Sways - edumacate me . . .

[da BoMM]

EIBACH vs HOTCHKISS --

1) Whats the difference (besides $45 (est.))
2) Which do you recommend?
3) Best prices -- what's a good target price.
4) One of these guys makes an ADJUSTABLE set -- (Hotchkiss??)
-- are they worth the EXTRA $$$?

5) Any other brands out there comparable?

Thanks.

[GR8DODG]

Only difference that I have seen is if you have a V6- the Eibachs are a complete V6 set that includes the needed end links to instal- and the hotchkis do not make one specific for the V6 so you have to buy the endlinks from the dealer- `$35 in parts.

I myself am leaning towards the Eibachs.

[FloridaRT]

Addco also makes a rear sway bar, none for the front - guess they think the front bar is good enough.

Bob

[Super T]

I can't comment on the difference between the two brands, but the Hotchkis bars make a WORLD of difference. Adjustable bars just allow you to vary the stiffness by changing the length of the lever arms that connect them to the suspension. They typically have three holes/side, so you can get six levels of adjustment. I don't think I'd say that's worth any extra. You should be able to find them new for $400 shipped.

[Rev.Hammer]

I take it that the Hotchkiss bars area adjustable?

[monty1269]

Rev-
I dont *think* so... At least not on *mine* (TVS1 kit) I THINK there is confusion with the coilovers here..... ???

[MattRobertson]

The Hotchkis bars are not adjustable.

I think they are also better than the Eibachs. Look at the sheer freaking size of the front bar.

Eibach bars are 30mm thick in the front and 16mm in the rear. Both are solid. Hotchkis are 35mm front (one bigass bar, but hollow... so its lighter) and 19mm rear. Hotchkis says the front bar is 30% stiffer than stock and the rear is... 150%. Eibach doesn't give stiffness numbers.

Bars make a big difference in straight-line ride and in cornering. In a straight line, if the car, say, rolls over a depression or undulation on the passenger side with no sway bars, the right wheel could very well soak up most if not all of the movement necessary to compensate for said uneven surface. Ride stays comfy. Put sways on the car and the whole front end is going to move. The car is, basically, more brick-like. Ride quality deteriorates if what you are after is a highway cruiser.

BUT... when you corner the car you will get the benefits of that brick-like behavior: The car just sails right thru the turn with a dramatically reduced amount of body roll. If you have lowered your Magnum, think of it as being almost as much of a benefit to cornering as lowering it was; only this is piled on top of the gain you already got by lowering. If you have both you can REALLY corner the car. So much so that its time to buy sticky tires and forget about those long-life radials.

And when you come to a right turn at an intersection your passengers will freak as you laugh maniacally and don't slow down... or take it at 50.

[Super T]

Right, hotchkis bars don't have the adjustments. You said one of them was, i thought you meant the eibach's (i didn't consider them as an option so i never researched them). MattRobertson is dead on in the changed characteristics of the ride. Keep in mind though, body roll isn't all bad, it just feels sloppy. The idea is that by keeping the car more level, you keep the weight of the car distributed more evenly side to side, and therefore get better traction. The downside is that a small bump can push BOTH wheels up, not just one. Stiff sways therefore make it a lot easier to fishtail/ lose control if you don't watch it. Could also contribute to understeer problems, but I don't think our cars will ever have that problem.

[MattRobertson]

...The idea is that by keeping the car more level, you keep the weight of the car distributed more evenly side to side, and therefore get better traction.

Yup. They push your envelope of safe operation out. Take care of the rest of the equipment picture (suspension, brakes, gummy tires) and the envelope is way out there compared to stock+Conti's.