Probably a stupid question.

[jpSHO]

What can I use to measure my rear swaybar to find out what size it is?

 

[Shoaz]

Anything that'll measure the diameter reasonably accurately will work.

Dial caliper, bar clamp and a ruler, whatever.

 

[jpSHO]

What am I measuring exactly? The diameter or circumference?

 

[kikkinasphalt]

What am I measuring exactly? The diameter or circumference?

 

[shobote]

What am I measuring exactly? The diameter or circumference?

diameter; any ruler with metric markings will work

 

[shobote]

Or a standard ruler; just use the conversion 25.4 mm = 1 inch

 

[jpSHO]

So I just measured it and its 19mm. I need bushings but I'm going to try and find a bigger bar first. Any suggestions on what size? I know this was covered in other post but every car is different. Mine is a daily driver but I will use it for track use at some point but it will always be a daily driver. I have 18in. wheels with 245/40/18 tires with eibach springs and monroe sensa tracs and thats it right now for mods. Will the 26mm be too stiff or is a 23mm going to be plenty stiff enough (I think that is the next step down from a 26mm)? I appreciate everyones input. I'm going to check the boneyard now.

 

[Eric VerValin]

Well... everyone says that a SHO will "plow' with anything less than the 26. Personally... I have the 23 in the rear, all polys, ALSFB's, and intrax tokiko's with 1 coil cut up front. And my car tends to oversteer in hard cornering. I'm thinking its gotta be the cut coil making the difference.

Either way, the 19 is too small. But if you find a 23, you'll have to drill out the bushing to get it to fit. I bought a 19mm bushing, then used a 7/8" hole saw to open it up.

It would also be a good idea to see what you have up front too, just so you have something to compare it to... Front /rear ...

There was a page around somewhere and I can't seem to find it... had a lot of reviews from people who had just about every type of setup. Was thinking it was on SHOTIMES, but can't find it...

Maybe someone else here can help? If your lookin for a 26mm, look for a Gen1, most early gen 2's had 23's, but they are pretty mixed up in some years, so really you're going to need to measure them to be certian.

 

[jpSHO]

I found a 93 MTX in the junk yard and it has a 23mm. They want $50 for it. I'm going to go back and get it later. I just don't think I will find a 26mm anytime soon.

 

[hawkeye18]

26mm bars are becoming increasingly hard to find. I got one for my 94 off of ebay years ago when people still sold such things on ebay. It made an eNORMous difference. Of course, so did the ALSFBs, subframe connectors, and front strut bar...

 

[jpSHO]

Will I notice a difference with 23mm?

 

[hawkeye18]

oh yes. The car should turn in moderately better, and should have very slight, if any, understeer. My car, with the 26mm in the back and the STB in the front will do powerslides quite nicely, it's completely neutral.

A lot of difference will be made by the front sway bar as well. You should measure it and let us know, cos if it's a 23mm as well it's gonna handle funny, and I've heard of them going down to 16mm!

 

[jpSHO]

I'll measure the front tomorrow morning and let everyone know. I called Ford today and they told me it has the same rear swaybar as a regular Taurus. I couldn't believe that until I went to the junk yard and started measuring shit.

 

[SHOred]

a stupid question

A metric open end wrench works quite well to measure the outside diameter.

Henry