strange orientation of front sway bar???
 

ok, i've been getting some wierd chattering from the front end over uneven surfaces so i thought sway bar bushings. i put the energy suspension bushings on but it changed nothing. now i'm thinking ball joint, but as i was poking around under there with the car flat on the ground, i noticed that the front sway bar rests on the sub frame (metal to metal) in between the bushings, i can see it through the hole right behind the oil pan. is that suppose to be like that? it seems like that could chatter. also, is the front bar suppose to have curves or slight bends in it or should it be strait, in between the bushings? if some one is going to be crawling around under there svx soon will you see if yours is like mine? (touching the subframe), or if you have had your bar out ever, is it strait or with curves? thanks

Mine is close to touching. I thought 'wow that is close' when doing the same bushing swap. And as far as I can remember that part of the bar is strait. What bushings did you use? Maybe they were the wrong ones and have too little material keeping the bar away form the the frame, allowing the contact you are describing. I think that is why one of the members here has made some spacers to keep this from happening. he goes by Myxalplyx. Just a thought.

hey thanks for helping, i used the 5105 so i didn't think i needed a spacer.

I don't remember the model numbers, but I got them from http://svx-motorsport-accessories.st...net/index.html

yeah, i used different ones. the ones in this thread, "Winter mod: Front & Rear Prothane Bushings". so how sure are you that this front bar is suppose to be straight? i can't find any pics of one to verify. if it is bent that would explain some chattering. how the heck could it even get bent between there, i've never even heard of anyones doing that. nobody has had there front sway bar out?

ok i took some pics, now i think i attached it, please take a look. this is with the front tires off the ground, looks the same if they are flat on the ground too. so it's definately touching, i tried to get some dental floss behind there but it wouldn't go. do all svx"s do this? or just mine?

oops, here it is.

You might want to PM Myxalplyx for some info. His website has pics of spacers that may be of help to you. I will take a look at mine tonight and see what the flashlight reveals. Oh, and I think mine were energy suspension in the front and prothane in the rear.

...I dont think you need spacers dude. something there isnt quite right. Was the car in an accident sometime in it's past? Possibly something involving sliding into a curb or somethign to that effect? That's the only thing I can think of that'd put a bow in the sway bar, causing it to rub. somethign liek that is very easy to miss when you're trying to repair a half mangled car..

Just a thought

Eric, man you must have ESP or something! or you belong on CSI! it all makes sense now, this baby was in an accident. that's how i got the car, it was totaled on the front passenger side which pushed all the way up to the motor. too much for the previous owner to do, i replaced all the core supports that were compromised, bumpers, hoos, lights. so i take it the bar is suppose to be straight? man i've always though she should handle more responsive, i just though the guy before me jacked up the suspension because he did crazy crap like put the springs on backwards and upside down. most my mods are just trying to undo what he did! do you think i need a spacer? can you see where it looks bent? i got more pics if you wanna see a different angle.

Pulled the Sway Bar
 

I have my Front sway bar out.
I pulled it out while trying to stop the chattering that I have at low speeds.
But no luck with the chatter yet.

There is an offset built into the Bar, the offset is about 16 inches long, and when sitting in the correct position, it will kick that area of the bar back by right about 1/2 inch.
This is obviously something that was engineered into the bar, and not something that took place because of any stresses on the car.

No camera available at the moment, but I'll post a pic soon.

oh, good to know and just in the nick of time. i was just planing on getting a new one next week. what is your chatter like? does it sound like your front tire is going to fall off over uneven pavement?

mmm Something like that.
Like two metal bars hitting each other, but the bar is out now, and I still have it.
I think the roads here have just beat it really bad.

The front passes the simple "bounce test", but another owner in the area says the struts are probably the culprit.

I'll have to spend more time underneath to try and figure this one.

Just found this one also.....
http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=41200

yup, i was just going to tell you about that thread, i think those guys have helped me norrow it down to the strut mounts. i would like to tell you for sure but i won't be able it confirm or illiminate the strut mount theory for a couple months. if you find out before me please let me know.