what are the advantages of having the 1LE sway bars over, say, a hotchkis? i know the 1LE's are 32mm in the front, and the hotchkis' are about 25, is this a little too big? any input on this would help. thanks. oh by the way, i'm not looking to go hardcore autocrossing or anything, i'd just like to know that if i were to go autocrossing, my car wouldn't roll on every turn. thanks again.

 

Heck, even poly on stock bars will get rid of alot of roll. Subframes make a BIG impact on that as well, to a lesser extent the STB makes a difference. I mostly noticed the STB on the freeway (a wavy section).

The 1LE is cheaper, but smaller than the Hotchkis unit, they are both hollow. You can also get solid bars, but I might suggest asking some opinions and doing some research on what you want, including what kind of class do you want to find yourself if you decide to AutoX at some point. Myself, I would go to learn and have fun, being competitive is nice but it isn't likely you'll be a winner right off the bat anyway, so why go with a car that is upsettingly soft.

 

the hotchkis fronts are bigger than 25mm....or did you mean 35?

i absolutely love my BMR 32/21 w/ poly bushings/endlink combo on stock shock/springs. it made a huge difference in my cornering. i can't wait to install some bilsteins and my 1LE springs

 

25mm is not a front bar for these cars, I imagine that was a typo. The only 35mm bars I know of, are the hollow SLP $499 last I checked, or the solid bars which are heavy but popular with SOME people.

The Hotchkis unit is in INCHES, I think it was 1 3/8" which would make it 34.9mm but I dont remember how big it was, it is likewise too expensive for me. However it is about $229 or so from Summit. An inch is 25.4mm, so once you find out the size of the Hotchkis unit for sure you can do some math and compare the two.

 

hopefully this link works,

https://www.hotchkis.net/cgi-bin/Sof...416+1047496905


2204 - Performance Sway bars

1 7/16" Hollow Front Bar
1" Hollow Rear Bar


So thats about 36.5 mm front and 25.4 mm back

Someone speculated that it should be as stiff as the ST solid 35mm front bar.. don't remember if he actually did the math between diameter and wall thickness yadda yadda.

I think they only come in sets.. and it costs $508!!!!

 

36.5125mm hollow sway bar then, that sounds like the biggest one yet, albeit hollow. Probably pretty close to as stiff as a 35mm solid, yet lighter. I would venture a guess that it would be about as stiff as a 34mm/34.5mm solid, but heck if I know the facts on that one.

Some 3rd gen cars had a 36mm front option, just as a side note, I dont imagine it would fit.

 

The 3rd gen front bars will not fit the 4th gen (but the rears will).

The 4th gen F-body likes more sway bar, no doubt about it. 1LE's or other 32mm front bars are an improvment vs. the stock 30mm bars. However, I very much prefer the Suspension Techniques 35mm front bar. Many others here and over @ LS1.com have installed the ST front bar (Ken S. being one here), and can attest that it makes an even better difference than a 1LE sized bar does.
Yes, Hotchkis' bar is lighter and about the same stiffness, but to buy a set @ about $500, vs. an ST bar @ under $140..... I'll take the weight and save the $250.

Rear bars: Most aftermarket bars for the rear are 25mm, WAY too big IMHO. I stick with either the '93 1LE rear (21mm) or an Addco rear @ 22mm. NOTHING BIGGER. You get oversteer issues, the car is much more jumpy on uneven roads, and you have a terrible time getting power to the ground. Depending on springs and/or racing class I team the 35mm front with either stock (19), 21 or 22mm rear bars. Heavy rear springs want less rear bar. Heavy front springs (like 550+) it's usually wiser to stay with a 32, but I have used 600's with a 35 which was okay, but not as good as 500lb/in spring an a 35 (this is an ESP car with FAT 315 Hoosier's).

To that end, remember that the '93 1LE had a 21mm rear bar, but regular rear springs. When they went to the 130-180 rear spring in '94, they dropped back to the 19mm rear bar. A 21mm are bar was not intended to be used with the 1LE rear springs.

 

1FS Z28, I was planing on the 32/21 it works well on my v6,rear inside tire lift issues though.But It seems your experience/knowledge has made an effect on this plan.My Z is heavier in front and you have 35mm and use it w/ stock and other dimension rears. I think I'll go w/ the ST 35mm and keep the rear 19mm for now.Maybe exchange the rear bars between the v6&v8 to do some testing... 19 on v6,21 on Z28 later on.
Tony