Anyone know if the RK Sport 35mm front swaybar is solid or hollow?

Just like it says. Anyone? Thanks.

The only hollow 35mm front bar I know of is the SLP bar. I think RK's bar is from Suspension Techniques. Sam Strano sells the same bar.

Although I do not own the RKsport sway bar, I believe it is hollow. The RKsport 35mm front and 25mm rear bars are the same as the Hotchkis bars, they just stick the RKsport name on them. The Hotchkis bars are hollow which would lead me to believe the RKsport bars are hollow also.

I could be wrong, but so far as I know it is a solid bar and only the SLP ($499) bar is hollow, other than of course the Hotchkis which is 1 7/16" which makes it a 36.5mm sway bar, not 35mm as most of the other 'big' bars.

If you're unsure, ask them what the shipping weight is. The solid 35mm ST bar weighs about 35 lbs., and closer to 40 shipping weight I believe. A hollow bar would weigh substantially less. For comparison sake, a 32mm 1LE hollow bar weighs just over 10 lbs.

What ever the case, the SLP 35mm bar is as noted above ... hollow. I was kinda suprised when I picked one up, so light ... yadda yadda .... It works very well, especially with the zero deflection end links ... much flatter in the corners than the 1LE bar it replaced, and the 1LE bar I got from GM was solid ... 32mm, but solid, weighed a ton. Maybe the parts guy got me the wrong bar ... but that was my experience.

Not sure if I added much to this thread, but ... one thing you don't need is more weight in the front.

Go hollow

Hope this helps

LWM

To give another view on the hollow versus solid 35mm swaybar... I think the choice comes down to what you are going to do with the car.

My 98 Z28 is my daily driver and my autocross/track car. This summer I attended the Evolution Performance Driving School and one of my instructors drives a 4th gen (Mike "Junior" Johnson for those of you who follow these things). While he was in the car with me, I asked whether I should go hollow or solid for the 35mm front swaybar. Without hesitation he said go solid for the additional stiffness. He went on to say that this is the most common choice among the nationally competitive 4th gen f-body autocross drivers.

I am also interested in the definitive answer on the RK Sport bar. However, when it is time for me to buy a swaybar, I will just call them... Probably not for a few months due to funds.

Yep, AutoX versus RR is going to be a different setup, so it does depend what your goals are.

Most AutoX folks seem to like bigger bars and mild springs, RR and Open Road lean the other way.

Autox and road race setups don't have to be very different. There are a lot of successful road racers that come from an autox background, and do REALLY well. Yes, alighments are different, and yes we tend to run more spring when we are on a track. But it's not DRAMATICALLY different in most cases.

Hard street driving and autox have much more in common than a true tracked car. In the real world we are dealing with the same conditions and similar speeds that you are on @ an autocross.

To continue that thought, big bars are not just for autoxer's. Jimmie Johnson has been running much larger bars than most eveyone else running Winston Cup, and it really isn't going very badly for him........... Bars and Springs do similar things, but not the same things. There are ups and downs for both, but don't think for a minute that large bars don't work on a track as well as they do @ an autox or on the street.

BTW, the RK bars are ST bars. Same one I use all the time.

I purchased the 35/25 mm sway bar kit from RK Sports about 4 years ago. Back then, they were made by Suspension Techniques and sold through RK Sports. I noticed that Summit Racing now carries them. I suggest getting a price from Summit before buying them from RK.
As for performance, I'm very happy with them. I already had road racing shocks and springs on my car before I bought the sway bars, and I still noticed a BIG difference in handling.

Kurt

I just checked - the cheapest place to get just the front bar (not the set) would be Strano Parts. FYI

Originally posted by 01 FS Z28

To continue that thought, big bars are not just for autoxer's. Jimmie Johnson has been running much larger bars than most eveyone else running Winston Cup, and it really isn't going very badly for him...........

OT but I gotta ask where did you find that out? I'm curious as to where that info is available if it could be gotten by the average fan.

Originally posted by WOT
OT but I gotta ask where did you find that out? I'm curious as to where that info is available if it could be gotten by the average fan.

Just through interviews with him as well as Jeff Gordon, and comments made during happy hour sessions that are on TV....

Originally posted by 01 FS Z28
Just through interviews with him as well as Jeff Gordon, and comments made during happy hour sessions that are on TV....
Looks like I need the speed channel now...thanks.