calculation as well? Edit: Nevermind, the threaded portion will go through the 1/8" plate and leave you 1/2". Just kidding.....

As long as you can bottom out the shoulder on the frame rail, you can always use a washer or some sort of spacer to take up the room underneath the head of the bolt.

[Bryce]

Thanks Rich....As much money as I've spent with DSE I should just call and adapt their brackets if they would sell them to me.


Naah....here's what I've come up with.

Outside of frame: 1/4 plate with three 1/2 holes and a 1/2 tab for my heim joint.

Inside frame: 1/8 plate with three 3/8 holes

Shoulder bolt: Button head, 1/2 shank, 3/8 threads, and 2 inches in length.(Frame is 1.720) plus .250 plate gives me 1.970. So I'll have about .030 preload on frame. What do you guys think?

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa251/Payback1969/Shoulderbolts.gif
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa251/Payback1969/SwayBarBrackets_0001.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa251/Payback1969/SwayBarBrackets_0002.jpg

sounds perfect

[Vegas69]

I'll get them cut and let you guys know how it turns out. Thanks for helping me brain storm on this deal.

[55Sedan]

Todd,

You are a true artist. Everything you've done to your car is so fine it is "almost" a shame to drive it. I am truly glad, as I'm sure many folks here are, that you share your ideas AND the finished results.

Larry

[Vegas69]

Hey Larry,
I really should be getting a commission on all the money I've saved a few folks. :lol: I have nothing to hide. I really enjoy this stuff and don't mind sharing. Many have shared with me and saved me a boat load of trouble and gave me fresh ideas. Just look at this thread.

[Payton King]

from Brett at ride tech. I believe that is the same rear suspension you are running?

[Vegas69]

Yep, but I already own all this stuff plus mine will be adjustable with 3 holes.