92 SHO Swaybars on 99

[NebraskaSHO]

I pulled (well used jthods tools and help) a set of swaybars off of a 92 Taurus SHO. It looks like the front is about 24-24.5mm and the rear is a little over 23mm.

Would this be a worthwhile upgrade, I am not looking for the stiffest bar as this a DD driver, but looking for a decent upgrade.

I was able to pick them up for 20 each. Sad to see a SHO in the JY as it was in excellent condition body wise with no real damage.

 

[bubba]

I don't think it will fit in the front? Different subframe. I asked Tom (93revtosev) The back might fit though.

 

[NebraskaSHO]

I believe they both fit. SHOZ123 was telling me what needs to be done to the front (a sleeve IIRC) but I was finding out if anyone else has used these sized bars.

 

[SHOZ123]

Yes they fit. The 24 for the front is the next size up front the OEM 22. You do need to put collars on the bar next to the bushings. The OEM bar has these built in. This keeps the bar from sliding back and forth. I use split collars from www.mcmaster.com.

 

[NebraskaSHO]

I thought I read on V8 SHO about using the bushings from whatever year the bar came from. I know you have told me before about using a split collar. Maybe that was only for the rear bar... Hmmmm

Were these worth the effort to grab then?

Paul, is the rear bar (stock V8) 19mm?

 

[SHOZ123]

You can get 24 mm bushings. I like the 24 mm in front but have a 26 mm in the back. Using the '92s rear bar would be a must do if going with the larger front bar IMHO.

 

[NebraskaSHO]

Well, I'll have to post with the exact sizes when I get the bars back to my garage. They're in my trunk, and my calipers are not with me.

BTW, what kind of dog is that?

 

[SHOZ123]

A goofy dog. Just a picture from somewhere.

 

[SHOMEX]

Hi, if you plan on using the 24mm front bar you might want to get a 26mm rear. I used to have that set up and love it in the highway but hated in the city. I realize that in was to stiff for me and went back to the factory 22mm front and installed a 23mm rear and the handling is really balanced.

 

[stephen newberg]

I am also at the stock 22mm in front and the 23mm in the rear, which I think produces a superior handling result to using the 26mm in the rear with the stock front bar, which I tried and did not like. I have not tried the the 24 front 26 rear combination, but with the the 22/23 and the front tower brace plus solid subframe bushings, the box is very stiff already and works well when tossed hard into the back road curves. At this point the limiting factor is again the tires, instead of the frame. I am not overly pleased with this Advans, and will likely go back to Potenzas as soon as I burn out the current ones.

pax, smn

 

[NebraskaSHO]

Stephen did you use a collar on the rear bar on your 98? Or did you just use new bushings for whatever year car you took the bar from?

 

[SHOZ123]

The rear bar will not move about as the struts and links are in a fixed position. It is the fact that the geometry changes in front when you turn the wheels that pulls the sway bar a bit. If you don't have some sort of stop on the front bar you can move it back and forth about 2"-3".

 

[stephen newberg]

Stephen did you use a collar on the rear bar on your 98? Or did you just use new bushings for whatever year car you took the bar from?

I used new bushings. Tried those hard ones, but they were too noisy, so went back to standard.

pax, smn

 

[Silvapain]

Collar != Bushings

You need new bushings for both the front and back, but only collars for the front bar if going to the older Gen 1/2 front swaybar.

mcmaster-carr.com page 1148 for the split collars.

 

[NebraskaSHO]

Ok, only replacing the rear bar at this time. Don't feel like doing the front one right now. Maybe after I get a feel for the 23 bar in the back will I put the 24 in the front, along with a 26 rear.

Measured the rear bar on the 99 and it is 19mm as you guys said. In another note, I found out why my 93 was so floaty when turning. Missing the passenger rear sway bar endlink!

 

[Silvapain]

a 22/23 combo is pretty good from what I've heard. The 24/26 combo is pretty stiff if NVH is a concern for you.

 

[SHOMEX]

22/23 combo is pretty good from what I've heard. The 24/26 combo is pretty stiff

Thats what I tried to explain, I would never use again a 24/26 combo. I am very pleased with the 22/23 set up; as for bushings for the 23 rear bar I used bushings from a 21mm bar because it was impossible to find the 23mm bushings.

 

[NebraskaSHO]

Can't you just order bushings from a 92 Taurus SHO? Then again the parts are probably mislabeled.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

Can't you just order bushings from a 92 Taurus SHO? Then again the parts are probably mislabeled.

No. Nobody makes a 23mm rear bushing. Ford discontinued them a number of years ago.

FWIW, the "best" sway bar combo will also vary depending on what you are running for tires. When I switched to the 245/45/17's I ditched the 24mm front bar and went back to stock. I kept the 23mm bar in the rear. FWIW, I had our machinist mill out some 19mm rear bushings to fit the 23mm bar. IIRC he charged me $20.

 

[SHOZ123]

You can get 21 mm rear bushings.

Moog K80050, rock auto has them.