sway bar questions

**thewagon** · 03-04-2006, 04:22 AM

Got a few questions about the sway bars if anyone can help or give advice.

1) Front/Rear will fit on Magnum R/T RWD w/tow hitch and nivomats?
2) same question as above but, will it improve OEM suspension?
3) ride stiffer? harsher? etc?
4) can you install yourself?
5) do you need wheel alignment afterwards?

TIA

**American Muscle** · 03-04-2006, 09:21 AM

I'm installing mine in about 5 hours. I'll do my best to answer your questions.
1. Should not have any problems with the shocks, not sure about the hitch. It will all depend on what it looks like under the car. The sway goes between the two rear wheels so if it does not hook up that far then you should not have a problem.
2. Definitely will improve the OEM suspension, will reduce body roll
3. Has no impact on feeling the road, as said above reduces the roll of the body not the travel up/down of the car
4. I hope so!!! Seriously you can but you will need to drop the pumpkin about 5 inches to get the rear bar out. Dodge says it will take .5 hours for the front and 3.5 + .2 hours for dual exhaust for the rear. I'll let you know how long it takes me today. But I am having help from someone that has already installed them
5. It should not effect the alignment at all, and the instructions do not say that you need to have it aligned once you are done. Again, I will let you know if I notice any difference.

By the way, I got the Hotchkis bars.
Check this thread out, it includes a link to the install instructions so you can see for yourself what is involved. Hotchkis TVS Installation and Evaluation

**SmokeRT** · 03-04-2006, 09:28 AM

I don't know about fitment for this car, but I've done it a number of times the past few years on other cars myself. I will do my car if they ever show up. I can't see why the trailer hitch would be in the way. You made me look and I'm wondering if my aftermarket larger exhaust will be because I ordered the Hotchkis bars, which are add-on in the rear instead of replacing the rear. As far as ride, they are actually "anti-roll" bars which says it all - they reduce body roll in cornering. Usually they will make the ride a little stiffer because you've firmed up the suspension, however most of the time they are done with springs and/or shocks, which will definitely make it ride stiffer. Harsher is a subjective thing. For me I'll sacrifice a little ride for a better handling car. I've tried various combinations, and I think bars alone would be acceptable for most people for less roll. Springs alone is probably the least desirable for me (done this several times) because it lowers the car, but inevitably stock shocks were not made for the reduced travel, and the ride was "harsh" for me. I'm going coilovers for that reason. And I'm not sure you "must" have it aligned afterwards, but I would after taking off or removing bolts from front suspension arms.

**SmokeRT** · 03-04-2006, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by American Muscle

Dodge says it will take .5 hours for the front and 3.5 + .2 hours for dual exhaust for the rear.

You just gave a me good idea. I was taking the car back on Monday to have the guy that installed the Magnaflows realign and make any adjustments because it's hitting on one side of the body. I will wait and pay him maybe 1/2 - 1 hour labor to add the rear bar. At his rate ($72/hour) it would be work it. I'd rather be golfing those 3-4 hours, and can when it's 75 like it will be all this week.

**American Muscle** · 03-04-2006, 11:42 PM

Well with the help of MangoinTX I got my sways on today. Well I should say Mango got my sways on with a little help from me. Great guy by the way, one of the reasons I get so involved in a forum, the people you meet!!! Anyway the install only took about 2 to 2.5 hours. Front was super easy. The rears were more involved but I would not really say they were a btch to put on. The hardest part was getting the bar out of the car and feeding the new one in. Allignment is fine, body roll is dramatically reduced! Took a large swooping turn from one major freeway to another at about 80 on the way home. WOW! That was fun!! Before I would have to back off at about 60.

**thewagon** · 03-06-2006, 03:04 AM

did you guys put the rears on using a lift? a car ramp? a floor jack? Looking forward to more "tests"

**MangoInTX** · 03-06-2006, 10:50 AM

Used two hydraulic jacks to pump the Mag. approximately 18” off the ground then put 4 jack stands under her. On the rear we utilized a hydraulic jack under the diff to lower it approx. 4”s to gain access to the sway bolts and to thread the old out and the new in. BTW… dropping the rear isn’t hard at all.

Originally Posted by thewagon

did you guys put the rears on using a lift? a car ramp? a floor jack? Looking forward to more "tests"