Stabilizer Bar Questions...

Icon_xof · Post by **Icon_xof** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 2:44 am

I noticed that my 2004 SXT doesn't have a rear sway/stabilizer/anti-roll bar. Is this something I should invest in? And if so, what kind of a difference will I feel?
Is the SRT-4 front sway bar better than the SXT?
Is there anything I can do to improve my existing front sway bar (links, bushings, kits)? If so what kind of a difference should I expect? One last question. What do all these letters mean:
Front, opt SDB
Front, opt SDC, SDE, SDF, SDK
Front, opt SDX
Rear, opt SDB
Rear, opt SDE, SDK
Rear, opt SDF, SDX
??? This is where I ended up while searching the parts database of a local junkyard.
Answers and advice appreciated. Thanks!

gtxtreme19 · Post by **gtxtreme19** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 6:49 am

Buy a sway bar for the rear, I believe modern has a few options or you could grab a stocker from an older neon. The srt-4 neon sways are bigger but they will work no problem. There are a few companies to get better bushings/end links from a lot of us use energy suspension.

Your car may not have the mounting tabs though for a rear sway bar, might wanna check it out

Post by **occasional demons** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 7:10 am

Q: What are the stock sway bar sizes?

A: Most non-ACR/RT's have 20mm front stabilizer bar. Some came with a 22mm bar (2005 SXT MTX, for example). All 2000 models had a rear stabilizer bar as standard equipment. In '01, the OEM dropped the rear unit. The rear sway became part of an optional package.

*All ACR/RT's have 22mm front and 19mm rear.

*All SRT-4's have 24mm front and 17mm rear.

*GT Crusiers have a 26mm front swaybar, which bolts on to all PL vehicles.

viewtopic.php?t=16332

Take some open end metric wrenches with you in those sizes. The sway bars that match the wrench size for the trim level desired, are the ones you want to buy. IIRC, the SE rear bar is 15mm, front 20mm.

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 12:03 pm

pretty much if you don't have a rear sway bar you'll more than likely have to upgrade your struts as well so that you get the rear mounting tabs on for a rear sway bar to attach to. there may be some aftermarket mounting tabs, but they are probably harder to find (and questionable in my humble opinion) than buying new struts that have them already properly in place. Most after market struts such as KYB and Tokicos will have this tab on the rear struts. then you'll be able to mount a rear sway bar. I think when I first did mine I swapped out all my struts and spring and got paired sway bars (front and rear) for under $500.

Icon_xof · Post by **Icon_xof** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 12:52 pm

Thanks for the info guys.
I have tabs in the rear now since I replaced my rear strut assemblies. What I want to know is what kind of difference I could expect to feel before I shell out the time and money to put one in.
You'll have to forgive me, I know it's probably a dumb question. I'm just pretty new to being a car guy (loving it so far though =]). I've always worked on guitars and beat my cars into the dirt, lol.
And the other big Q I have is with the front sway bars, if I should bother hunting down an SRT-4 (I've heard they're better), get some aftermarket links and or bushing kit, and what kind of a difference in handling will that give me.
I'm not trying to build a little hot rod. I don't have the funding to do the whole SRT swap, megasquirt, any kind of forced induction, yadda yadda.... I just want to keep my 04 SXT prime with a few upgrades along the way. The master plan is to save up a chunk of cash, sell what I have, and get an SRT-4. This little car got me hooked on Neons, now I want the bad boy of the group =]
If you guys could give me some input for the above questions, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks again.

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 2:20 pm

I'd get a paired set of sway bars. there are some nice ones out there that are better than SRT. I'm using suspension techniques and I know Modern Performance has other selections.

Icon_xof · Post by **Icon_xof** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 4:44 pm

I'm not really going for performance, just better than what I have. Which right now is no rear sway bar. I just got back from a junkyard and I picked one up off a 2nd gen neon (2001?) for $20. Any suggestions for affordable, better-than-stock links?

darthroush · Post by **darthroush** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 5:02 pm

Prothane

Post by **occasional demons** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 6:44 pm

Any suggestions for affordable, better-than-stock links?

For the front bar, there really isn't much to improve on, as far as the end links and their bushings. The center bushings, yes. The endlink bushings are pretty hard from the factory. Replacing them with new may not ba a bad idea, as they do deteriate/rust.

With stock ride height/springs, you should have held out for the SRT set. They are dirt cheap, and more common/easier to find than R/T sways. (Unless you go new)

But for the cost of new, you may as well source some from an aftermarket source, as hansken_yo suggested.

The SE rear will be a small improvement, but it isn't anything to be proud of.

Icon_xof · Post by **Icon_xof** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 9:15 am

Yeah, well it's better than no rear sway anyway

Also, I can assure you that if an SRT4 ends up in a yard anywhere near me, I'm on it!

Any improvement is improvement. If it makes you love your car, it makes your car love you back =]
But this car's my whore: I just want to get her fit n pretty for the day I trade her in for my SRT4

Ya'll may as well get used to me. I'm hooked on neons now

Post by **occasional demons** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 9:17 am

You got to watch those whores closely, they can be crafty little bitches.

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 9:36 am

Icon_xof wrote:Any improvement is improvement. If it makes you love your car, it makes your car love you back =]

It's like potato chips, you can't have just one. Once you get the warm fuzzies from the improved handling you will be looking for your next fix

Post by **occasional demons** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 9:42 am

Exactly, just like everything else, once the warm fuzzies grow up, they aren't so cute anymore.

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 9:43 am

Or cheap.